LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES Meaning and
Definition
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Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules found on the outer membrane of certain gram-negative bacteria. They are composed of both lipid and polysaccharide entities, which is the reason for their name. These molecules play a critical role in the structure and function of bacterial cells.
Lipopolysaccharides consist of three distinct regions: the lipid A, core oligosaccharide, and O antigen. The lipid A portion anchors the LPS to the bacterial membrane and is responsible for the toxic properties of LPS. The core oligosaccharide connects the lipid A to the O antigen, which is a long polysaccharide chain that extends away from the outer membrane. The O antigen varies between different strains of bacteria, allowing for the classification and differentiation of bacterial species.
Although lipopolysaccharides are crucial for the integrity and stability of bacterial cells, they can also be highly immunogenic and induce strong immune responses in humans and other animals. When released into the bloodstream during bacterial infection, LPS activates the body's immune system, triggering the release of pro-inflammatory molecules and leading to a range of symptoms, such as fever, inflammation, and septic shock.
Due to their importance in host-pathogen interactions, lipopolysaccharides are widely studied in the field of microbiology and immunology. They serve as potent antigens in vaccine development and are also used in laboratory settings to stimulate immune responses for research purposes.
Common Misspellings for LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES
- kipopolysaccharides
- pipopolysaccharides
- oipopolysaccharides
- lupopolysaccharides
- ljpopolysaccharides
- lkpopolysaccharides
- lopopolysaccharides
- l9popolysaccharides
- l8popolysaccharides
- lioopolysaccharides
- lilopolysaccharides
- li-opolysaccharides
- li0opolysaccharides
- lipipolysaccharides
- lipkpolysaccharides
- liplpolysaccharides
- lipppolysaccharides
- lip0polysaccharides
- lip9polysaccharides
- lipooolysaccharides
Etymology of LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES
The word "lipopolysaccharides" can be broken down into its constituent parts to understand its etymology:
1. "Lipo" is derived from the Greek word "lipos", meaning "fat" or "lipid".
2. "Poly" is derived from the Greek word "polus", meaning "many" or "multiple".
3. "Saccharides" is derived from the Greek word "sakcharon", meaning "sugar".
So, when combined, "lipopolysaccharides" can be understood to mean "multiple sugars attached to a lipid" or "lipids with many sugars".
In the context of microbiology, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are complex molecules found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
