Moran Anthony P.
Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Like the cell envelopes of other gram-negative bacteria, that of contains lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which are a family of toxic phosphorylated glycolipids that are also termed endotoxins (57). In general, LPSs are essential for the physical integrity and functioning of the bacterial outer membrane (34) and, as the main surface antigens (O-antigens) of gram-negative bacteria, play an important role in the interaction of these bacteria with their environment and with higher organisms (34, 57, 93). LPSs are potent immunomodulating and immunostimulating compounds, due principally to their lipid component, lipid A (93, 94). This family of compounds also harbors binding sites for antibodies and nonimmunoglubulin serum factors (34, 93). Generally, LPSs possess a broad spectrum of endotoxic properties, e.g., pyrogenicity and lethal toxicity, which contribute to the pathogenic potential of gram-negative bacteria (57, 93, 94). Moreover, variation in the structure of the saccharide component of LPS may prevent efficient complement activation and phagocytosis, thereby contributing to the virulence of bacterial strains (44, 93). Despite the established importance of LPSs in bacterial pathogenesis, those of have received more limited attention compared with LPSs of other bacterial pathogens. Evidence has accumulated that, although possessing properties similar to those of other gram-negative bacteria, the LPSs of also possess unique biological properties. In this chapter the attributes and structure of LPSs, especially the relationship between molecular structure and pathogenesis, are reviewed.
与其他革兰氏阴性菌的细胞包膜一样，[细菌名称]的细胞包膜含有脂多糖（LPS），脂多糖是一族有毒的磷酸化糖脂，也被称为内毒素（57）。一般而言，脂多糖对于细菌外膜的物理完整性和功能至关重要（34），并且作为革兰氏阴性菌的主要表面抗原（O抗原），在这些细菌与环境及高等生物的相互作用中发挥重要作用（34、57、93）。脂多糖是强效的免疫调节和免疫刺激化合物，主要归因于其脂质成分脂质A（93、94）。这一族化合物还含有抗体和非免疫球蛋白血清因子的结合位点（34、93）。通常，脂多糖具有广泛的内毒素特性，例如致热原性和致死毒性，这些特性有助于革兰氏阴性菌的致病潜力（57、93、94）。此外，脂多糖糖成分结构的变化可能会阻止有效的补体激活和吞噬作用，从而导致细菌菌株的毒力增强（44、93）。尽管脂多糖在细菌发病机制中的重要性已得到确立，但与其他细菌病原体的脂多糖相比，[细菌名称]的脂多糖受到的关注较少。越来越多的证据表明，尽管[细菌名称]的脂多糖具有与其他革兰氏阴性菌相似的特性，但也具有独特的生物学特性。在本章中，将对[细菌名称]脂多糖的特性和结构，尤其是分子结构与发病机制之间的关系进行综述。
