A bacterial cell wall’s view of penicillin

Stephen Paul Wren

I shroud the cytoplasmic.
Membranes are worth protecting.

Peptidoglycans grow my
spinal column; they cross-link.

A rigid reticulation dear to an absent heart.

There are meshes everywhere.
They make life interesting.
My viability rests
on transpeptidase;
it works

The cross-linking with fake needles and instant jurisdiction.

Penicillin is my nemesis, like reverse satin.
It enters my habitat,
binding to transpeptidase.
Such a bold beta-lactam!
It shocks me,
I’m answerless.

My mesh is inhibited.
I wither on vines that burn.
I’m thrashing around now, touching nothing
….ex-reprobate.

The Science

Bacterial cell walls are held together in a strong mesh-like arrangement. This helps to protect the cells. When penicillin comes along it interrupts with this strong structure and leaves bacteria in a weak state (by becoming prone to environmental pressures). Thus, the poem speaks to the sudden failure of bacteria in a world that introduces the well known antibiotic penicillin.

The Poet

Dr Stephen Paul Wren was educated at Cambridge and worked as a chemist in industry for many years. He transitioned back into academia at Oxford University (St Hilda’s College) before joining Kingston University in September 2018 where he works as a Senior lecturer. Stephen’s poetry can be read at here and you can find him on Twitter @Stephen34343631.

Next poem: Al-Chemists by Lynn White