44 PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2.6.2. | Capsules and Slimes Invariably certain baeterial cells are duly surrounded by a viscous material that essentially forms covering layer or a sort of envelope around the cell wall. In the event this specific layer may be visualized by the aid of light microscopy employing highly sophisticated and specialized staining tech- rnigues, it is known as a eapsule; in case, the Zayer happens to be too thin to be observed by light microscopy, itis called as a microeapsule. Ifthe layer does exist in an absolute abundance such that quite many cells are found to be embedded in a common matrix, the substance is termed as a shime. capsule usually refers to the layer both intimately and tightly attached to the cell wall ; whereas, the slime coating (layer) is contraily the loose structure which often ‘gets diffused right into the corresponding available growth medium as depicted in Fig. 2.8 below : Fig. 2.8. Capsules and Sime Layers of Bacteria Salient features (1) ‘These structures are not quite necessary and important for the normal growth and usual survival of the bacterial eells but their very presence grants some apparent advantages to the bacterial cells that contain these structures. (2) A plethora of bacteria are incapable of producing either a capsule of a slime ; and those \which can do so would certainly lose the ability to synthesize legitimately these two compo- nents devoid of any adverse effects. (3) ‘The prime interest in those amorphous organic exopolsmers ie, capsules and slimes, was to assess precisely their actual role in the pathogenicity by virtue of the fact that majority of these pathogenic microorganisms do produce either a capsule ora slime, Itis worthwhile to mention here that could be seen heteropolysaccharides.STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION : BACTERIAL CELLS 45 Capsules _(Amorphous organic exopolymers) ‘A homopolymer comprising of either exclusively glucose (Dextran) or fructose (Levan). 2 | Bacillus anthracis | A polymer of solely D-glutamic acid ; in certain other Bacilli sp. it could S.No. bbe an admixture of polymers of D- and I-ghutamic acids. ‘These are heteropolysaccharides comprising of a variety of carbohydrates, namely : glucose, galactose, rhamnose etc., and other carbohydrate derivatives. Further investigative studies on different types of organisms (bacteria) have revealed, the precise composition of a few selective capsular polymers (Le., amorphous organic exopolymers) along with their respective subunits and chemical substances produced at the end, as provided in Table 2.6 Table : 2.6. Precise Composition of Certain Capsular Polymers : ‘Their Subunits and Chemical Substances SNo. | Bacteria Capsular Subunits Chemical Substances polymers 1 | Agrobacterium Glucon Glucose B-Glu-1 + 2, B-Glucose tumefaciens 2 | Acetobacier xylinum | Cellulose — | Glucose B-Glu-l 4, B-Glucose 3 | Lewonostoe sp. Dextrans | Glucose [Fructose] | cr-Fruc-f-Glu-1 — 6-Glucose Streptococcus sp. 4 | Pseudomonas sp. Levans Fructose [Glucose] | -Giht--Fruc-2 + 6 o- Fructose Xanthomonas sp. 5 | Enteric Bacteria Cokanic Acid | Glucose, Fucose, oe Galactose, Pyruvie acid, Glucuronic acid, Important Points : There are five important points that may be noted carefully : (®) Itis still a mystery to know that on one hand in certain bacteria the exopolymers are seen in the form of capsules ; whereas, on the other they are observed in the form of slimes. (ii) Mutation* of capsular form to the corresponding slime forming bacteria has been well established. (ii) Structural integrity of both the capsule as well as the slime are meticulously estimated by the critical presence of distinct chemical entities. (iv) In many cases, the capsular material is not extremely water diffuse rapidly away from the cells that eventually produce it. (0) In certain other instances the capsular material is highly water-soluble ; and hence, either gets dissolved in the medium instantly or sometimes abruptly enhancing the viscosity of the broth in which organisms are cultured respectively. uble ; and, therefore, fails to A change in a gene potentially capable of being transmitted to offspring,