Trends in Microbiology
Volume 5, Issue 1, January 1997, Pages 37-42
Journal home page for Trends in Microbiology

Review
The bacterial outer membrane as a drug barrier

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-842X(97)81773-8Get rights and content

The outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria constitute a semi-permeable barrier, as indicated by the corresponding alterations in outer membrane permeability and in antibiotic susceptibility resulting from mutation or polycation action. Restricted outer membrane permeability works in synergy with co-determinant resistance mechanisms, such as the periplasmic enzyme β-lactamase or active efflux mechanisms, bringing about antibiotic resistance.

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