The Bacterial Endotoxins Test (BET) uses Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) reagents derived from the blood of horseshoe crabs for detection and quantification endotoxins Gram-negative bacteria in parenteral drug products medical devices. Two types recombinant using genes cloned crab genome have become available several suppliers. One is a Factor C reagent (rFC), containing only C, second Cascade ...

Response to endotoxins is an important part of the organismal reaction to Gram-negative bacteria and plays a critical role in sepsis and septic shock, as well as other conditions such as metabolic endotoxemia. Humans are generally more sensitive to endotoxins when compared with experimental animals such as mice. Inflammatory caspases mediate endotoxin-induced IL-1β secretion and lethality in mi...

Crystal structures combined with biochemical data show that the delta-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis are structurally poised towards large-scale, irreversible conformational changes that transform them from the soluble protein bound at the cell surface into a membrane-embedded form causing lysis of susceptible insect cells. Cry delta-endotoxins are made of a helix bundle, a beta-prism a...

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces parasporal crystals containing delta-endotoxins responsible for selective insecticidal activity on larvae. Upon ingestion, these crystals are solubilized in the midgut lumen and converted into active toxins that bind to receptors present on the microvilli causing serious damage to the epithelial columnar cells. We investigated the effect of the...

In studies designed to establish the interrelationship between bacterial endotoxins and the vascular sequelae of hemorrhagic and traumatic shock, the effect of factors known to influence the phagocytic behavior of the reticulo-endothelial system (RES) were investigated. Measures which induced a so called "blockade" of the RES were uniformly associated with an exacerbation of the vascular effect...

The gut microbiota is a bacterial bioreactor whose composition is an asset for human health. However, circulating gut microbiota derived endotoxins cause metabolic endotoxemia, promoting metabolic and liver diseases. This study investigates the potential of orally delivered microencapsulated Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 15697 to modulate the gut microbiota and reduce endotoxemia in F344 rats. ...

The aim of the presented study was to assess the exposure of poultry workers to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans during different stages of the chicken production cycle in 3 commercially-operated poultry houses. Personal and stationary sampling was carried out to assess exposure to both viable and total microbial aerosols. The stationary measurements of PM10 were performed to e...

BACKGROUND Endotoxins are common contaminants in allergen preparations and affect antigen-specific cellular responses. Distinct effects of endotoxin on cells in human umbilical cord and adult blood are poorly defined. OBJECTIVES To examine the effect of endotoxins in allergen preparations on cellular responses in human cord and peripheral blood (PB). METHODS The endotoxin content in beta la...

Intestinal motility and barriers are often impaired due to intestinal congestion during liver transplantation. Intestinal bacteria and enterogenous endotoxins enter into the blood stream or lymphatic system and translocate to other organs, which can result in postoperative multi-organ dysfunction (MODF) and systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome (SIRS) severely affecting patient survival. Howe...

Ten polysaccharides, isolated from various animal and plant sources, were selected for comparison with 2 bacterial polysaccharides, typical of Gram-negative endotoxins. The tissue sources were: mouse (kidney, liver, lung, stomach, Sarcoma 37, and Carcinoma 241-6); rabbit skin and chick embryo skin; and tangerine and Bryonia root. The bacterial endotoxins were those of S. typhosa and Serr. marce...