Which of the Following Statements is True About Endotoxins

Question

Which of the following statements is true about endotoxins?
A) They all work in different ways.
B) They are all proteins.
C) They are only produced by Gram-negative bacteria.
D) They are only produced by Gram-positive bacteria.
E) They interfere with host ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis by host cells.

Accepted Answer

Endotoxins are only produced by Gram-negative bacteria. They are part of the outer membrane of the bacterial cell wall and are released when the cell wall is broken down, such as during bacterial lysis or death. Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides and not proteins, and they work by activating the host immune system to produce an inflammatory response, which can cause fever, hypotension, and even shock. They do not interfere directly with host ribosomes.