

Between the outer membrane and the cytoplasmic membrane there is a space filled with a concentrated gel-like substance called periplasm.Porins exist in the outer membrane, which act like pores for particular molecules.Has outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS, which consists of lipid A, core polysaccharide, and O antigen) in its outer leaflet and phospholipids in the inner leaflet.A thin peptidoglycan layer is present (this is much thicker in gram-positive bacteria).An inner cell membrane is present ( cytoplasmic).The drugs that specifically target gram-negative organisms include aminoglycosides, monobactams ( aztreonam) and ciprofloxacin.Ĭharacteristics Gram-negative cell wall structure Gram-positive and -negative bacteria are differentiated chiefly by their cell wall structureĬonventional gram-negative (LPS-diderm) bacteria display these characteristics: Many of these antibiotics also cover gram-positive organisms. piperacillin-tazobactam), Folate antagonists, quinolones, and carbapenems. Several classes of antibiotics have been designed to target gram-negative bacteria, including aminopenicillins, ureidopenicillins, cephalosporins, beta-lactam- betalactamase inhibitor combinations (e.g. This toxic reaction may lead to low blood pressure, respiratory failure, reduced oxygen delivery, and lactic acidosis – manifestations of septic shock. Additionally, the outer leaflet of this membrane comprises a complex lipopolysaccharide (LPS) whose lipid A component can cause a toxic reaction when bacteria are lysed by immune cells. They are a significant medical challenge as their outer membrane protects them from many antibiotics (including penicillin), detergents that would normally damage the inner cell membrane, and lysozyme, an antimicrobial enzyme produced by animals that forms part of the innate immune system. The gram-negative bacteria include the model organism Escherichia coli, as well as many pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Yersinia pestis. Gram-negative bacteria are found in virtually all environments on Earth that support life. They are characterized by their cell envelopes, which are composed of a thin peptidoglycan cell wall sandwiched between an inner cytoplasmic cell membrane and a bacterial outer membrane.

Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. Group of bacteria that do not retain the Gram stain used in bacterial differentiation Microscopic image of gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (pink-red rods)
