Bacterial Outer Membrane (OM)

The bacterial outer membrane is a defining feature of Gram-negative bacteria, forming the outermost layer of their cell envelope. It serves as a protective barrier against environmental threats, including antibiotics and toxins, while also playing essential roles in nutrient uptake, signaling, and interaction with host organisms. The OM acts as a selective permeability barrier, protecting bacteria from harmful substances such as large hydrophobic antibiotics and environmental toxins. This property underlies much of Gram-negative bacteria’s intrinsic antibiotic resistance. OMPs mediate adhesion to host tissues, biofilm formation, immune evasion, and delivery of virulence factors such as adhesins and exotoxins. Some OMPs are directly involved in pathogenesis or serve as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Other names

Outer MembraneGram-Negative Outer MembraneOM

Disruption of membrane integrity; Inhibition of OMP function; Inhibition of LPS biosynthesis