The role of bacterial lipid diversity and membrane properties in modulating antimicrobial peptide activity and drug resistance

This review provides an analysis of the role that membrane composition and structure plays in the resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We describe the current models of membrane disruption caused by AMPs and the changes in the structural properties that microbial membranes undergo in response to AMPs. This is followed by an outline of how the phospholipid composition of microbial membranes contributes to the changes in membrane bilayer structure and how the composition can be analysed in significant detail by modern lipidomic techniques. Finally, we discuss the challenges to fully analyse microbial membrane composition and structure that may occur during the development of resistance to AMPs.