This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Misc., Subject name: Microbiology
Skin lesion in meningococcal meningitis is due to 
Select and explain. 
A. Exotoxin, B. Endotoxin, C. Allergic reaction, D. Direct vascular damage
B: Endotoxin
Answer: B: Endotoxin 
Explanation: (B) Endotoxin # Virulence of Neisseria meningitidis was attributed to the production of an "exotoxin" that could be recovered from culture filtrates of the organism.> But when studies revealed that antitoxin reacted equally well with washed cells as culture filtrate, it was realized that the bacteria underwent autolysis during growth and released parts of their cell walls in a soluble form.> Mayor toxin of N. meningitidis is its lipopolysaccharide, LOS, and its mechanism is endotoxic.> Important determinant of virulence of N. meningitidis is its antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule.