Abstract
The virulence properties of bacteria have been attributed to a number of substances that appear to help the organism invade tissues. Although many bacteria elaborate virulence-enhancing substances, such as enzymes and toxins, in others the pathogenic properties are structurally integrated into the cell wall. For example, the virulence of bacteria that behave as extracellular parasites is often caused, at least in part, by antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsules that form a gel-like matrix around the cell. When the Streptococcus pneumoniae was studied in mice, it was found that unencapsulated strains were virtually avirulent because they are readily phagocytosed, but encapsulated strains were highly virulent because of their resistance to phagocytosis (17). Similarly, the virulence of Gram-negative bacteria is thought to be caused, in part, by the presence of endotoxins in the outer membrane. Endotoxins are complex lipopolysaccharides (LPS), whose toxicity resides in the lipid A portion of the molecule, and these lipids have numerous direct biologic effects. In animals LPS cause fever, transient leukopenia followed by leukocytosis, hyperglycemia, purpura, and the Schwartzman phenomenon. In addition, large intravenous doses result in irreversible shock.
Recipient of U.S.P.H.S. Research Career Development Award 1K04AI00126.
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Kasper, D.L., Onderdonk, A.B., Polk, B.F., Bartlett, J.G. (1980). Surface Antigens as Virulence Factors in Infection with Bacteroides Fragilis . In: Lambe, D.W., Genco, R.J., Mayberry-Carson, K.J. (eds) Anaerobic Bacteria. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3159-9_16
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