Lipopolysaccharide: Bacterial Endotoxin

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit an original or review article for publication in a Special Issue on “Lipopolysaccharide: Bacterial Endotoxin”.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major molecular surface component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPSs are negatively-charged molecules exposed to the external environment and that provide a physical barrier that protects bacteria from antibacterial agents. They are amphiphilic molecules, consisting of a hydrophilic polysaccharide or oligosaccharide portion, covalently linked to a hydrophobic and high conserved lipid portion, termed lipid A, which is embedded in the external face of the outer membrane. The saccharide portion is diverse in terms of length and composition among different Gram-negative bacterial species, and can be divided in two domains: The core, which can be subdivided into inner and outer cores, and the O-antigen chain. The inner core is proximal to lipid A, which is required for bacterial viability, and contains unusual sugars, such as 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo) and heptoses. However, the outer core typically contains hexose sugars. The O-antigen chain is the most external domain, is highly variable, and is composed of repeating oligosaccharide units.

The LPS lipid A released from cell surfaces of bacteria during multiplication, lysis or death can be recognized by specific host cell receptors and is responsible for the activation of the innate immune system via the induction of inflammatory cytokines release. The uncontrolled activation of innate immune response triggers the development of septic shock and multiple-organ failure. Thus, lipid A is one of the most potent immune-stimulators, of which the toxicity depends on its primary structure and the severity of infection. Although lipid A is highly conserved biochemically, some bacteria show an impressive amount of diversity. Variations of the lipid A serve to promote survival by providing resistance to components of the innate immune system and help to evade recognition by Toll-like receptors.

The set of articles proposed for this Special Issue will examine the structure and composition, biological activity, host interaction, and induction of innate immunity of the Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin.

Prof. Susana Merino Montero
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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