lipopolysaccharide

noun

li·​po·​poly·​sac·​cha·​ride ˌlī-pō-ˌpä-li-ˈsa-kə-ˌrīd How to pronounce lipopolysaccharide (audio) ˌli- How to pronounce lipopolysaccharide (audio)
: a large molecule consisting of lipids and sugars joined by chemical bonds

Examples of lipopolysaccharide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Poliovirus attaches itself to large molecules like lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which stud the surface of the bacteria. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 13 Oct. 2011 For convenience, scientists usually measure the amount of lipopolysaccharide in the blood to evaluate the extent of bacterial transfer into the body. Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 15 June 2020 Among the probable mechanisms is that poor diet alters the composition of the intestinal microbiome, encouraging the production of microbial toxins, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tammy Worth, Scientific American, 24 June 2021 As expected, during the first six hours, the bats with lipopolysaccharide running through their veins moved less than the placebo recipients. Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2020 Like animals — from insects to mammals — people react very strongly to this substance, lipopolysaccharide. Ben Guarino, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2018 Those that do not look roundish. The team report that more than 80% of the macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide and then saline grew long pseudopods. The Economist, 14 Sep. 2017 Like animals - from insects to mammals - people react very strongly to this substance, lipopolysaccharide. The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 3 Jan. 2018 The researchers worked with mouse immune cells that had been treated either with lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial compound that reliably triggers an aggressive immune response, or with inoffensive saline solution and left as controls. The Economist, 14 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lipopolysaccharide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lipopolysaccharide was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near lipopolysaccharide

Cite this Entry

“Lipopolysaccharide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lipopolysaccharide. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

lipopolysaccharide

noun
li·​po·​poly·​sac·​cha·​ride ˌlip-ō-ˌpäl-i-ˈsak-ə-ˌrīd How to pronounce lipopolysaccharide (audio) ˌlī-pō- How to pronounce lipopolysaccharide (audio)
: a large molecule consisting of lipids and sugars joined by chemical bonds
abbreviation LPS
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