Structural Differences and Resistance Mechanisms in Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria: A Clinical Perspective

As per the findings of Hans Christian Gram, bacteria can be commonly classified into two major types: Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. The major difference between the two lies in the structural composition of their cell walls. While the former is covered with a thick layer of peptidoglycan (common to members of Monera), the latter has an additional membranous covering of lipopolysaccharides, making it more resistant to antimicrobial agents and more harmful to humans. This mini-review research aims to highlight the differences between the two, along with their impact on the medical world. For this, real-life examples like Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) have been studied. This paper is an original student-authored review based on open-access published literature. It has not been funded or presented elsewhere.