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Purification and Visualization of Lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative Bacteria by Hot Aqueous-phenol Extraction
Published on: May 28, 2012
Lipopolysaccharide binding protein is a potential marker for invasive bacterial infections in children
Katja M Ubenauf1, Marcus Krueger, Philipp Henneke
1Centre for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Insights
Elevated lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) serum levels can aid in the early diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in children. LBP shows promise as a diagnostic marker, unlike other inflammatory markers in certain cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Invasive bacterial infections pose diagnostic challenges in children.
- Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) is a potential biomarker for bacterial infections.
- Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentration for the early diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in children.
- To compare LBP levels with other inflammatory markers like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8.
Main Methods:
- Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from 39 children diagnosed with bacterial sepsis or meningitis.
- Control groups included children with non-bacterial neurological conditions or infections.
- LBP concentrations were measured using an immunochemiluminescence analyzer and compared with TNF-alpha and IL-8 levels.
Main Results:
- Median LBP serum concentrations were significantly higher in children with bacterial infections compared to controls (45.0 vs. 8.3 microg/mL, P < 0.0001).
- Follow-up LBP levels remained elevated despite antibiotic treatment, while TNF-alpha and IL-8 decreased.
- CSF LBP levels were often below detection limits in meningitis cases, unlike elevated TNF-alpha and IL-8.
Conclusions:
- Serum LBP concentration is markedly elevated in children with invasive bacterial infections.
- LBP shows potential as a valuable diagnostic marker for early detection of invasive bacterial infections in pediatric patients.
- LBP may offer advantages over other inflammatory markers in specific clinical scenarios.
Background:
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) serum concentration is a useful marker in the early diagnosis of invasive bacterial infection in children. We measured LBP in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with proven invasive infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis.
Patients And Methods:
Samples were collected from 39 children (aged 2 months to 17 years) with bacterial sepsis (n = 19) or meningitis (n = 20). Bacterial infection was diagnosed when a blood or CSF culture was positive and clinical signs of invasive infection were present. The control group consisted of serum (n = 60) and CSF (n = 19) samples from children with neurologic disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis or viral infection. In 10 patients with bacterial infection, follow-up samples (24 and 48 hours) were available. LBP values were measured by an immunochemiluminescence analyzer (IMMULITE; DPC Biermann, Bad Nauheim, Germany) and compared with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 concentrations.
Results:
The median LBP serum concentrations in patients with bacterial infection were markedly elevated compared with the control groups (45.0 [33.1-55.2] versus 8.3 [6.8-10.1] microg/mL [median and 5-95% confidence interval]; P < 0.0001). Follow-up serum values of LBP were persistently elevated despite adequate antibiotic treatment, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 concentrations decreased. In contrast, LBP concentrations in the CSF were below the detection limit of 0.5 microg/mL in 67% of patients with bacterial meningitis (median <0.5 microg/mL), whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 levels were highly elevated.
Conclusion:
LBP serum concentration is elevated in serum of children with invasive bacterial infection and could be a promising diagnostic marker.
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