MICROBIAL CONTROL MODES OF ACTION

Microbes are small living organisms impossible to see with the naked eye. In order to observe these organisms, light and electron microscopes have to be used with dyes. Some of these have different mechanisms or structures that cause them to have a greater resistance to antimicrobials. Structures like a thick peptidoglycan layer, outer membrane, or a thick keratin layer prevents chemicals from penetrating through and disrupting its function. Antimicrobial agents modes of action (MOA) target the cell wall, cell membrane, synthesis of protein and nucleic acid, and protein function; without these structures the cell cannot function and will lyse.

The function of the cell wall is to prevent osmolysis of the cell; antimicrobials targeting the cell wall will cause it to become more fragile and lyse. The cell membrane contains a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer by which antimicrobials target to lose its integrity because surfactant molecules integrate themselves into the cell membrane which disrupts the flow by lowering its surface tension. Agents like detergents, or soaps work in this mechanism of action (MOA). Protein and nucleic acid synthesis is important for processes of the cell such as replication, transcription, translation, and peptide bond formation; any agent targeting the synthesis of protein and nucleic acid will prevent the processes mentioned. Finally, the structure of a protein is important for its function because anything that disrupts its natural state will cause denaturation, change in shape, and blockage of active sites which disrupts its function.