Fig. 2. Influence of antibiotics with high and low molecular weight on bacteria in Mϕ. Mϕ engulf bacteria by forming specific vacuoles called phagosomes. An antibiotic with a low molecular weight penetrates into the cytosol and kills both extracellular and intracellular bacteria (A). An antibiotic with a high molecular weight is unable to penetrate into the cytosol and thus kills only extracellular bacteria (B). Mϕ, macrophages.
