Microbial cell envelope and organic biofilm matrix (EPS matrix)

The microbial cell envelope and organic biofilm matrix constitute the essential structural and protective layers of microorganisms, serving as the primary interface between the microbe and its environment (Silhavy, T. J., et al., 2010). The cell envelope, comprising the cell wall and membranes, maintains osmotic pressure and provides a scaffold for surface proteins, while the biofilm matrix—a complex mixture of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) like polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA—encapsulates microbial communities (Flemming, H. C., & Wingender, J., 2010). These structures are vital for survival, facilitating adherence to host tissues or medical devices and acting as a formidable barrier against host immune cells and antimicrobial agents (Hall-Stoodley, L., et al., 2004). In clinical settings, these components are major therapeutic targets for various antimicrobial classes. For instance, beta-lactam antibiotics inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in the cell wall, while agents like DNase target the eDNA within the biofilm matrix to promote dispersal (Koo, H., et al., 2017). Disruption of these barriers is often necessary to allow other drugs to reach their intracellular targets. Understanding the composition and dynamics of these barriers is crucial for developing strategies to combat chronic infections and the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Other names

Bacterial cell wallFungal cell wallExtracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrixBiofilm scaffoldMicrobial integument

Inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis (e.g., peptidoglycan cross-linking), disruption of membrane integrity, and enzymatic or chemical degradation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) to destabilize the biofilm architecture (Koo, H., et al., 2017; Silhavy, T. J., et al., 2010).