Question

What makes gram negative bacteria more infectious than gram positive bacteria?

1) The outer layer contains lipopolysaccharide which is an immunogenetic, causing shock, fever, and blood clotting.
2) Contains a thin layer of peptidoglycan
3) Contains cholesterol in its cell wall
4) Gram negative bacteria possess a greater number of flagella which can lead to more movement.

Answer 1

Gram-negative bacteria are more infectious due to an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide which functions as an endotoxin, leading to intense immune reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gram-negative bacteria are often more infectious than Gram-positive bacteria primarily due to the structure of their cell wall and the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains LPS, which functions as an endotoxin, causing severe immune responses such as fever, shock, and blood clotting. By contrast, Gram-positive bacteria lack this outer membrane and have a simpler cell wall structure with a thick layer of peptidoglycan and teichoic acids. The varying structure and composition of the cell wall are crucial factors that contribute to the differences in infectious potential between these two groups of bacteria.