Isolation of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin.

Endotoxins, generally produced by gram-negative bacteria, are responsible for harmful effects in many diseases. These toxic compounds of nonprotein nature are part of the intact bacterial cells as opposed to the protein exotoxins found in cell-free broth cultures. Reviews concerning endotoxins have been published by Burrows (l), and by Westphal et al. (2). This report deals with the isolation, chemical nature, and toxicity of lipopolysaccharide phosphoric acid ester endotoxin from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.