Mycobacterial Cell Wall

The mycobacterial cell wall is a highly complex, multilayered structure that is essential for the survival, virulence, and intrinsic drug resistance of Mycobacterium species, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). It is considered one of the most elaborate bacterial envelopes known and plays a central role in pathogenesis and immune evasion. The fundamental scaffold of the mycobacterial cell wall is the mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan (mAGP) complex. Many cell wall components are directly involved in modulating host immune responses. The unique composition—especially enzymes involved in biosynthesis or assembly of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactan, or mycolic acids—makes the cell wall an attractive target for anti-tubercular drugs. Disruption at any stage can compromise bacterial viability or virulence. Several current TB drugs act on these pathways or structures.

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis or assembly