Kasugamycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, potently inhibits both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, binds to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome, and suppresses protein synthesis. Kasugamycin was studied in clinical use for urinary tract infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was investigated its therapeutic effect on respiratory infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Experiments in vitro showed that kasugamycin did not have any appreciable effect against a variety of bacteria tested. The only exceptions were several species of gram-negative bacteria, against which antibiotics that are more satisfactory already exist. That is why further evaluation of kasugamycin for potential human use as an antipseudomonal was discontinued.

N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) is a bacterial cell wall component. Peptidoglycan, also called murein, is a polymer that consists of long glycan chains that are cross-linked via flexible peptide bridges to form a strong but elastic structure that protects the underlying protoplast from lysing due to the high internal osmotic pressure. The peptidoglycan is the only cell wall polymer common to both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The glycan chain is built up of alternating, β-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) subunits. The chemistry of the glycan chains varies only slightly between different bacteria.