Why are gram negative bacteria likely to be more pathogenic than gram positive bacteria?
Yes, your right that gram negative bacteria have less peptidogylcan in the cell wall. One of the several unique characteristics of Gram-negative bacteria is the structure of the outer membrane. Gram negative bacteria have a unique outer membrane structure different to that of gram positive bacteria. This membrane contains a complex lipopolysaccharide which acts as an endotoxin. This is not present in Gram + bacteria. This outer membrane protects the bacteria from several antibiotics, which would normally damage the inner membrane or cell wall (peptidoglycan). The outer membrane provides these bacteria with resistance to lysozyme and penicillin.. Other drugs can be used, for example chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid. edit: to the first answerer, our cells or namely eukaryotic cells do not contain a cell wall and that is not why gram negative bacteria are less susceptible to some antibiotics. I hope this helps.
