Immunolabeling of lipopolysaccharide liberated from antibiotic-treated Escherichia coli.

Increased anti-core glycolipid antibody binding was visualized by immunoelectron microscopy after incubation of Escherichia coli K1:O7 cells with a bacteriolytic antibiotic and compared with binding in control cells. The findings suggest that the core glycolipid regions of the lipopolysaccharides of some gram-negative bacilli can be effectively sequestered until liberated by antibiotic-induced cell lysis.