Microbes

• Gram-positive bacteria are more susceptible to antibiotics that target the cell wall, such as penicillin.
• Bacteria can be classified into two main groups based on their cell walls: Gram-positive bacteria have thicker cell walls with multiple layers of peptidoglycan, while gram-negative bacteria have thinner cell walls with an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
• The cell wall is made up of peptidoglycan, which gives the bacterial cell its shape.
• Peptidoglycan consists of long chains of sugars crosslinked by short polypeptide strands.
• The cell wall protects against osmotic pressure and provides structural support.
• Peptidoglycan consists of long chains of sugar molecules crosslinked by short amino acid chains called peptide bridges.
• The cell wall also contains teichoic acids, which are polymers of sugars linked together by phosphodiester bonds.
• Some bacteria lack a cell wall altogether, relying instead on other structures like capsules or slime layers for protection.
• Teichoic acids play a role in maintaining the integrity of the cell wall and may contribute to virulence.
• Teichoic acids play a role in the attachment of proteins to the cell surface.