Capsules and Slime Layer

Most procaryotes contain some sort of a polysaccharide layer outside of the cell wall polymer. In
a general sense, this layer is called a capsule. A true capsule is a discrete detectable layer of
polysaccharides deposited outside the cell wall. A less discrete very thin and delicate layer is
called as a slime layer or a biofilm. A type of capsule found in bacteria called a glycocalyx is a
thin layer of tangled polysaccharide fibers which occurs on surface of cells growing in nature .
Some microbiologists refer to all capsules as glycocalyx and do not differentiate microcapsules.

Bacterial capsules outlined by India ink viewed by light microscopy.

Capsules are generally composed of polysaccharide; rarely they contain amino sugars or peptides
ex. Bacillus subtilis

Depending upon the thickness,capsule may be regarded of two types

1. Microcapsule
2. Macrocapsule

Microcapsule : When thickness of capsule is less than 0.2µ, such capsule is called as
microcapsule.

Macrocapsule : When thickness of capsule is more than 0.2µ, such capsule is called as
macrocapsule.

The production of capsule and slime layer is genetically and environmentally controlled
 Chemical nature of capsule

In almost all capsulated organism capsule is made up of polysaccharides. The

polysaccharides may be dextran, leavan etc. in some bacteria capsule is made up of polymer
of glucose, galactose etc. the polysaccharide may be homopolysacchride or hetero-
ploysaccharide. In some bacterial species capsule is made up of peptide and polypeptide eg.
B. anthracis. In this organism capsule is made up of D-glutamic acid.

Functions of Capsule

Capsules have several functions and often have multiple functions in a particular organism.

1. Potection: Capsules protect bacterial cells from engulfment by predatory protozoa or

white blood cells (phagocytes), or from attack by antimicrobial agents of plant or animal
origin.
2. Capsules in certain soil bacteria protect cells from perennial effects of drying or
desiccation.
3. Capsular materials (e.g. dextrans) may be overproduced when bacteria are fed sugars to
become reserves of carbohydrate for subsequent metabolism.

Demonstartion of Capsule

1. By negative staining (india ink staining)- in this staining bacterial cell stained with india
ink and capsule remain unstained
2. By using crystal violet- In this staining technique capsule is stained with the` help
of crystal violet in presence of 20% CuSo4. Capsule appears violet in color