Assignment No.

Chapter 4: ACELLULAR AND PROKARYOTIC MICROBES

Chapter No. & Title

Diversity of Microorganisms, Part 1

1. Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes

The distinct characteristic of acellular is that it does not contain cells or do not have cell
structure. It is also considered as an infectious particle such as viruses and prions. Therefore,
acellular microbes are microbes that has no enzymatic energy-production system. And merely
contains of protein coat and a single type nucleic acid genome either DNA/RNA. On the other
hand, prokaryotic microbes are microbes that do not have neither a distinct nucleus with a
membrane nor other specialized organelles found in eukaryotic microbes. Such that prokaryotic
microbes’ similarity on the eukaryotic is having a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and a DNA. The
most common prokaryotic microbes are the bacteria and archaea.

2. Acellular Infectious Agents

Acellular infectious agents specifically viruses require other living cells to reproduce as it
is not considered as a cell. Because it doesn’t have the properties and characteristic of a cell.
Viruses are extremely small and simple in structure as it is made from genetic material with
some type of coating, normally proteins or membrane taken from a host cells. Unlike any other,
viruses cannot use energy and do not grow either. However, viruses invade a cell and use the
function of the invaded cell for its gain. For instance, it invades a specific cell and use its energy
to reproduce or replicate. Viruses are all around us, in our cells and the cells of every type of
organisms, from bacteria to plants. Moreover, viruses have an evolutionary history, meaning
they change over generations. It can also mutate, meaning their DNA changes as they are
reproduced. Viruses are classified by the following characteristics: type of genetic material
(either DNA or RNA); whether the virus nucleic acid is single stranded or double stranded;
whether the virus nucleic acid is positive-sense or negative-sense; shape of the capsid; number
of capsomeres; size of the capsid; presence or absence of an envelope; type of host that it
infects; type of disease it produces; target cell; and immunologic or antigenic properties. There
are different kinds of virus and each had its unique structure, such as an animal virus (viruses
that infect humans and consists of nucleic acid surrounded by a capsid), oncogenic viruses
(causes cancer), HIV (contains two single stranded RNA molecules), many more. A subviral
agent is consists of prions and viroid. Prions is a small infectious protein and are classified into
two: normal prions and pathogenic prions. Normal prions doesn’t cause disease, unlike
pathogenic prions which is an infectious protein particles responsible for a group of
transmissible and/or inherited neurodegenerative diseases as a result of of prion protein
misfolding. And viroids are also small in structure, however it contains of infectious RNA
molecule that interferes with the functions of plant leading to having disease of plants.

3. The Domain Bacteria

Bacteria is composed of cells; however, their cells do not contain a true nucleus because
it is classified as prokaryotic. Unlike viruses, bacteria are considered to be living organisms and
much more complex in structure. Its typical structure contains pili, capsule, cytoplasm, flagella,
cell membrane, nucleotide and ribosome. Bacteria are classified according to their basic shapes:
cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod), vibrios (comma), spirilla (spiral), and spirochaetes (corksprew).
Bacteria are considered to be the first organism on earth and it foster various functions to the
surrounding. For instance, bacteria are vital in many stages of the nutrient cycle by recycling
nutrients such as the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere.

4. The Domain Archaea

Archaea similar to bacteria are single-celled microorganism with structure. They are
famous for their love of living in extreme environments. As a large number of archaea are
extremophiles meaning they exist in environment where other forms of life cannot exist such as
in glaciers, acid mine drainage, and other environment that is extremely high pressure.

Name: Bridgette F. Arandila Course/Yr.&Sec: BSN 1-E Date: 03/09/22

Subject: Microbiology and Parasitology Instructor: Dr. Rustico B. Balderian Score:

Assignment No.2

Chapter 5: EUKARYOTIC MICROBES

Chapter No. & Title

Diversity of Microorganisms, Part 2

1. Eucaryotic Microbes

Eukaryotic microbes is cellular meaning they contain cells. It is characterized by the

presence of a true nucleus and a cell membrane that surrounds the nucleus. Eukaryotic microbes
include algae, protozoa, fungi, lichens, and slime molds.

2. Algae

Algae are diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic protists meaning they produce
energy from photosynthesis. Algae could be unicellular and multicellular like seaweeds but are
not plants and lack plant-like tissues and organs. All cells of an algae do consist of cytoplasm, a
cell membrane, a nucleus, plastids, ribosomes, mitochondria a cell wall (usually), and golgi
bodies. However, some algal cells have a ptllicle (a thickened cell membrane), a stigma (a light-
sensing organelle, also known as an eyespot), and flagella. Like any other microorganism algae
also bring functions to different sectors. For instance, it is considered to be an important source
of food, source of iodine and other minerals, algae can be also used in fertilizers, an emulsifier
for pudding, and many more. On the other hand, mostly in rare cases algae could also cause
human infections such as creating toxins.

3. Protozoa

Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotes and most of them are free-living microorganisms. As
in all eukaryotes, all cells consist a variety of eukaryotic structures and organelles such as cell
membranes, nuclei, and any other organelles that is found in animals. Thus, protozoa do not
consist chlorophyll, therefore they cannot make their own food by photosynthesis. Protozoa
have some flagella for locomotion and their body is covered by a cuticle or pellicle. And its
reproduction process is through a binary fission, a longitudinal division. Also, some protozoa
are parasites. Parasitic protozoa break down and absorb nutrients from the body of the host in
which they live.

4. Fungi

Fungi are diverse eukaryotic organism with chitin cell walls. The common features in
most fungi are saprophytic feeding, reproduction of spores, hyphae (multicellular make up), and
extracellular digestion. It is a kingdom usually multicellular eukaryotic organism that are
heterotrophs (cannot make their own food) and have a vital role in nutrient cycling in an
ecosystem. They can reproduce both asexually and sexually, and also have some symbiotic
associations with plants and bacteria. The known fungi include yeast (single-celled organisms
that usually reproduce by budding) and moulds (fungi most commonly found in water, soil, and
food and its way of reproduction is through spore formation), and fleshy fungi (the large fungi
that are encountered in forests, such as mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, and bracket fungi, and
are not microorganism). Also, fungi can be pathogenic or not as some fungi such as a variety of
yeast and moulds causes human infections while some are useful medical, veterinary, and
agriculturally important.

5. Lichens

Lichens are symbionts of two or three organisms a fungus, an alga or cyanobacteria, and
a yeast. The symbiotic association found in lichens is currently considered as mutualism, in
which all parties benefit. Like other eukaryotic microbes, lichens are also classified as protists.
They appear as colored, often a circular patch on tree trunks and rocks. And are
environmentally important as it helps in creating soil, providing food, and acting as indicators
of air pollution.

6. Slime Molds

Slime molds or moulds are unusual group of organisms that have been previously
transferred out from kingdom fungi to kingdom protozoa, therefore, slime molds are not a
moulds. Slime molds are found creeping on debris of decaying logs, in soil, and on dark and
cool conditions. Slime mold started out as an amoeba but along with the process it turns out into
a multicellular organism.