Bacteriology

The Microbial World of Bacteria

Presented by:
Arcibel B. Bautista, M.A.
Micro-Para Instructor

Bacteriology
Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms
which can exist either as independent
(free-living) organisms or as parasites
(dependent upon another organism for
life).
Bacteriology the study of bacteria

Nature of Bacteriology

Most

abundant and ubiquitous microorganisms

The first name of bacterium is its genus, and the
second its species.
Bacteria were initially classified by their shape, Gram
stain and oxygen requirements, supplemented by
biochemical and serological characters. Genetics is
now being used to established fundamental
relationships. Includes identification, classification
and characterization of bacterial species

Nature of Bacteriology
Bacteria

are prokaryotes with free circular

DNA, ribosomes, no mitochondria and a
peptidoglycan cell wall.
Bacterial Domains:

Archaea
Eubacteria

Methods in Identification of
Microorganism
1. Morphological Method (Microscopic)
used to observe the shape, form and
arrangement
2. Cultural Methods (Cultivation)- cultivating
the microorganism in appropriate culture
media
3. Biochemical Reactions used to
demonstrate the enzyme system
4. Serological Reactions used to
determine the antigen-antibody reactions

Cell Morphology
Varies greatly in size depending on the
shape
Shape:
cocci round or spherical-shaped
bacilli rod-shaped
spirilla spiral shaped

Arrangement dependent on binary fission

Morphology of Bacteria
1. Cocci spherical or round, berry
Staphylococcus grape-like clusters
Diplococcus in pairs
Streptococcus in chain
Gaffyka/ Tetrads in group of four
Sarcinae in cubical packets of eight
Micrococcus singly

Morphology of Bacteria
2. Rods- cylindrical or elongated, rods,
sausage or cigarette-shaped
Bacillus- in chains
Clostridium in singly
Corynebacterium palisade or
Chinese letter arrangement

Morphology of Bacteria
3. Spiral curved-rods or cork-screw shape
Vibrio cholerae comma-shaped
Campylobacter complete spiral,
helices, may appear as cork screw
Treponema pallidum Spirochetes
flexible & wiggle while moving

Bacterial Arrangement

Techniques for Microscopic

Examination of Bacteria
1. Living State bacteria are unstained,
colorless and morphology is distorted. Two
methods:
a. Wet Mount shape of the bacteria
is observed
b. Hanging drop shape and motility
of the bacteria are observed

Techniques for Microscopic

Examination of Bacteria
Two Types of Motility:
a. True motility one direction
b. Brownian Movement in random
motion and they move only due to
bombardment of the water molecule.

Techniques for Microscopic

Examination of Bacteria
2. Fixed state bacteria are dried, fixed on
the
slide
and
stained.
The
form,
arrangement and staining reaction can be
observed.

Genetic Composition

Contains DNA and RNA

Determines the degree of relatedness between
two different bacteria

Genetic Composition:
Central Dogma

Bacterial Characteristics
Cell Morphology
Staining Reactions
Motility
Colony Morphology
Atmospheric
Requirements
Nutritional requirements

Temperature
Requirements
Biochemical and
metabolic activities
Enzyme produced
Pathogenecity
Genetic Composition

Staining Reactions
Bacterial smear is prepared
Acidic and Basic dyes
Types of stains:
Simple stains shape and arrangement
Differential stains
Gram Staining
Acid-Fast Staining

Special stains
Capsule
Flagella
Endospore

Motility

Flagella or Axial filaments are used for

motility
Brownian movement if flagella is absent
Observed using the Hanging Drop
Method

Flagella
-

Also known as little whips

Delicate, hair-like process
Composed of protein sub-units called flagellin

Parts of Flagella
1. Basal or Granular Body
- found just beneath the cell wall &
attached to the cytoplasmic membrane
2. Hook-like structures
- found attached to the basal body
and provides the rotatory movement of the
flagellum
3. Filament
- long, thin, untapered serves as an
antennae

Classified according to the

Number and Location of Flagella
1. Atrichous no flagellum
2. Monotrichous one flagellum at one end
e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
3. Amphitrichous flagellum at both ends
4. Lopotrichous tuft / group of flagella at
one end
5. Peritrichous flagella all over the body
e.g. E. coli, Proteus vulgaris

Flagella and Bacterial Movement

Colony Morphology
Colony - forms a mound of piled bacteria
Observed when grown on a culture medium
Size, color, shape, elevation and margin are some
of the characteristics
Types of bacterial colonies:
R rough colonies
S smooth colonies

Colony Morphology
1. Form The form refers to the shape of
the colony. These forms represent the
most common colony shapes you are
likely to encounter.

Colony Morphology
1a. Size The size of
the colony can be a
useful
characteristic for
identification. The
diameter of a
representative
colony may be
measured. Tiny
colonies are
referred to as
punctiform.

Colony Morphology
1b. Surface Bacterial colonies are
frequently shiny and smooth in
appearance. Other surface descriptions
might be: veined, rough, dull, wrinkled
(or shriveled), glistening.

Colony Morphology
1c. Texture Several terms that may be
appropriate for describing the texture
or consistency of bacterial growth are:
dry, moist, mucoid, brittle, viscous,
butyrous (buttery).

Colony Morphology
1d. Color It is important to describe the
color or pigment of the colony. Also
include descriptive terms for any other
relevant optical characteristics such as:
opaque, cloudy, translucent, iridescent.

Colony Morphology
2. Elevation This describes the side view
of a colony. These are the most common.

Colony Morphology
3. Margin The margin or edge of a colony
(or any growth) may be an important
characteristic in identifying an organisms.
Several examples are shown below.

Colony Morphology
4. Opacity - For
example, transparent
(clear), opaque,
translucent (almost
clear, but distorted
vision, like looking
through frosted
glass), iridescent
(changing colors in
reflected light), etc.

Colony Morphology
5. Chromogenesis For example, white,
buff, red, purple, etc.

Colony Morphology
6. Consistency

Butyrous (butterlike)
Viscous or stringy
(a portion of it may
come off the agar
surface with the
transfer needle)

butyrous

Colony Morphology
6. Consistency
Rubbery (whole
colony comes off the
agar surface with the
transfer needle)
Dry, brittle or
powdery (colonies
that break when
touched by a needle)

Colony Morphology
7. Odor

Sweet
Putrefactive
Fruity

Atmospheric Requirements
Relationship to O2 and CO2
Aerobes - require O2 for survival
Obligate requires 20-21% O2 (Mycobacterium)
Microaerophiles O2 required in low concn.

Anaerobes does not requireO2 for survival

Obligate cease growth in the presence of O2
Facultative greater growth in the presence of O2
Aerotolerant continued growth even with O2

Capnophiles grows better with increased CO2

Bacteroids and Fusobacterium (aerobes)
Neisseria, Campylobacter and Haemophilus (anaerobes)

Nutrient Requirements
Essential elements: C,H,O,N,P,S
Trace elements: K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn
Energy Source:
Phototrophs use light
Chemotrophs use inorganic or organic chemicals

Carbon Source:
Autotrophs use carbon dioxide
Heterotrophs use organic compounds

Temperature Requirements
Psychrophiles
Thermophiles

Mesophiles
Extreme Thermophiles

Temperature Requirements

Temperature Requirements
In

addition to these three major groups, there are other

bacteria able
to
withstand
extremely
high
temperatures. These are called heat-resistant or
thermoduric bacteria. The spores of thermoduric
bacteria can even survive boiling

Biochemical and Metabolic Activities

Chemical reactions
Produce enzymes and waste products (toxins)
Catabolism (Biochemical Pathways)
Glycolysis glu to pyruvic acid
Krebs Cycle pyruvic acid to acidic metabolites
Electron Transport Chain Redox reaction (ATP)
Fermentation less energy; more acid and alcohol

Anabolism (Biosynthesis of Organic

Compounds)
Photosynthesis
Chemosynthesis

Enzyme Production
Enzymes acts as biological catalysts
Proteins that catalyze the rate of
biochemical reactions
Endoenzymes
Cellulase
Pectinase
Coagulase
Hyaluronidase
Collagenase
Protease

Phases of Bacterial Growth

Absorb nutrients,
synthesize enzymes,
prepare cell division
Maximal
multiplication
occurs by geometric
progression
Cell growth = cell
death
Bacteria die at a
rapid rate

Mechanism of Bacterial
Replication

Pathogenecity

Ability of a microbe to cause disease

Due to:
Presence of capsule
Presence of pili
Toxins
Cytotoxin
Neurotoxin

Enzymes produce

Medically Important Bacteria

Gram

Positive

Bacillus anthracis anthrax

Clostridium botulinum botulism
Clostridium perfringens gas gangrene
Clostridium tetani tetanus (lock jaw)
Corynebacterium diptheriae diptheria
Staphylococcus aureus septicemia
Streptococcus pyogenes scarlet fever, strep throat
Streptococcus pneumonia - pneumonia

Big 4 Food Pathogen

Listeria

monocytogenes
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Escherichia coli

Other Term
Escherichia

coli colon bacillus

Klebsiella pneumonia Friedlanders bacilli,
Bacillus mucosus capsulatus
Enterobacter aerogenes Aerobacter
Salmonella typhi Eberths bacilli
Salmonella enteritidis Gardners bacilli
Shigella dysenteriae Shiga bacilli
Shigella flexneri Strong bacilli
Shigella boydii Boyds bacilli
Shigella sonnei Sonne duval bacilli

Other Term
Rickettsia

prowasekii var prowasekii BrillZinsser dse.

Rickettsia prowasekii var mooseri Rickettsia
typhi
Rickettsia rickettsia Rocky Mountain fever
Rickettsia conori Mediterranean Spotted
fever
Rickettsia tsutsugamushi Rickettsia orientalis,
Japanese River fever

Other Term
Bordetella

pertussis Bordet-Gengou bacilli

Brucella Undulant fever, Malta fever,
Gibraltar fever, Mediterranean fever
Brucella abortus Bang bacillus
Corynebacterium diphtheriae Klebs Loefflers
bacilli, Chinese character appearance
Corynebacterium oris C. pseudotuberculosis

Other Term
Mycobacterium

tuberculosis Kochs bacilli,

cauliflower colonies
Mycobacterium leprae Hansens bacilli
Bacillus anthracis Anthrax bacilli, box-car
shaped bacilli, medusa head bacilli, lion head
bacilli,

Other Term
Clostridium

tetani Tack head bacilli, Drumstick

bacilli, Lollipop bacilli, Tennis racket bacilli
Clostridium perfringens Bacillus aerogenes
capsulatus
Clostridium botulinum Canned good bacilli
Yersinia pestis Plague bacilli
Vibrio cholerae Comma bacillus, Pfeiffers
phenomenon

Other Term
Pseudomonas

water bag organism

Pseudomonas mallei Glanders bacilli
Moraxella lacunata Morax Axenfeld bacilli
Hemophilus influenzae Pfeiffers bacilli,
satellite phenomenon
Hemophilus aegyptus Kock-Weeks bacilli,
pink-eye disease
Hemophilus ducreyi Ducreys bacilli,
Chancroid bacilli (school of red fish)

Skin Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Impetigo

Folliculitis

Pathogen

Characteristics

Treatment

Staphylococcus aureus;

Superficial skin

Penicillin for

occasionally, Streptococcus

infection; isolated

Streptococcus

pyogenes

pustules

Staphylococcus aureus

Infection of hair

Drain pus, penicillin

follicle

Toxic shock syndrome

Staphylococcus aureus

Fever, rash, shock

Penicillin

Necrotizing fasciitis

Streptococcus pyogenes

Extensive tissue

Surgical removal of

destruction

tissue; penicillin

Skin Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Erysipelas

Pathogen
Streptococcus pyogenes

Characteristics
Reddish patches on

Treatment
Penicillin

skin; often with high

fever

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Superficial rash

Usually self-limiting

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Superficial infection

Fluoroquinolones

dermatitis

Otitis externa

of external ear canal

Acne

Propionibacterium acnes

Inflammatory lesions

Benzoyl peroxide,

originating with

isotretinoin

accumulations of sebum

azelaic acid

that rupture a hair follicle

Eye Diseases
Bacterial Diseases

Neonatal gonorrheal opthalmia

Inclusion conjunctivitis

Causative Agent

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Chlamydia trachomatis

Characteristics

Treatment

Acute infection with much pus

Silver nitrate, tetracycline

formation; If treatment is delayed,

or erythromycin for

ulcers form on cornea

prevention

Swelling of eyelid, mucus and pus

Tetracycline

formation

Trachoma

Chlamydia trachomatis

Conjunctivitis causes scarring of

eyelid that mechanically damages
cornea, often causing secondary
infections

Tetracycline

Cardiovascular &
Lymphatic Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Septic shock

Pathogen

Comments

Gram negative enterococci;

Life-threatening complications of sepsis,

Group B streptococci

Gram negatives, which release endotoxin

are especially hard to treat.

Puerperal sepsis

Streptococcus pyogenes

Life-threatening complication of childbirth

or abortion

Endocarditis
Subacute bacterial

Acute bacterial

Mostly alpha hemolytic

Bacteria lodge in heart valves and may

streptococci

cause fatal damage

Staphylococcus aureus

More rapidly progressive damage to heart

Cardiovascular &
Lymphatic Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Pericarditis

Pathogen
Streptococcus pyogenes

Comments
Affects sacs surrounding heart; rapidly
progressive

Rheumatic fever

Group A beta hemolytic

Probably an auto immune condition;

streptococci

repeated streptococcal infections result in

antibodies that damage the heart tissue

Tularemia

Francisella tularensis

Results from infection handling small

animals such as rabbits; enters by skin
abrasions, ingestion, inhalation and bites

Brucellosis

Brucella spp.

Formerly mostly acquired by ingesting cow

or other milk; now mostly by contact with

animal carcasses. Pathogen grows within
phagocytic cells
Anthrax

Bacillus anthracis

Endospores occur in soils and infect grazing

animals, proliferating in blood, inhalation

of endospores causes especially dangerous

type.

Cardiovascular &
Lymphatic Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Gangrene

Pathogen
Clostridium perfringens

Comments
Caused by contamination of an open
wound by clostridial endospores;
toxins destroy adjacent tissue

Cat-scratch disease

Bartonella henselae

Systematic infection; prolonged fever;

may be fatal

Plague

Yersinia pestis

Classically transmitted by fleas from a

reservoir in rats in Western U.S. endemic
in rodents

Relapsing fever

Borrelia spp.

Symptoms include a series of fever peaks as

new populations of bacteria evade the host's
developing immunity

Cardiovascular &
Lymphatic Diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Lyme disease

Pathogen
Borrelia burgdorferi

Comments
A tickborne disease in areas of high deer
populations; complications may include
cardiac and neurological problems

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichia spp.

A tickborne flu-like disease caused by rickettsiae;

human granulocytic ehrlichiosis can be fatal

Epidemic typhus

Rickettsia prowasekii

A louseborne rickettsial disease, characterized

by high fever; high mortality rate

Endemic murine typhus

Rickettsia typhi

A fleaborne rickettsial disease; rodents are the

reservoir . Resembles epidemic typhus but

mortality rate is low

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Rickettsia rickettsii

A tickborne rickettsial disease, characterized by

rash, fever, headache; high mortality rate.

Digestive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the Mouth
Dental caries

Pathogen
Primarily Streptococcus mutans

Comments
Accumulation of plaque allow localized
acid production by bacteria, forming
hole in tooth

Periodontal disease

Porphyromonas spp.

Presence of bacterial plaque initiates

inflammatory response that destroys
bone and tissue

Digestive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the Lower
Digestive System
Staphylococcal food poisoning

Pathogen
Staphylococcus aureus

Comments
An exotoxin in food causes rapid onset of
nausea, vomitting and diarrhea

Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery)

Shigella spp.

Bacteria are shed in human feces; ingested;

they invade and multiply epithelial cells.
Infections spreads to neighboring cells,
causing tissue damage and dysentery.

Salmonellosis

Salmonella enterica

Bacteria inhabitants of animal intestinal tracts

contaminate foods; when ingested, they
invade and multiply intestinal epithelial cells.
They do not invade neighboring cells but can
enter the bloodstream, causing nausea and
diarrhea.

Digestive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the Lower
Digestive System
Typhoid fever

Pathogen
Salmonella typhi

Comments
Typhoid pathogen is shed in human feces;
incubation period about 2 weeks. Symptoms
include high fever, disseminated infection,
significant mortality rate.

Cholera

Vibrio cholerae O:1 and O:139

Exotoxin causes diarrhea and large loss of water

and electrolytes; no invasion of tissue.

Vibrio gastroenteritis Non-O1

Vibrio cholerae

Mild diarrhea

Vibrio parahemolyticus

Vibrio parahemolyticus

Exotoxin causes cholera-like diarrhea, milder

Vibrio vulnificus

Very dangerous for people suffering from

(gastroenteritis)

Vibrio vulnificus
(Gastroenteritis)

liver disease

Digestive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the Lower Digestive
System

Pathogen

Comments

Cont.
Enterotoxigenic E.coli

Escherichia coli

(gastroenteritis)

Enteroinvasive E.coli

Watery diarrhea that resembles mild form of

cholera; typical traveler's diarrhea

E. coli

Enterotoxin causes Shigella-like dysentery

E.coli O157:H7

Causes hemorrhagic colitis (very bloody stools)

(Gastroenteritis)

Enterohemorrhagic E.coli
(gastroenteritis)

and hemolytic uremic syndrome (blood in

urine, possible kidney failure)

Campylobacter
(gastroenteritis)

Campylobacter jejuni

Microaerophilic pathogen found in animal

intestinal tracts very common cause of
gastroenteritis

Digestive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the Lower
Digestive System

Helicobacter

Pathogen

Helicobacter pylori

(peptic ulcer disease)

Yersinia (gastroenteritis)

Comments

Pathogen is adapted to survive in stomach;

presence leads to peptic ulcers

Yersinia enterocolitica

Pathogen is inhabitant of intestinal tract of animals;

grows slowly at refrigerator temperatures. Symptoms

are abdominal pain and diarrhea usually mild. May be

confused with appendicitis.

Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens

Usually limited to diaarhea

Bacillus cereus

May take form of diarrhea or nausea and vomiting;

(Gastroenteritis)

Bacillus cereus
(Gastroenteritis)

probably cause by different toxins.

Nervous System Disease

Bacterial Diseases

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis

Pathogens

H. influenzae

Comments

Occurs primarily in children under age of 4;

childhood vaccine is decreasing incidence of
disease

Meningococcal meningitis

Neisseria meningitidis

Affects mostly children under age of 2. Group

A causes widespread epidemics in Africa; group

C in United States causes local outbreaks

Pneumococcal meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Occurs in children under age of 4; and hospitalized

elderly. Highest mortality rate of bacterial
meningitis.

Nervous System Disease

Bacterial Diseases

Listeriosis

Pathogens

Listeria monocytogenes

Comments

Usually transmitted by contaminated food. Main

damage is to fetus.

Tetanus

Clostridium tetani

Toxin formed in contaminated wound causes

uncontrolled muscle contractions, eventual
respiratory failure.

Botulism

Clostridium botulinum

Toxin preformed in food is ingested; causes

paralysis and respiratory failure

Leprosy

Mycobacterium leprae

Bacteria grow in PNS, eventually cause

extensive tissue damage

Respiratory System Diseases

Bacterial Diseases of the Upper Respiratory System
Bacterial Diseases
Streptococci pharyngitis

Pathogen

Characteristics

Streptococcus pyogenes

Inflamed mucous membrane of the thorax

Erythrogenic toxin-producing strains of

Streptococcal exotoxin causes skin and tongue

Streptococcus pyogenes

reddening, peeling of affected skin

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Bacterial exotoxin interferes with protein

(Strep throat)

Scarlet fever

Diphtheria

synthesis; damaged heart, kidneys, and other

organs. Membranes forms in throat. Cutaneous
form also occurs

Otitis media

Several agents, especially Staphylococcus

Accumulation of pus in middle ear build up

aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and

painful pressure on eardrum.

Hemophilus infleunzae

Respiratory System Diseases

Bacterial Diseases of the Lower Respiratory Systems
Bacterial Diseases
Pertussis (Whooping cough)

Pathogen
Bordetella pertussis

Characteristics
Cilia in upper respiratory tract inactivated,
mucus accumulates, spasms of intense coughing
to clear mucus

Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tubercle bacilli enetring lungs survive

Mycobacterium bovis

phagocytosis, reproduce in macrophages.

Tubercle formed to isolate pathogen. Defenses
eventually fail, and infection becomes systemic.

Pneumococcal pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Infected alveoli of lung fill with fluids; interferes

with oxygen uptake

Hemophilus influenzae
(Pneumonia)

Hemophilus influenzae

Symptoms resemble pneumococcal pneumonia

Respiratory System Diseases

Bacterial Diseases
Mycoplasmal pneumonia

Pathogen
Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Characteristics
Mild but persistent respiratory symptoms; low
fever, cough, headache

Legionellosis

Legionella pneumophila

Potentially fatal pneumonia that tends to affect

older males who drink or smoke heavily. Pathogen
grows in water such as air-conditioning towers.

Psittacosis (ornithosis)

Chlamydia psittaci

Symptoms, if any are fever, headache, chills. Most

commonly spread by contact with exudates of fowl.

Chlamydial pneumoniae

Chlamydia pneumoniae

Mild respiratory illness common in young people;

resembles mycoplasmal pneumonia

Q fever

Coxiella burnetti

Mild respiratory disease lasting 1-2 weeks

Occasional complications such as endocarditis occur.

Urinary System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the
Urinary System

Cystitis (Urinary bladder)

Pathogen

Escherichia coli

Comments

Difficulty or pain in urination

Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)

Primarily E.coli

Fever, back or flank pain

Leptospirosis (kidney infection)

Lepstospira interrogans

Headaches, muscular aches,

fever; kidney failure a possible
complication

Reproductive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the
Reproductive System

Gonorrhea

Pathogen

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Comments

Males: painful urination and discharge of pus

Females: few symptoms but possible
complications such as PID

Non Gonococcal Urethritis

Chlamydia or other bacteria

Painful urination and watery discharge. In

(NGU)

including Mycoplasma hominis

females, possible complication such as PID

and Ureaplasma urealyticum

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

N. gonorrhoeae

(PID)

Chlamydia trachomatis

Chronic abdominal pain; possible infertility

Reproductive System Diseases

Bacterial Disease of the
Reproductive System
Syphilis

Pathogen

Treponema pallidum

Comments

Initial sore at site of infection, later skin rashes

and mild fever. Final stages may be severe
lesions, damage to cardiovascular and nervous
systems. Today, few progress to tertiary stage.

Lyphogranuloma venereum (LGV)

Chlamydia trachomatis

Swelling in lymph nodes in groin

Chancroid (soft chancre)

Hemophilus ducreyi

Painful ulcers of genital, swollen lymph nodes

in groin

Bacterial vaginosis

Gardnerella vaginalis

Fishy odor, frothy vaginal discharge