Anatomy of Bacteria

Morphology
Structure
Function
 Binary Fission
a method of asexual reproduction
involving halving of the nucleus and
cytoplasm of the cell followed by the
development of each half into a new
individual

septum
progeny cells
generation time
 Morphology
Size

Shape

Arrangement
 Size
prokaryotic (bacteria) cells are very
small compared to eukaryotic cells
prokaryotic cells are the most
abundant form of life on earth
prokaryotic cells can survive in
conditions that are too extreme for
eukaryotic cells
 Shape
Readings question one:

What are the three basic shapes that

most bacteria exhibit?
 Spiral
(Vibrio, Spirillum, Spirochete)
Vibrio: curved or bent rods that resemble
commas
Spirillum: a corkscrew shape with a rigid
cell wall and hair-like projections called
flagella that assist in movement
Spirochete: a flexible cell wall but no
flagella in the traditional sense. Movement
occurs by contractions (undulating) of
long filaments (endoflagella) that run the
length of the cell.
 Arrangement
Readings question two:
What are the three basic arrangements
that most bacteria exhibit?
Additional arrangements:
Tetracocci: grouping of four spherical
shaped cells
Sarcinae: a cube-like packet of eight
spherica bacteria
 Structure and Function
up until the 1950s prokaryotes were
believed to simply be bags of enzymes
prokaryotes have a simpler construction
than eukaryotes
prokaryotic cell has 5 essential structural
components:
Nucleoid (bacterial chromosome)
Ribosomes
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Capsule
 Nucleoid
bacterial chromosome
typically one large circular molecule
of DNA
floats freely in the cytoplasm
genetic control center of the cell
determines all of the properties and
functions of the bacterium
 Ribosomes
proteins and RNA
prokaryotic ribosomes are smaller
than eukaryotic ribosomes
protein synthesis
granular
appearance
Cell Membrane and Cell Wall
Readings question three:

What is the difference between the

cell membrane and the cell wall?
 Capsule
the membrane that surrounds some
bacterial cells; a loose gel-like
structure that, in pathogenic
bacteria, helps to protect against
phagocytosis

glycocalyx
slime layer
 Cytoplasm
Readings question four:
What is the cytoplasm of prokaryotic
cells?

primary structures: nucleoid and

ribosomes

plasmids: extrachromosomal pieces of

DNA
 Endospores
a thick-walled spore within a
bacterium
 Endospores
produced by the bacterium to help it
survive in an unfavorable
environment
formed by vegetative cells-
sporulation
one of the most resistant forms of life

germination
 Clostridium tetani
deep wound punctures that become
anoxic

tetanus toxin spreads and causes

disease

spastic paralysis and can result in

death
 Clostridium botulinum
botulinum toxin in improperly
preserved foods

botulism can result in death due to

respiratory failure as a result of
muscle paralysis
 Clostrideium perfringens
most prevalent reported cause of
food poisoning

enterotoxins in the intestines

diarrhea and intestinal cramps with

no fever or vomiting
 Flagella
protein structures attached to the
cell surface that resemble whip-like
appendages

distributed in distinguishing patterns

flagella of prokaryotic cells differ

from eukaryotic cells
 Pili (Fimbriae)
short, hair-like structures on the
surface of prokaryotic cells
composed of protein
shorter, thinner, and straighter than
flagella
allow bacteria to attach to surfaces
e.g. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
 Gram-staining
Readings question five:

What is the purpose of gram-

staining? What are the
characteristics of gram-positive
bacteria and gram-negative
bacteria?
Physiology of Bacteria

Bacterial Growth
 Bacterial Colony
a visible group of bacteria growing
on a solid medium, presumably
arising from a single microorganism
 Requirements for Growth
Physical: temperature, pH, light,
osmotic pressure, moisture

Chemical: carbon, nitrogen, sulfur,

phosphorus, trace elements, oxygen
 Temperature
Readings question three:

What are psychrophiles, mesophiles,

and thermophiles?
 Psychrophiles

Desulfofrigus oceanense (Arctic and

Antarctic Oceans)
Mesophiles

E. coli
 Thermophiles

Fossilized Microbes from Yellowstones Hot

Springs
 Temperatures
Minimum: temperature below which
bacterial growth will not take place
Optimum: temperature at which
organisms grow best
Maximum: temperature above
which bacterial growth will not take
place
 What are the embalming implications
associated with the temperature
preference of bacteria?
 pH
Readings question four:

Describe the pH scale.

Acidophiles: bacteria that are

remarkably tolerant of acidity
 Light
Cyanobacteria: oxygen producing
prokaryotes
thrive in the presence of light

Yeasts and Molds

prefer dark areas

Some bacteria are destroyed by

ultraviolet light.
 Osmotic Pressure
pressure that develops when two
solutions of different concentrations are
separated by a semi-permeable
membrane
microorganisms require water for growth
and are made up of 80-90% water
high osmotic pressure removes
necessary water from a cell
plasmolysis
hypertonic solutions
 Moisture
maximum, optimum and minimum
requirement for all microorganisms
Pathogenic bacteria are usually found
in the bodys tissues
Fungal diseases are usually found on
the body surface.
 Chemical Requirements
Readings question two:

Describe the differences between

autotrophic bacteria and
heterotrophic bacteria.
 Heterotrophic Bacteria
3 categories:
1) strict (obligate) saprophyte
2) strict (obligate) parasite
3) facultative bacteria:
Facultative saprophyte: prefers live organic
matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to
the use of dead organic matter under certain
conditions
Facultative parasite: capable of living and
growing with the nutrients that its host provides
 Carbon
one of the most important
requirements for microbial growth
structural backbone of living matter
needed for all the organic
compounds that make up a living cell
of the dry weight of a bacterial
cell is carbon
 Nitrogen, Sulfur, and
Phosphorus
needed by microorganisms for the
synthesis of cellular material

e.g. protein, DNA, RNA, ATP

 Trace Elements
iron, copper, and zinc

essential for the function of certain

enzymes
 Oxygen
Microbes that use molecular oxygen
(aerobes) produce more energy from
nutrients than microbes that do not use
oxygen (anaerobes)

Reading question two:

Describe the difference between obligate
aerobes and obligate anaerobes.
 Microaerophilic Organisms
a microorganism that requires very
little free oxygen

only grow in oxygen concentrations

that are lower than those in air

require about 2 10% free oxygen

 Facultative Organisms
Facultative Aerobes: a microorganism
that prefers an environment devoid of
oxygen but has adapted so that it can
live and grow in the presence of oxygen
Facultative Anaerobes: a
microorganism that prefers an oxygen
environment but is capable of living and
growing in its absence
E.g. Bacillus anthracis, Corneybacterium
diphtheriae, Escherichia coli
 Aerotolerant Organisms
can grow in the presence or absence
of oxygen
e.g. Streptococcus pyogenes
 Microbial Associations
normal flora (microbiota)
transient microbiota
symbiotic relationship: organisms
live in close nutritional relationships;
required by one or both members
distinguished by the degree to which the
host organism is harmed
 Mutualism
a symbiotic relationship in which
organisms of two different species
live in close association to the
mutual benefit of each
e.g. E. coli in the human digestive tract
 Commensalism
the symbiotic relationship of two
organisms of different species in
which one gains some benefit such
as protection or nourishment and the
other is not harmed or benefited
e.g. bacteria on skin surface;
microorganisms within the digestive
tract
 Parasitism
an interactive relationship between two
organisms in which one is harmed and
the other benefits
many disease-causing bacteria are
parasites
typically the host is macroscopic and the
parasite is microscopic
roundworms and flatworms are parasites
that are large multi-cellular organisms
 Readings question five:

What is the synergistic effect?

 Antagonism
mutual opposition or contrary action.
The inhibition of one microorganism by
another.
Involves competition among microbes
normal microbiota protect the host
against colonization by potentially
pathogenic microbes
normal flora produce substances harmful
to the invading microbes (pH, oxygen)