Structure-function relationships of bacterial endotoxins - Contribution to microbial sepsis

A substantial body of knowledge has emerged over the past several decades concerning the primary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides and their contribution to the pathogenesis of Gram-negative sepsis. important questions however, remain. Among them are the precise three-dimensional configuration of the LPS macromolecule and the contribution of the quaternary structure to the ability of these potent microbial factors to interact with the host humoral and cellular inflammatory mediator systems. Also remaining to be sufficiently addressed is the relative contribution of endotoxin interactions with the host to the overall manifestation of disease; and under what conditions do such contributions serve as the pivotal event in determining outcome? The answers to these questions can be expected to provide valuable insights into potential, novel therapeutic intervention strategies and approaches that will ultimately serve to reduce both infection morbidity and mortality from Gram-negative microbes.