Endotoxin of <i>Yersinia pestis</i>: Structural Peculiarities, Mechanisms of Reception and Induction of Cytopathogenic Effects

Abstract

Modern data on the Y. pestis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure and mechanisms of LPS reception by the host cells are reviewed. LPS is considered as a toxic pathogenicity factor produced by the plague microbe. Mechanisms of structural, metabolic and functional imbalance induced by the Y. pestis LPS at the initial stage of plague infection and intoxication are discussed. Clinical manifestations of cytopathogenic effects of LPS are cytokine-mediated and increase as hypoxic syndrome and free radical-induced destabilization of biological membranes develop.

Keywords

• yersinia pestis
• endotoxin
• lipopolysaccharide (lps)
• cytokines
• hypoxia
• lipoperoxidation