Microbial cell wall and plasma membrane

The microbial cell wall and plasma membrane are fundamental structures that maintain the physical integrity and physiological homeostasis of bacteria and fungi. The bacterial cell wall is characterized by a peptidoglycan layer that prevents osmotic rupture, while the underlying plasma membrane facilitates selective permeability and bioenergetic processes (Silhavy et al., 2010, Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol). In fungi, the cell wall is composed of chitin and glucans, and the plasma membrane contains ergosterol, which serves as a key structural component distinct from human cholesterol (Garcia-Rubio et al., 2020, J Fungi). These structures are among the most successful targets in antimicrobial therapy due to their essentiality for microbial survival and their distinct biochemical composition compared to host cells (Kapoor et al., 2017, J Family Med Prim Care). Therapeutic agents such as beta-lactams and glycopeptides disrupt cell wall assembly, whereas lipopeptides and polyenes target the membrane to induce lethal permeability (Lewis, 2013, Nat Rev Drug Discov). However, the clinical utility of targeting these structures is increasingly challenged by the emergence of complex resistance mechanisms and potential off-target toxicities in human tissues (Breijyeh et al., 2020, Molecules).

Other names

Bacterial cell wallFungal cell wallCytoplasmic membranePeptidoglycan layerMicrobial envelopeCell surface

Inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis and cross-linking, disruption of cytoplasmic membrane integrity leading to ion leakage, inhibition of 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthesis in fungal cell walls, and binding to membrane sterols to form lethal pores.