S t r u c t u r e & C l a s s i f ic a t i o n o f Microbes
MICROORGANISM……? 🠶 Micro means small, very small, can’t see by naked eyes. 🠶 Whi c h can b e s e en b y u s ing electron microscope..
Classification of Microorganism 🠶 All living organisms are classified into the five kingdoms of life : Monera Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Kingdom Monera 🠶 Monera is non-nucleated unicellular organisms. 🠶 They are prokaryotes. 🠶 They have a cell wall. They have no membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi complex. 🠶 Th e y lac k a tr u e n u cl e u s . I n st e ad, th e y h ave n u cle o id , ge n et i c material without a nuclear membrane. 🠶 Examples i n c lud e B acteria, c y a n ophy c eae ( Blu e -G reen a l g ae), Nitrogen-fixing organisms etc.
Kingdom Monera Some examples include: 🠶 Helicobacter pylori. 🠶 E. coli. 🠶 Hay bacillus. 🠶 Salmonella. 🠶 Staphylococcus aureus.
Kingdom Protista 🠶 Protista are simple eukaryotic organisms that are neither animals, plants nor fungi. 🠶 Protista are unicellular in nature, or they can be found as a colony of cells. 🠶 Most Protista live in water, damp terrestrial environments, or even as parasites. 🠶 The term ‘Protista’ is derived from the Greek word “protistos”, meaning “ the very first “. 🠶 The cell of these organisms contain a nucleus which is bound to the organelles. Some of them even possess structures that aid locomotion like flagella or cilia.
Kingdom Protista 🠶 Ex a mples o f p r ot i s ts i n c l u de a l ga e , amoeb a s , eu g l e na, plasmodium, and slime molds.
Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Fungi 🠶 A fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms . These organisms are classified as a kingdom, fungi. 🠶 Fungi are eukaryotic , non-vascular, non-motile and heterotrophic organisms. 🠶 They may be unicellular or filamentous. 🠶 They reproduce by means of spores. 🠶 Fungi exhibit the phenomenon of alternation of generation.
Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Plantae 🠶 Plants: Kingdom Plantae . 🠶 Kingdom Plantae includes all the plants on the earth. 🠶 Th e y in c lu d e fa m i lia r orga n is ms such a s tree s , h e r b s , b u s h e s , grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. 🠶 Th e y are m ul t ice l l u l ar, e u kar y otes and con s is t o f a ri g i d st r u c tu r e that surrounds the cell membrane called the cell wall. 🠶 Plants also have a green colored pigment called chlorophyll that is quite important for photosynthesis.
Kingdom Plantae
Kingdom Animalia 🠶 A l l a n i m a l s are m e m b ers o f the K ingdo m Ani m al i a , a ls o ca l led Metazoa. 🠶 This Kingdom does not contain prokaryotes. 🠶 There are over 9 million species of animals found on Earth. 🠶 They range from tiny organisms made up of only a few cells, to the polar bear and the giant blue whale. 🠶 A l l o f the orga n is ms i n t h i s k i ngdom are m ul tice l l u l ar and heterotrophs - that means they rely on other organisms for food.
Kingdom Animalia
Classification of Microbes 🠶 M i c r oorg a n i s m s are a varied gro u p o f s e veral d i s t in ct c l a s s es of living beings classified under the Kingdom Protista. 🠶 Based on differences in cellular organization & biochemistry, Protista has been divided into two groups : 🠶 Prokaryote s & 🠶 E u kar y ote s .
Con t .… 🠶 Bacteria & blue-green algae are prokaryotes & while fungi, slime molds & protozoa are eukaryotes.
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes Nucleus Nuclear membrane Absent Present Nucleolus Absent Present Chromosome Circular (1) Linear (>1) Cytoplasm Mitochondria Absent Present Lysosomes Absent Present Golgi apparatus Absent Present Endoplasmic reticulum Absent Present Chemical composition Sterols Absent Present Muramic acid Present Absent Some differences between prokaryotes & eukaryotes
Prokaryotic cell
Size of bacteria 🠶 The u n i t o f m e as u r e m e n t u s ed i n ba c ter iolog y i s the micr o n (micrometer, µm). 🠶 The limit of resolution with the unaided eye is about 200 microns. 🠶 Bact e r i a, b eing much s mal ler , c a n b e vis ua li z ed o n l y u n der magnification. 🠶 Bact e r i a o f m e dic a l i m porta n ce ge n eral l y m ea s u re 0.2 - 1.5 µm in diameter & about 3-3 µm in length.
🠶 Morphology is a branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms & with relationships between their structures. Particular form, shape or structure. Morphological types of bacteria
Morphological types of bacteria 🠶 Bact e r i a are clas s if i ed according to their shape. 1. Cocci b e r – from kokko s mea n ing ce ry. They are spherical or oval lls.
Morphological types of bacteria 2. Bacilli -From baculus meaning rod. -They are rod shaped cells.
Morphological types of bacteria 3. Vibrio - They are comma-shaped cu from their characteristic vibratory motility.
Morphological types of bacteria 4. Spirilla - They are rigid spiral forms.
Morphological types of bacteria 5. Spirochetes - word ca m e from s p eira ans coil & chaite means hair. me - th e y are f l e xuous s p ir a l forms.
Morphological types of bacteria Actinomycetes This word came from Actis ans ray & M y k e s m e ans me fungus. They are branching fil because of their resemblance to the radiating rays of the sun, when seen in tissue lesions.
Morphological types of bacteria 7. Mycoplasma cell - are bacteria that do not have a fi wall & hence do not possesses a xed shape. They occur as round or oval bodies & as interlacing filaments. - Mycoplasma are bacteria that have no cell wall and therefore have no definite shape.
Arrangement of cocci 🠶 Bact e r i a s o m e t i m e s s h ow c h arac t er is t ic s c e ll ul ar arra n g e m e n t or grouping . 🠶 Thus, cocci may be arranged in pairs, chains, group of four, group of eight, or grape like clusters.
Arrangement of cocci In pair- d=Diplococci In chain- Streptococci
Arrangement of cocci Group of 4- Tetrads Group of 8- Sarcina
Arrangement of cocci 🠶 In grape like clusters- staphylococci
Arrangement of bacteria 🠶 Some bacilli are arranged at angles to each other, presenting a Chinese latter pattern. They called corny bacterium.
Bacterial cell structure & functions
Cell wall 🠶 It is outer covering of most cells that protects the bacterial cell and gives it shape. 🠶 Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan (polysaccharides +n protein) AKA murein. 🠶 Mycoplasma are bacteria that have no cell wall and therefore have no definite shape. 🠶 The rigid structure of peptidoglycan gives the bacterial cell shape, surrounds the plasma membrane and provides prokaryotes with protection from the environment.
Cell wall 🠶 Goi n g fu rt h er out, the bacteri a l world d ivi d es i n to t w o m ajor classes: Gram-positive and Gram-negative . 🠶 Amount and location of peptidoglycan in the cell wall determines whether a bacterium is G+ve or G-ve.
Gram-positive 🠶 G+ve bacteria have a simpler chemical nature. 🠶 G +ve b a c t er i a po s s e s s th i c k cel l w a l l co n t a i nin g many laye r s of peptidoglycan and teichoic acids. 🠶 In G+ ve cells, peptidoglycan is the outermost structure and makes up as much as 90% of the thick compact cell wall. 🠶 The cell wall caries bacterial antigens that are important in their ability to cause disease & protect against disease.
Gram-negative 🠶 G-ve bacteria have relatively thin cell wall consisting of few layers o f pe p tidog l yca n sur r ounded b y a s e co n d lip i d m e mbrane containing lipopolysaccharides and lipoproteins 🠶 The LPS present on the cell walls of G-ve bacteria account for their endotoxic activity & O antigen specificity. 🠶 Peptidoglycan makes up only 5 – 20% of the cell wall and is not outermost layer, but lies between the plasma membrane and an outer membrane. 🠶 The endotoxins are responsible for inducing fever, tissue necrosis &death.
Gram-negative 🠶 The oute r mo st laye r o f the G - ve ba c ter i al c e l l w all i s c a l le d the outer membrane . 🠶 It is similar to the plasma membrane, but is less permeable . 🠶 It cont a in s various pro t e i ns ca l l e d oute r m e m bran e p r oteins (OMP) .
Cell wall characteristics Gram-positive Gram-negative Thickness Thicker Thinner Variety of amino acids Few Several Aromatic & Sulphur containing amino acids Absent Present Lipids Absent or scanty Present Teichoic acid present Absent
Cell wall 🠶 Antibiotics such as penicillin inhibit the formation of peptidoglycan cross-links in the bacterial cell wall. 🠶 The enzyme lysozyme , found in human tears, also digests the cell wall of bacteria and is the body's main defense against eye infections.
Cytoplasmic membrane 🠶 The cytoplasmic membrane or plasma membrane is a thin layer lining the inner surface of the cell wall. 🠶 Which separating it from the cytoplasm. 🠶 It works a s s e mip e r m eable m e m b ra n e b y r e g u l a t in g the f l o w of substances in and out of the cell. 🠶 It consists of both lipids and proteins. 🠶 It protects the cell from its surroundings.
Periplasmic space 🠶 Gram-nagative bacteria : -space between the cytoplasmic membrane and the cell wall and sp 🠶 Gram-positive bacteria : -space between the cytoplasmic membrane and the cell wall. 🠶 The periplasm is filled with water and proteins.
Periplasmic cell 🠶 However periplasm contains proteins and other molecules distinct from those in the cytoplasm because the membrane prevents the free exchange between these two compartments. 🠶 Periplasmic proteins have various functions in cellular processes including: transport, degradation and motility. 🠶 Periplasm controls molecular traffic entering and leaving the cell.
Cy t opla s m 🠶 Cytop l asm i s p ortion o f the c e l l that l ie s wit h i n the plas m a membrane. 🠶 s u b s tan c es wit h i n the plas m a m e m b ra n e, e x clud i ng the ge n etic material. 🠶 It is gel-like matrix composed of mostly water(4/5 th ), enzymes, nutrients, wastes, and gases. 🠶 It contains cell structures - ribosomes, chromosome and plasmids , as well as the components necessary for bacterial metabolism. 🠶 It carries o ut very impo rtant f u n ctions f or t he c e l l - g rowt h , metabolism, and replication .
Constituents of cytoplasm are… 🠶 Proteins including enzymes 🠶 Vitamins 🠶 Ions 🠶 Nucleic acids and their precursors 🠶 Amino acids and their precursors 🠶 Sugars, carbohydrates and their derivatives 🠶 Fatty acids and their derivatives
Ribosomes- protein synthesis machinery 🠶 It consists of RNA and protein. 🠶 Smaller than the ribosomes in eukaryotic cells-but have a similar function. 🠶 They are centers of protein synthesis.
Meso s omes 🠶 Mesosomes are seen as vesicular folds within the plasma membrane, protruding into the cytoplasm. 🠶 They are more prominent in Gram-positive bacteria. 🠶 They are the principal sites of the respiratory enzymes in bacteria & are like the mitochondria of eukaryotes in function.
Meso s omes 🠶 Mesosomes also coordinate nuclear & cytoplasmic division during binary fission due to their position near the nuclear body.
Intracytoplasmic inclusions 🠶 Inclusion bodies: Bacteria can have within their cytoplasm a variety of small bodies collectively referred to as inclusion bodies. 🠶 Some are called granules and other are called vesicles. 🠶 Inclusions are considered to be nonliving components of the cell that do not possess metabolic activity and are not bounded by membranes. 🠶 The most common inclusions are volutin, glycogen, lipid droplets, droplets, crystals and pigments.
Intracytoplasmic inclusions 🠶 Volutin granules need special staining techniques such as Albert’s or Ponder’s stain to demonstrate the granules more clearly. 🠶 Volutin granules are characteristically present in corynebacterium diphtheria & are believed to store energy for cell metabolism. 🠶 Polysaccharides granules & lipid granules are storage product. 🠶 Vacuoles are fluid containing cavities separated from the cytoplasm by a membrane. 🠶 Their function & significance are uncertain.
Nucleus 🠶 Bacterial nuclei may be seen by electron microscopy. 🠶 They appear as oval or elongated bodies, generally one per cell. 🠶 The bacterial chromosome is haploid & replicates by simple binary fission instead of mitosis as in other cells.
Nucleus 🠶 Bacteria may possess extra-nuclear genetic elements consisting of DNA, called plasmids, which carry genetic information. 🠶 They can be transmitted to daughter cells during binary fission & also transferred from one bacterium to another, either through conjugation or by bacteriophages. 🠶 They confer properties such as toxigenicity & drug resistance on the cell.
Slime layer & capsule 🠶 Many bacteria secrete a sticky material around the cell surface. 🠶 Wh e n t h i s i s or g a n iz e d i n to a s harply def i n e d st r u c t u r e , a s in streptococcus pneumonia, it is known as the capsule . 🠶 Capsules may be polysaccharide or polypeptide. 🠶 Large capsules may be readily demonstrated by negative staining with India ink, when they are seen as clear halos around organism, against a black background.
Slime layer & capsule 🠶 Capsules protect bacteria from lytic enzymes found in nature & also contribute to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria by inhibiting phagocytosis.
Flag e lla 🠶 Made up of protein subunits called flagellin. 🠶 Ea c h flag e ll um i s a t t ac h ed t o c el l m e m b ra n e w i t h the h e l p of proteins other than flagellin. 🠶 Flagella are the organ of the locomotion. 🠶 The basal region has a hook like structure and a complex basal body. The basal body consists of a central rod or shaft surrounded by a set of rings.
Flagellar Arrangement 🠶 Bacterial species differ in the number and arrangement of flagella on their surface. 🠶 Bacteria may have one, a few, or many flagella in different positions on the cell.
Flagellar Arrangement 🠶 Atrichous – no flagella 🠶 Monotrichous - single flagellum 🠶 Amphitrichous a flagellum at each end 🠶 Lophotrichous - clusters of flagella at the poles of the cell 🠶 Peritrichous - flagella distributed over the entire surface of the cell.
Fimbriae 🠶 Hollow, hair like structures made of protein is called fimbrie or pili. 🠶 They are shorter & thinner than flagella (about 0.5 µm long & less than 10 nm thick) & project from the cell surface as straight filaments. 🠶 They arise from the cell membrane.
Fimbriae 🠶 Fimbriae can be seen only under the electron microscope. 🠶 Th e y funct i on a s or g a ns o f a t t a c h m e n t, h e lpin g the c e l l a d h e re firmly to particles of various kinds.
Sp o res particularly 🠶 Some bacteria, m e m b ers o f the ge n era Bacillus & Clostridium have the ability to from highly resistant resting stages called spores.
Sp o res 🠶 Sporulation (formation of spores) helps bacterial survival for long periods under unfavorable conditions. 🠶 Ea c h ba c ter iu m forms one s p or e , w hich o n ge r mi n a t i on fo r m s a method of reproduction. 🠶 As bacterial spores are formed inside the parent cell, they are called endospores.
Sp o re 🠶 The fully developed spore has at its core the nuclear body, surrounded by the spore wall. 🠶 Outside this spore cortex, which is enclosed by multi layered tough spore coat. 🠶 Some spore have an additional outer covering called exosporium, which may have distinctive ridges & grooves. 🠶 E.g. B. anthracis.
Shape & position
Resistance 🠶 They are extremely resistant to drying & relatively resistant to chemicals & heat. 🠶 Though some spores may resist boiling for prolonged periods, spores of all medically important species are destroyed by autoclaving at 120 °C for 15 minutes. 🠶 Meth o ds o f st e ri li z a t io n & d i s infe c t io n s h o u l d e n s u re th a t s p ores are destroyed in addition to vegetative cells. 🠶 Spores germinate in optimal conditions.
Resistance 🠶 The spore wall is shed & the germ cell appears by rupturing the spore coat & elongates to form the vegetative bacterium.
Pleomorph i sm 🠶 Pleomorphism is the ability of some microorganisms to alter their morphology( shape & size), biological functions or reproductive modes in response to environmental conditions.