De La Salle Lipa

College of Education, Arts and Sciences

Science Area

Name Group
PRE-LAB BACTERIAL Section Schedule
REPORT MORPHOLOGY
2 Teacher Date

I. OBJECTIVES:
A. __________________________________________________________________
B. __________________________________________________________________
C. __________________________________________________________________

II. MATERIALS AND REAGENTS

A. Materials
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
B. Reagents
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

III. PROCEDURE
 De La Salle Lipa
College of Education, Arts and Sciences
Science Area

Name Group
ACTIVITY BACTERIAL Section Schedule
2 MORPHOLOGY
Instructor Date

The size, shape and arrangement of bacteria, and other microbes, is the result of their genes
and thus is a defining characteristic called morphology. Certain features of the bacterial cell such as
flagellation and presence of endospores also differentiate certain groups of bacteria. Knowledge on
bacterial morphology would be essential in the identification and classification of unknown
microorganisms.

The most common bacterial shapes are:

1. Rods or bacillus (pl. bacilli) - rods may be long, short, thick, thin, have rounded or pointed ends,
thicker at one end than the other, etc.
E.g. Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium
2. Round or coccus (pl. cocci) - cocci may be large, small, or oval shaped to various degree
E.g. Lactococcus lactis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus
3. Spiral - spiral shaped bacteria may be fat, thin, loose spirals or very tight spirals
E.g. Campylobacter sp.

It is also fascinating to know that bacteria also assume unusual shapes. There are square
bacteria, star-shaped bacteria, stalked bacteria, budding bacteria that grow in net-like arrangements
and many other morphologies.

Association of bacterial cells, in solid or liquid media, is also defining. Bacteria may exist mainly
as single cells or as common grouping such as chains, uneven clusters, pairs, tetrads, octads and other
packets. They may exist as masses embedded within a capsule (see Figure 2.1).

Some microorganisms exhibit true motility with the aid of flagella (sing. –um). Flagella are long,
rigid protein rods that provide movement to many motile bacteria. The position and number of flagella
can also aid in the identification of microorganisms (see Figure 2.2). They can be classified as:
1. Atrichous – no flagellum
2. Monotrichous – a single flagellum is located at one end of the cell
3. Lophotrichous – many flagella are grouped at one end of the cell
4. Amphitrichous – a single flagellum is located at both ends of the cell
5. Peritrichous – flagella are located all around the cell.

Another important consideration in classifying bacteria is the presence or absence of

endospores. Endospores are resistant structures capable of surviving for long periods in an
unfavourable environment and then giving rise to a new bacterial cell. The size, shape, and location of
a spore in the cell are all identifying genetic characteristics (see Figure 2.3).
 Fig. 2.2 Position and number of flagella in a bacterial cell.
(a) Monotrichous (b) Lophotrichous
(c) Amphitrichous (d) Peritrichous.

Fig. 2.3 Variations in endospore morphology. (1,

4) Central endospore, (2, 3, 5) terminal
endospore, (6) lateral endospores.

MATERIALS
Compound Microscope
Dropper
Lens Paper
Immersion Oil
Xylene

Prepared Slides of:

Bacillus subtilis
Corynebacterium diptheriae
Diplococcus smear
Lactobacillus sp.
Proteus vulgaris
Escherichia coli
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Sarcina lutea
Shigella dysenteriae
Spirillum
Spirulina w.m.
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus sp.
Vibrio sp.
PROCEDURES:
1. Construct a model of a bacterium and an animal cell as creatively as possible. Label the parts
completely and properly and supply the legend properly.

2. Observe the various prepared bacterial slides under HPO, and OIO and draw them.

3. Based on your observations, identify and tabulate the morphological characteristics of each
specimen including the presence or absence and location of flagella and endospores.

Organism Illustration (1) Pathogenic Shape Arrangement Flagella Endospore

(Scientific (OIO) or Non- (/ if present (1) / if present
pathogenic or X if absent;
name) or X if (2) location
(2) Disease it
causes if absent
pathogenic

POST LABORATORY QUESTIONS:

1.) Complete the following table of parts and functions of a bacterial cell.

Part Function(s)
Nucleoid
Ribosomes
Plasmid
LPS Layer
Cell Wall
Cell Membrane
Granules
Glycocalyx
Pili
Fimbriae
Flagella
Slime layer
Capsule
Endospore

2. Complete the following table by distinguishing a bacterium from an animal cell.

Criteria Bacteria Animal

Cell Wall
Ribosomes
Nucleus
Membrane-bound
organelles
DNA/Chromosome
Cell Division
3. What is the relationship between the presence of endospores and bacterial pathogenicity?
Name two disease-causing bacteria that produce endospores.

4. How do flagella produce movement?

5. What is the relationship between the presence of flagella and bacterial pathogenicity? Name
two disease-causing bacteria that have flagella.

6. What are the factors that contribute to the changes in the morphology of bacteria?

REFERENCES
Brown, Alfred and Heidi Smith. 2015. Benson’s Microbiological Applications. McGraw-Hill: New
York.
Fernandez, W.L. et al. 1986. General Microbiology Laboratory Manual. UPLB. pp. 21-22.
UST General Microbiology Manual
Harley, J.P. 2005. Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.:
New York.
Guerrero, Josephine B., et. Al. 2006. Microbiology and Parasitology: Laboratory Manual for
the Health Sciences (2nd Edition). C & E Publishing, Inc.: Quezon City.
http://mmbr.asm.org