Endotoxins: Structure, Function and Recognition

Description

Endotoxins are potentially toxic compounds produced by Gram-negative bacteria including some pathogens. Unlike exotoxins, which are secreted in soluble form by live bacteria, endotoxins are comprised of structural components of bacteria. Endotoxins can cause a whole-body inflammatory state, sepsis, leading to low blood pressure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. This book brings together contributions from researchers in the forefront of these subjects. It is divided into two sections. The first deals with how endotoxins are synthesized and end up on the bacterial surface. The second discussed how endotoxins activate TLR4 and, in turn, how TLR4 generates the molecular signals leading to infectious and inflammatory diseases. The way endotoxins interact with the host cells is fundamental to understanding the mechanism of sepsis, and recent research on these aspects of endotoxins has served to illuminate previously undescribed functions of the innate immune system. This volume presents a description of endotoxins according to their genetic constitution, structure, function and mode of interaction with host cells. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Endotoxins: Lipopolysaccharides of Gram-Negative Bacteria....Pages 3-25 Purification and Characterization of Lipopolysaccharides....Pages 27-51 Endotoxins: Relationship Between Structure, Function, and Activity....Pages 53-67 The Diversity of the Core Oligosaccharide in Lipopolysaccharides....Pages 69-99 Salmonella -Regulated Lipopolysaccharide Modifications....Pages 101-122 The Variation of O Antigens in Gram-Negative Bacteria....Pages 123-152 Regulators of TLR4 Signaling by Endotoxins....Pages 153-171 Membrane Partitioning: Is Location Everything When It Comes to Endotoxin Recognition?....Pages 173-184 Front Matter....Pages 185-185 Endotoxin Detection – from Limulus Amebocyte Lysate to Recombinant Factor C....Pages 187-208 The Role of Endotoxin in Infection: Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni ....Pages 209-240 The Role of Pseudomonas Lipopolysaccharide in Cystic Fibrosis Airway Infection....Pages 241-253 Development of Small-Molecule Endotoxin Sequestering Agents....Pages 255-283 Development of an Anti-Endotoxin Vaccine for Sepsis....Pages 285-302 Synthetic and Natural TLR4 Agonists as Safe and Effective Vaccine Adjuvants....Pages 303-321 Targeting Endotoxin in the Treatment of Sepsis....Pages 323-338 Lipopolysaccharides in Rhizobium -Legume Symbioses....Pages 339-386 Lipopolysaccharides and Plant Innate Immunity....Pages 387-403 Back Matter....Pages 405-415