Bacterial Toxins Flashcards
1
Q
Key Facts
A
- major non protein toxin = lipopolysacchride present in gram negative bacteria
endotoxins
- part of the gram neg bacterium
- released upon lysis of cell
- lipopolysaccharide
- non specific
- heat stable
- non enzymatic activity
- systemic effect
2
Q
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
A
- O antigen displays great variation between species and strains
- O antigen are key target for host immune defences
- Loss of O antigen results in rough stains
- Loss of O antigen results in partial loss of virulence
- specific O antigens are thought to be involved in adhesion
3
Q
Exotoxins
A
- actively generated
- released from the cell
- protein
- often specific to certain strains
- highly antigenic
- mainly enzymatic activity
