Invitrogen™ Gram Negative Endotoxin Monoclonal Antibody (GNE13-337.5), Invitrogen™

Endotoxins are part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxins are invariably associated with gram-negative bacteria whether the organisms are pathogens or not. Although the term 'endotoxin' is occasionally used to refer to any cell-associated bacterial toxin, it is properly reserved to refer to the lipopolysaccharide complex associated with the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Haemophilus, and other leading pathogens. The biological activity of endotoxin is associated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Toxicity is associated with the lipid component (Lipid A) and immunogenicity is associated with the polysaccharide components. The cell wall antigens (O antigens) of gram-negative bacteria are components of LPS. LPS elicits a variety of inflammatory responses in an animal. Because it activates complement by the alternative (properdin) pathway, it is often part of the pathology of gram-negative bacterial infections.