BACTERIAL

GROWTH AND

PHYSIOLOGY

Bacterial growth & physiology

OUT COMES
By the end of the sessions, learners will be able
to:

Describe Bacterial requirement for growth

Classify microbes on the basis of preferred
temperature range
Explain how microbes are classified on the basis of
oxygen requirement
Describe Bacterial growth curve
Distinguish between different types of culture media

Definitions:
Bacterial growth:

- Increase in the size and number of organisms. It is

indicated by:
- Development of colonies on solid media.
- Turbidity of the fluid media.
Generation time (doubling time):

is the time between two successive divisions.

It may be as short as 13min. (e.g. V. cholerae)
and may reach 24 hrs (e.g. M. tuberculosis).

 Growth Requirements: these are essential

factors needed for bacterial growth; they are:

1. Nutrients.
2. Oxygen (O2).
3. Respiration and energy production.
4. Carbon dioxide (CO2).
5. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH).
6. Temperature.

a. Autotrophic bacteria
Utilize simple inorganic materials (CO2)
as a source of carbon and ammonium
salts as a source of nitrogen.
e.g. Saprophytic bacteria.

b. Heterotrophic bacteria
Require organic sources of carbon.
e.g. Pathogenic bacteria.

2. Oxygen (O2):
According to O2 requirements, bacteria are classified into:

e.g.
P. aeruginosa

e.g.
E. coli

e.g.
Bacteroids

e.g.
Cl. perfringens

e.g.
Helicobacter

Classification of bacteria according to O2

requirements:

- Aerobic respiration results in the production of energy

in the form of 38 ATP molecules.
- In aerobic respiration superoxide (O2-) radicals and
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are formed (highly toxic
molecules and detoxified by two superoxide
dismutase and catalase enzymes in aerobes).
- Anaerobic respiration results in the production of
energy in the form of 17 ATP molecules.
- Obligate anaerobes lack superoxide dismutase and
catalase and so they can not grow in presence of O2.

 Facultative anaerobes:

Fermentation results in the production of energy in the

form of 2 ATP molecules.
Aerotolerant organisms contain only superoxide
dismutase enzyme.
Microaerophlic organisms contain superoxide
dismutase and catalase enzymes but in low

concentration so they can use O2 in a low

concentration.

4. Carbon dioxide (CO2):

-The minute amount of CO2 present in air is sufficient
for most bacteria.
- Certain species require higher concentrations
(5 -10%) Of CO2 for growth (capnophilic) e.g.
Neisseria.

5. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH):

- Most microorganisms of clinical significance grow
best pH close to that of human body.
- Alkaliphlic microorganisms: grow better at an
alkaline pH (8-9), e.g. V. cholerae.
- Acidophlic microorganisms: grow better at an acidic
pH (4 or less), e.g. Lactobacilli .

6. Temperature:
- Mesophiles:
are organisms able to grow within a temperature range
of 20 40 C with an optimum temperature of 37 C,
e.g. most of human pathogens.
- Psychrophiles:
(cold-loving) are capable of growth at refrigeration
temperature (0 - 8 C), e.g. Flavobacterium.

- Thermophiles:
(heat-loving) grow best at high temperature (>60 C),
e.g. B.stearothermophilus.

GROWTH-PHASES (BACTERIAL GROWTH

CURVE):

Phase
Lag
phase

No. of viable
organisms

Constant at initial - Adaptation to new environment

number
- Formation of new enzymes

Exponential Markedly
(Log) Phase increase
Stationary
phase

Decline
(Death)
phase

Causes of events of the

phase

-High replication rate (Rr) in a

short time

Constant at a
high level

- Replication rate (Rr) = Death rate

(Dr) due to beginning of:
* exhaustion of nutrients and O2
* accumulation of Metabolites

Markedly
reduced

- Dr markedly > Rr due to massive:

* exhaustion of nutrients and O2
* accumulation of Metabolites
* Release of lytic enzymes from
dead organisms.

Artificial culture media

Media that are used for culturing specimens containing
bacteria

Types of culture media:

1- Fluid
2- Solid
Both types could be:
- Simple: e.g. broth, peptone water, nutrient agar.
- Enriched: e.g. blood agar, chocolate agar, Robertson
-

cooked meat.
Differential: e.g. blood agar, Mac Conkeys agar.
Selective: Lowenstein Jensen medium (L.J.).
Selective enriched: e.g. L.J.
Differential enriched: e.g. Blood agar.