Escherichia coli endotoxin, SEM

This image is part of the feature B B C

Credit: EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Escherichia coli endotoxin, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This is a freeze-dried sample of an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide complex) associated with the outer membrane of E. coli bacteria. It is released mainly when the bacterium dies and disintegrates (lysis). Endotoxins are less specific in their action than exotoxins, since they do not act enzymatically. Some strains of E. coli can cause serious food poisoning in humans. Magnification: x2000 when printed 10 centimetres wide.

Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.

Keywords: bacteria, bacterial, bacterial toxin, bacteriology, bacterium, biological, biology, cell-associated, chemical, chemistry, coloured, e. coli, endotoxin, enteric, escherichia coli, false-coloured, flora, freeze-dried, gram-negative, intestinal, lipopolysaccharide complex, lps, medical, medicine, micro-organism, micro-organisms, microbe, microbes, microbiological, microbiology, pathogen, pathogenic, scanning electron micrograph, scanning electron microscope, sem

Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.