Microbial cell envelope

The microbial cell envelope is a multilayered structure that surrounds the cell membrane and cell wall of bacteria, and in some cases includes an outer membrane. In Gram-positive bacteria, it consists of a thick peptidoglycan layer with teichoic acids; in Gram-negative bacteria, it includes a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane rich in lipopolysaccharide. The envelope is critical for maintaining cell shape, protecting against environmental stress, regulating transport, and facilitating host-pathogen interactions. The bacterial cell envelope is not a single molecular target, but its components—such as peptidoglycan, outer membrane proteins, and surface polysaccharides—are essential for survival and have become major therapeutic targets for antibiotics. Changes in the cell envelope can confer drug resistance and enhance bacterial pathogenicity. The term "microbial cell envelope" refers to a complex, not a precise molecular entity, so it does not align with the standard definition of a therapeutic target (such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter). Its components, such as peptidoglycan and outer membrane proteins, are bona fide molecular targets.

Other names

Bacterial cell envelopeProkaryotic cell envelopeCell envelope

Inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis (e.g., β-lactams, glycopeptides); Disruption of membrane function (e.g., polymyxins); Inhibition of other envelope assembly or maintenance processes