PATHOGENIC MICROBIOLOGY
Bacterial Endotoxin
Endotoxin:
Complex bacterial toxin; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component of Gram-negative
cell walls is composed of Lipid A + Core Polysaccharide + O Antigen (a.k.a.,
O polysaccharide side chain) and is released upon lysis of the cell during infection
; Lipid A component is responsible for endotoxin activity effects on the host;
O side chain is the antigenic portion of the LPS molecule
Septic shock (sepsis): Associated
with overwhelming infection resulting in vascular system failure with sequestration
of large volumes of blood in capillaries and veins; Activation of the complement
and kinin systems and the release of histamines, prostaglandins, and other mediators
may be involved
Endotoxemia: Endotoxin in
the blood
Effects of Endotoxin
- Binds
to specific receptors on macrophages,
B lymphocytes
and other cells
- Stimulates
release of acute phase immunoreactants and lymphokines (e.g., IFN-g, IL-1,
TNF-alpha, IL-6, histamine, prostaglandins)
- Stimulates
growth of B cells (mitogenic)
- Fever
(Pyrogenicity):
- Any
elevation of the body temperature above the normal; functions to speed up
immune reactions and to limit/slow bacterial growth and multiplication
- Activation
of alternative complement pathway: C3a; C5a
- Circulatory
system effects:
- Leukopenia
followed by leukocytosis:
- Leukopenia:
an abnormal reduction in the number (-penia) of leukocytes inthe blood,
(specifically a count of 5000 or less per cubic millimeter)
- Leukocytosis:
an abnormal increase in the number (-cytosis) of leukocytes in the blood,
as during hemorrhage, infection, inflammation, or fever (specifically
a count of 12,000 or more per cubic millimeter), respectively
- Increased
vascular permeability (vasodilation)
- Decreased
peripheral circulation
- Decreased
perfusion (blood flow) of blood to major organs
- Capillary
leakage; microhemorrhage; formation of petechiae (round, purple lesions caused
by intradermal or submucosal microvascular hemorrhaging)
- Hypotension
(low blood pressure)
- Effects
on blood coagulation:
- (DIC)
Disseminated intravascular coagulation:
- Disorder characterized by
a reduction in the elements involved in blood coagulation due to their
utilization in widespread blood clotting within the vessels; Late stages
marked by profuse hemorrhaging
- Activation
of clotting pathway
- Thrombosis:
Formation of blood clot (thrombus) in heart or blood vessel
- Thrombocytopenia:
Abnormally low numbers of blood platelets
- Effects
on metabolic and liver functions
- Decreased
iron availability
- Hypoglycemia:
Abnormally low glucose levels
- Cellular
death (cytotoxicity)
- Organ
necrosis:
- Sum
of morphological changes indicative of cell death and caused by the progressive
degradative action of enzymes
- Shock:
- Characterized
by failure of the circulatory system to maintain adequate blood flow to the
vital organs
- Symptoms
include: Hypotension; Weak pulse; Rapid and shallow breathing; Low body temperature;
CNS (central nervous system) effects (e.g., nausea)
- Death
Return to Host-Parasite Interactions
Designed & Maintained by David M. Rollins
Copyright © 2000, D.M. Rollins and S.W. Joseph
Revised: September 2003
URL: http://life.umd.edu/classroom/bsci424