mcgraw hill microbiology test bank Related

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Bacterial endotoxins are:

  • A. proteins in the cell wall
  • B. secreted into the environment
  • C. components of the gram-positive cell wall
  • D. components of the gram-negative cell wall
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: components of the gram-negative cell wall. Bacterial endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. They are released upon bacterial cell lysis and can cause severe immune responses.

A: Proteins in the cell wall - This is incorrect because endotoxins are not proteins but rather lipopolysaccharides.
B: Secreted into the environment - Endotoxins are not actively secreted but are released upon cell death or lysis.
C: Components of the gram-positive cell wall - Gram-positive bacteria do not have an outer membrane with lipopolysaccharides, so endotoxins are not found in the gram-positive cell wall.