This review focuses on the era of antibiosis that led to a better understanding of bacterial morphology, in particular the cell wall component peptidoglycan. This is an effort to take readers on a tour de force from the concept of antibiosis, to the serendipity of antibiotics, evolution of beta-lactam development, and the molecular biology of antibiotic resistance. These areas of research have culminated in a deeper understanding of microbiology, particularly in the area of bacterial cell wall synthesis and recycling. In spite of this knowledge, which has enabled design of new even more effective therapeutics to combat bacterial infection and has provided new research tools, antibiotic resistance remains a worldwide health care problem.

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Beta-lactam Antibiotics: From Antibiosis to Resistance and Bacteriology

SUMMARY: The envelope of Escherichia coli B exhibited areas at which cell wall and protoplasmic membrane were intimately associated. These areas became visible in ultrathin sections after the bacteria had been fixed and embedded in plasmolysed state. At numerous areas the protoplasmic membrane was observed to adhere to the wall, while the protoplast had shrunk. Duct-like extensions of the protoplasmic membrane were thus formed. Two hundred to 400 of these wall membrane associations are found per bacterium of E. coli B. In a number of cells the chromosomal material is seen in close proximity or connected to a wall membrane association.

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Areas of Adhesion between Wall and Membrane of Escherichia coli

Bagshaped macromolecules--a new outlook on bacterial cell walls.

SUMMARY: The structure conferring rigidity and shape on the complex cell wall of Escherichia coli strain B has been isolated in a state virtually free from other wall material. It shows a characteristic surface pattern which, together with observations on its mode of disintegration by phage enzyme or lysozyme, indicates the fairly simple principles of its construction.

The rigid layer of the cell wall of Escherichia coli strain B.

SUMMARY: A method is described for simultaneous estimation of pool constituents, protein, nucleic acids, cell-wall mucopeptide, and possibly teichoic acid in a single sample of S. aureus. The method makes possible isolation of the cell-wall mucopeptide contaminated by less than 5% of the cytoplasmic protein. It is suitable for studies of biosynthesis, with radioactive precursors, and requires approximately 3 mg. cell/sample.

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J. Primosigh

Papers

Biochemical parallels between lysis by virulent phage and lysis by penicillin.