CHAPTER 3: BACTERIA

Prokaryotes

smallest free living microorganisms comprising of bacteria and Archaea

Lack true nuclear membrane

Bacteria

Can exist as single cells or as cell clusters

Can grow in different kinds of environment
Can grow in nutritionally rich (compost) and nutritionally poor ( distilled water)
situations

Cell shape and size

0.1-0.2 um in diameter ( rare; Thiomargarita namibiensis)

Majority of the bacteria are 1-5 long and 1-2 diameter
The small size of bacteria makes a notable increased and more efficient transport rates.
This advantage allows bacteria far more rapid growth rates than eukaryotic cells.

Cell wall

The primary function is to provide a strong rigid structural component that can
withstand the osmotic pressures caused by high chemical concentrations of
inorganic ions in the cell.
Contains Peptidoglycans ( murein or glycopeptides ) N-acetyl muramic acid
and N-acetyl gluosamine

Gram staining

Gram positive cells are purple and Gram negative are red under the microscope

Crystal
violet

iodine

alcohol
solution

countersta
in

Gram negative

the cells lose the crystal violet-iodine complex and are rendered colorless
Multilayered structure
red under the microscope
Lipopolysaccharides determines the antigenicity and is extremely toxic to animals cells
-Three regions: Lipid A (responsible for toxic and pyrogenic properties)
Core polysaccharide
O-specific polysaccharide (contains abequose)

Lipoproteins

Gram positive

contain single type of molecules

purple under the microscope
contains acidic polysaccharides called teichoic acids
lipoteichoic acid molecules released by killed bacteria trigger an inflammatory response

Cytoplasmic membrane

involves in the transport of nutrients and electron

fragile, phospholipid layer
Eukaryotes have sterols ( cholesterols)
Mesosomes invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane
Selective barrier between the cytoplasm and the cell environment

Cytoplasm

Contains 80% of water, enzymes that generate ATP directly by oxidizing glucose and
carbon sources

Nucleoid

Singular, covalently, closed circular molecule of double stranded DNA complexed with
small amounts of proteins and RNA.

Plasmids

Small, circular pieces of double stranded extrachromosal DNA (capable of autonomous

replication and encode for many auxiliary functions.
Antibiotic resistance
Transfer readily from one organism to another, thereby increasing the spread of resistance

Ribosomes

Site of protein synthesis

Inclusion granules

Consists of storage materials composed of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorous

CELL SURFACE COMPONENTS

Flagella

Bacterial motility

Fimbriae

not involved in motility

consist of proteins and project from the cell surface
acts primarily as adhesins ( allowing organisms to attach to the surfaces)

haemagglutination and cell clumping in bacteria

Type I fimbriae of enteric (intestinal) bacteria best characterized fimbriae

Pili

Genetic exchange process of conjugation

Capsules

Tight, fairly rigid layer closely associated with the cells

Slime layers

Loosely associated with the cell

Both function to offer protection against desiccation, engulfment by phagocytes and

protozoa and to act as cement binding

BIOFILMS

Microbial habitat owing to the adsorption of nutrients

Contains multilayer communities
Enveloping the attached cells in a matrix of EPS ( extracellular polysaccharides )
Begins with the attaching of the cells to the surface through the use of adhesins

BACTERIAL SPORULATION

not part of the reproductive cycle but the spore is highly resistant that enables the
producing organisms to survive in adverse environmental conditions

BACTERIAL TOXINS
Normal flora

bacteria that are not pathogenic but can be opportunistic

Pathogenic
bacteria that is not a normal flora and cause diseases
cause host damage
Toxins

products of bacteria that produce immediate host cell damage

can be endotoxin ( cell wall related) or exotoxin ( products released extracellulary as
the organisms grow)

Endotoxin
Lipid A component
Multiple biological properties including the ability induce fever, initiate the complement
and blood cascades, activate B lymphocytes and stimulate production of tumor necrosis
factor
Released from lysed or damaged cells
Exotoxins
A-B toxins- consists of B subunit that binds to a host cell receptor and is covalently bond
to the A subunit that mediates the enzymic activities responsible for toxicity
Cytolytic toxins- do not have separable A and B portions ( hameolysins and
phospholipases )
Super antigens- stimulate large number of immune response cell resulting to massive
inflammatory reaction.