(4) Cell Wall Gram positive bacteria stain blue-purple with gram stain while Gram negative does not. Gram positive bacteria contain a thick peptidoglycan layer while gram negative bacteria contain an extra outer lipid layer with a very thin peptidoglycan layer. Most pathogenic bacteria are Gram negative. Gram negative cell walls contain a thin peptidoglycan layer (without teichoic acids) that is surrounded by a thick plasma membrane. Gram positive bacteria will stain purple because of their thick peptidoglycan cell wall.
Cell Wall | Cell Wall is 20-30 nm thick. | Cell Wall is 8-12 nm thick. |
Cell Wall | The wall is Smooth. | The wall is wavy. |
Peptidoglycan Layer | Thick (multilayered) | Thin (single-layered) |
Teichoic Acids | Present in many | Absent |
Periplasmic Space | Absent | Present |
Outer Membrane | Absent | Present |