Gram-negative bacteria possess a complex cell envelope containing an outer membrane. The outer membrane is an asymmetric lipid bilayer that has an inner leaflet containing glycerophospholipids and, in almost all Gram-negative bacterial species, an outer leaflet whose major component is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an amphiphilic glycolipid that is unique to Gram-negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major surface membrane component present in almost all Gram-negative bacteria and it is essential to both the form and function of the outer membrane. The distinctive structural properties of LPS molecules are crucial for the protective barrier properties of the outer membrane. Modifications of the general LPS structure also play important roles in host-pathogen interactions. LPS, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, represents one of the conserved microbial structures responsible for activation of the innate immune system. In Gram-negative sepsis, LPS molecules released from the bacterial surface may stimulate an inflammatory response, which, if unchecked, can progress to the often-fatal syndrome known as septic shock. The involvement of LPS in this process is the origin of its "endotoxin" name, and these biological effects have inspired a substantial part of LPS research. The complex structures of LPS molecules also provide fascinating research topics in the areas of synthesis, export of macromolecules, LPS modification, and membrane biogenesis. The broad-spectrum of LPS research is reflected in the activities of the International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society (IEIIS) (http://www.ieiis.org/).
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