Comment by vibrio
2 days ago
Slightly different point but many bacteria in us right now also make lipopolysaccharide (LPS). If it were purified and injected iv, the LPS in me could probably kill me 1000 x over.
2 days ago
Slightly different point but many bacteria in us right now also make lipopolysaccharide (LPS). If it were purified and injected iv, the LPS in me could probably kill me 1000 x over.
Nothing about this discussion was about injecting anything.
LPS is a critical component of gram negative bacteria, like E. coli.
We evolved LPS detection so long ago that it's in our innate immune system instead of adaptive immunity. It's so ancient we share this immune function with fruit flies.
LPS detection is so good and immediate because it's tuned to pick up single instances of LPS molecules. Not a few nmol. Single molecules. Detection will trigger inflammation and immune scale up to deal with the problem.
If you go injecting LPS or E coli into your blood stream, of course your own body is going to kill you. It'll freak out and think WW III has started and begin firing the nukes in every direction to stop it.
This is septic shock.