Outer membrane
Outer Membrane
The outer membrane is a distinctive feature of Gram-negative bacteria, which forms a barrier and protects the bacteria from several types of antibiotics, dyes, and detergents that would otherwise damage the cell. It also plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many bacteria.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The outer membrane of the Gram-negative bacteria differ from other prokaryotes due to its unique lipid composition. It is composed of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), phospholipids, and lipoproteins. The LPS layer is an endotoxin and can trigger a strong immune response.
Function[edit | edit source]
The outer membrane serves as a protective barrier for the bacteria. It prevents the entry of several harmful substances including certain antibiotics, lysozyme, and detergents which would otherwise prove harmful to the bacteria.
Role in Pathogenesis[edit | edit source]
The outer membrane plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of the bacteria. The LPS layer can trigger a strong immune response during bacterial infections. Some bacteria can alter the structure of their outer membrane to evade the immune system.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Outer membrane Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD