Pathogenic bacterial cell membrane

The **pathogenic bacterial cell membrane** refers to the lipid-protein bilayer structure that encases the cytoplasm of pathogenic bacteria. In Gram-negative organisms, it comprises both an inner (cytoplasmic/plasma) membrane and an outer membrane rich in lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while Gram-positive bacteria possess a thick peptidoglycan layer external to the plasma membrane[1][2][4][6][8]. The membrane serves essential functions, including acting as a selective barrier, maintaining energy transduction for processes like respiration, hosting a variety of transporters and enzymes, and presenting surface structures crucial for bacterial virulence and immune evasion[3][5][8]. Many antibiotics target the cell membrane directly or indirectly (e.g., polymyxins, daptomycin, beta-lactams), though therapeutic membrane targeting is challenging due to the structural similarities with host cell membranes and the high adaptability of bacterial membrane composition[4][6][8]. Critical Note: This entry is **incorrect as a therapeutic target** in molecular pharmacology because "pathogenic bacterial cell membrane" is a broad structural entity, not a single defined molecular target (e.g., receptor, enzyme, transporter). Therapeutic strategies generally focus on molecular components or functions within the membrane (e.g., LPS, porins, penicillin-binding proteins, efflux pumps), rather than the membrane as an undifferentiated whole. Thus, this entity should be broken down into its component molecular targets for accurate drug discovery or structured data extraction[2][4][6].

Other names

Bacterial cytoplasmic membraneBacterial plasma membraneBacterial membraneCell envelope (may be inaccurately used)

Disruption of membrane integrity (polymyxins, detergents); Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (beta-lactams indirectly impact membrane function but primarily target peptidoglycan); Depolarization/ion leakage (daptomycin, ionophores); Inhibition of membrane-associated enzymes/proteins