Microbial cell wall and biofilm polysaccharides

Microbial cell wall and biofilm polysaccharides are essential structural and functional components that protect bacteria and fungi from environmental stress and host immune defenses. In bacteria, peptidoglycan provides mechanical strength and osmotic protection, while lipopolysaccharides (LPS) serve as a critical permeability barrier in Gram-negative species (Sizar O, et al. StatPearls, 2023; Farhana A, et al. StatPearls, 2023). Fungal cell walls are primarily composed of chitin, glucans, and mannans, which are vital for maintaining cell shape and viability (Garcia-Rubio R, et al. Journal of Fungi, 2020). Beyond individual cells, exopolysaccharides (EPS) constitute the primary scaffold of the biofilm matrix, which shields microbial communities from antibiotic penetration and immune clearance (Flemming HC, et al. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2010). These polysaccharides are highly immunogenic and often serve as the primary interface between the pathogen and the host immune system. Therapeutic targeting of these polysaccharides involves inhibiting their synthesis, directly disrupting their structural integrity, or using enzymes to degrade the biofilm matrix to restore antibiotic efficacy. Because many of these structures are unique to microbes, they represent high-selectivity targets for antimicrobial development.

Other names

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)ExopolysaccharidesPeptidoglycanLipopolysaccharide (LPS)Cell wall glycansCapsular polysaccharidesTeichoic acidsBeta-glucans

Inhibition of polysaccharide biosynthesis (e.g., beta-glucan synthase inhibition), direct binding and disruption of the polysaccharide-rich outer membrane or cell wall, and enzymatic degradation of the biofilm matrix.