Microbial and viral lipid membranes

Microbial and viral lipid membranes are lipid bilayers that encase the genetic material and, in viruses, form the viral envelope. In viruses, the envelope is derived from host cell membranes and is embedded with viral glycoproteins essential for attachment and fusion with new host cells. For pathogenic microbes, lipid membranes (including the plasma membrane of bacteria or fungi) serve as essential barriers, targets for antibiotics and antifungals, and platforms for protein anchoring. Viral lipid membranes are critical for viral entry into and exit from host cells and for immune evasion. Because of their essential roles, these membranes are recurrent targets for direct-acting antivirals, antimicrobial compounds, and immune interventions, but are not considered "targets" in the classic sense of a single defined molecule and lack a standardized abbreviation or gene/protein symbol.

Other names

microbial membraneviral envelopemicrobial lipid bilayerviral lipid envelope

Disruption of membrane integrity Inhibition of membrane fusion (blocks entry/egress) Altered lipid composition (interferes with viral/microbial assembly and infectivity)