A toxic substance found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria that is released when the bacteria die or divide. It can cause fever, inflammation, and septic shock even in small amounts.
From Greek 'endon' meaning 'within' and 'toxikon' meaning 'poison for arrows.' The term was coined in the early 20th century to distinguish these internal bacterial toxins from exotoxins that bacteria actively secrete.
Endotoxins are like bacterial booby traps - they're not weapons the bacteria use while alive, but rather toxic debris released when they explode! This is why killing gram-negative bacteria with antibiotics can sometimes make patients temporarily sicker as massive amounts of endotoxin flood the system.
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