Immunogenic properties of lipid A.
Lipid A, the endotoxic principle of gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides, when suitably exposed on the surface of bacterial cells, becomes immunogenic, eliciting the formation of antibodies specific to lipid A. Antibodies to lipid A occur naturally in the serum of normal humans and many animal species; the two exceptions found so far are mice (all strains tested) and guinea pigs. Antibodies to lipid A occur more frequently in patients with infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, such as urinary tract infections. Antibodies to lipid A interacted with free lipid A but not with lipid A as present in the intact lipopolysaccharide molecule. Antibodies to lipid A were induced in rabbits, but not in mice, following a single injection of immunogenic lipid A. Because of similarities between the lipid A of many gram-negative bacteria, antibodies to lipid A showed wide cross-reactions. With regard to biologic activity, antibodies to lipid A have been variously shown to be protective, damaging, or without effect.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D007114:Immunization; D007164:Immunosorbents / Q000276:immunology; D008050:Lipid A / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011817:Rabbits
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007164:Immunosorbents; D008050:Lipid A