Formulation and screening of synthetic lipoproteins for binding and inhibition of endotoxin

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main molecular cause of sepsis, a severe bacterial infection responsible for killing as many as 11 million people per year. Upon bacterial infection, LPS is released by Gram-negative bacteria into the host bloodstream, where it is bound by LPS-binding protein (LBP). When LBP presents LPS to immune cells, it can cause the inflammatory response that leads to sepsis. However, when LBP associated with the carrier molecule high density lipoprotein (HDL) binds to LPS, the bacterial endotoxin is carried to the liver, where it is detoxified.