Microbial cell wall and cell envelope macromolecules

Microbial cell wall and cell envelope macromolecules are essential structural components that provide integrity, protection, and shape to bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria. In bacteria, the peptidoglycan layer is a critical polymer that prevents osmotic lysis and is a primary target for beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins, which inhibit the transpeptidation process [1, 5]. Gram-negative organisms feature an additional outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides, which acts as a permeability barrier and a potent endotoxin [2]. Mycobacteria possess a specialized cell envelope containing mycolic acids, targeted by antitubercular drugs such as isoniazid [3]. Fungal cell walls are distinct, composed of chitin and beta-glucans, the latter being the target of echinocandin antifungals [4]. Because these macromolecular structures are unique to microbes and absent in mammalian cells, they provide a high therapeutic index for antimicrobial agents [5].

Other names

Bacterial cell wallFungal cell wallCell envelopePeptidoglycan layerMycobacterial cell envelopeMicrobial cell envelope

Inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis through the disruption of peptidoglycan cross-linking, inhibition of mycolic acid or beta-glucan synthesis, or direct disruption of the cell membrane/envelope integrity.