Why-is-penicillin-effective-at-killing-bacterial-cells-but-not-human-cells

Penicillin is effective at killing bacterial cells but not human cells because it targets and attacks unique components of bacterial cells that are not present in human cells. Specifically, penicillin targets the cell walls of bacteria, which are made up of a unique molecule called peptidoglycan. Human cells do not have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, so penicillin does not harm them. However, bacterial cells rely on their cell walls for structural support and protection, so the destruction of the wall by penicillin causes the bacteria to burst and die. This specificity of penicillin makes it an effective treatment for bacterial infections while having minimal impact on human cells.