Bacteria Morphology &

Classification

Dr. Ashish Jawarkar

Consultant Pathologist
Parul Sevashram Hospital
Learning Objectives
After completing this section you should be able to
perform the following objectives:

list the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell

Describe the structure of a bacterial cell and explain the

function of its components

Explain why cell wall forms the basis for classification of

bacteria

Explain the structural modifications (flagella) of the cell and

their functional importance
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Size of Bacteria
Unitof measurement in bacteriology is the
micron (micrometre, m)
1 micrometre (10-6)= 1/1000 mm = 1/10000
cm = 1/100000 metre
1 nanometer (10-9)= 1/1000 micrometer =
1/100000000 meter
Bacteria of medical importance
0.2 1.5 m in diameter
3 5 m in length

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Introduction:

Based on the organization of their cellular

structures, all living cells can be divided into two
groups: eukaryotic and prokaryotic

Eukaryotic cell types - Animals, plants, fungi,

protozoans

Prokaryotic cell types - bacteria

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Prokaryotic Cells

prokaryotes
are molecules surrounded by a
membrane and cell wall.

they lack a true nucleus and dont have

membrane bound organelles like mitochondria,
etc.

large surface-to-volume ratio : nutrients can

easily and rapidly reach any part of the cells
interior
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Anatomy of a Bacterial Cell

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Anatomy of A Bacterial Cell
Outer layer two components:
1. Rigid cell wall
2. Cytoplasmic (Cell/ Plasma) membrane present
beneath cell wall

Cytoplasm cytoplasmic inclusions,

ribosomes, mesosomes, genetic material

Additional structures capsule, flagella,

fimbriae (pili), spores

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Structure & Function of Cell
Components
CELL WALL
Outermost layer, encloses cytoplasm
1. Confers shape and rigidity

2. 10 - 25 nm thick

3. Composed of peptidoglycan

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Cell Wall
Cell wall
4. Chemical nature of the cell wall helps to divide
bacteria into two broad groups Gram positive &
Gram negative
5. Carries bacterial antigens important in virulence &
immunity gm ve cell wall has lipopolysachhrides
fever and necrosis
6. Several antibiotics may interfere with cell wall
synthesis e.g. Penicillin, Cephalosporins

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Gram positive cell wall

The Gram-positive cell wall is composed of a thick, multilayered

peptidoglycan sheath outside of the cytoplasmic membrane. Teichoic
acids are linked to and embedded in the peptidoglycan, and lipoteichoic
acids extend into the cytoplasmic membrane

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Gram negative cell wall

The Gram-negative cell wall is composed of an outer membrane linked to

thin, mainly single-layered peptidoglycan by lipoproteins.The outer
membrane includes porins, which allow the passage of small hydrophilic
molecules across the membrane, and lipopolysaccharide molecules that
extend into extracellular space.

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Cytoplasmic (Plasma) membrane
Thin layer 5-10 nm, separates cell wall from
cytoplasm

Acts as a semipermeable membrane: controls

the inflow and outflow of metabolites

Composed of lipoproteins with small amounts of

carbohydrates

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Other Cytoplasmic Components
Ribosomes protein synthesis

Mesosomes
1. Multilaminated structures formed as
invaginations of plasma membrane
2. Principal sites of respiratory enzymes

Intracytoplasmic inclusions reserve of energy

& phosphate for cell metabolism e.g.
Metachromatic granules in diphtheria bacilli

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Nucleus

No nucleolus
No nuclear membrane
Genome
single, circular double stranded DNA.

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Additional Organelles
1. Plasmid
Extranuclear genetic elements consisting of
DNA
Transmitted to daughter cells
Confer certain properties e.g. drug
resistance, toxicity

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Additional Organelles
2. Capsule
Viscous layer secreted around the cell
wall.
Polysaccharide / polypeptide in nature
Capsule sharply defined structure,
antigenic in nature
Protects bacteria
Stained by negative staining using India
Ink

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Additional Organelles
3. Flagella
Long (3 to 12 m), filamentous surface appendages

Organs of locomotion

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Types of flagellar arrangement
Polar/ Monotrichous single
flagellum at one pole

Lophotrichous tuft of flagella at

one pole

Amphitrichous flagella at both

poles

Peritrichous flagella all over

Amphilophotrichous tuft of flagella

at both ends
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Additional Organelles
4. Fimbriae/ Pili
Thin, hairlike appendages on the surface of
many Gram-negative bacteria

10-20 long, acts as organs of adhesion

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Additional Organelles
5. Spores

Highly resistant resting

stages formed during adverse
environment (depletion of
nutrients)

Formed inside the parent cell,

hence called Endospores

Very resistant to heat,

radiation and drying and can
remain dormant for hundreds
of years.

Formed by bacteria like

Clostridia, bacillus
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 Differences between prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Nucleus Nuclear Absent Present

membrane
Nucleolus Absent Present

Chromosome One circular One or more

paired and linear
Cytoplasmi Structure and fluid phospholipid fluid phospholipid
c Composition bilayer, lacks bilayer containing
membrane sterols sterols
Differences between prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Cytoplasm Mitochondria Absent Present

Lysosomes Absent Present

Golgi Absent Present
apparatus
Endoplasmic Absent Present
reticulum
Vacuoles Absent Present
Ribosomes Present Present

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 Differences between prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells

Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Cell Wall Present Absent
Except Fungi
Locomotor Flagella Flagella/ Cilia
organelles

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GROWTH AND MULTIPLICATION

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Binary Fission
DNA replication
Plasma membrane invaginate
Cell wall deposited in invaginated space
Cross wall completed
Cells separate

07.09.08 Dr. Ashish Jawarkar

Binary Fission
Light micrograph

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Binary Fission

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Consequences of Binary Fission

Verylarge number of cells very fast

Mathematical progressions
arithmetic(1>2>4>6>8>10>12>14>16)
geometric(1>2>4>8>16)
exponential expression (20 > 21 > 22 >23>24)
logarithmic expression(0 >log 1>log 2>log 3>log 4)
2 2 2 2

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Bacterial Growth Curve

Stationary phase

Death
phase

Log phase

Lag phase
1 5 10
07.09.08 Time
Dr. (hours)
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 G: Generation time
Time in minutes or hours for a
population of bacteria to double in
number
Calculation of Generation Time

Log Number
of Bacteria

Double
# cells Log phase

Generation time

1 5 10
07.09.08 Time
Dr. (hours)
Ashish Jawarkar
GENERATION TIME / population
doubling time
E-coli 20 min
MTb - 20 hours
Mleprae - 20 days

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Minimum Growth requirements
Water as a source of carbon
Nitrogen source
Inorganic salts like phosphate, sulphate,
sodium, potassium, iron etc need to be
supplied in culture media

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 Phototrophs derive energy from sunlight
Chemotrophs from chemical reactions
Autotrophs synthesize organic
compounds
Heteretrophs cannot synthesize, depend
on others

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Oxygen requirement
Aerobic V. cholera
Anaerobic - Clostridia

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Carbon dioxide
Allrequire
Some like Brucella, req 5-10% k/a
capnophilic

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Temperature
Mesophilic 25-40
Psychrophilc - <20
Thermophilic 55-80
Except thermophilic, most die at 50-60, k/a
thermal death point

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Other factors
Moisture
pH

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