Sterile lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli 055:B5)

Overview

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a complex glycolipid consisting of various components. Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia coli, have a highly conserved lipid A attached to the antigenic O-polysaccharide. The hydrophobic lipid A is the outermost component of endotoxic lipopolysaccharide and plays a significant role in its biological properties. A short core oligosaccharide (core OS) is found attached to the lipid A. Enterobacteriaceae contain antigens, and the repeating structure O-polysaccharide (O-PS) is attached to the distal core OS, thus forming a smooth LPS. The O-PS in Escherichia coli contains about 170 different antigens that interact with the host immune system. Depending on the core OS structure of Escherichia coli, they are named K-12 and R1 to R4.