Endotoxins

An "endotoxin" is a structural molecule of the bacteria that is recognized by the immune system. The prototypical examples of endotoxin are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipooligosaccharide (LOS), found in the outer membrane of various Gram-negative bacteria, and are an important component of their ability to cause disease.

A very sensitive assay for detecting presence of endotoxin is the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay, utilizing blood from the Horseshoe crab. Very low levels of LPS can cause coagulation of the limulus lysate due to a powerful amplification through an enzymatic cascade.

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Endotoxins ​

Endotoxins