Introduction to

Microbiology and
Bacterial Structure
 Topic Outcomes

At the end of the lecture, students should be able to:

1. compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures

2. illustrate and describe the structure of a typical bacterial cell
3. explain the medical importance of the various appendages of a
bacterial cell
4. illustrate and describe the detailed structure of both Gram-positive
and Gram-negative cell walls
5. explain the role of exotoxin and endotoxin

NAZ 08.11.2022
 What are MICROBES?
01 02
Microscopic Where can we found microbes?
Tiny living things that are They live in water, soil, and air.
found all around us and are
too small to be seen by the
naked eye.

03 04
Do we have microbes? Good or Bad?
The human body is home to Some make us sick, while
millions of microorganisms. others are important for our
health

NAZ 08.11.2022
Biologic Relationships of Pathogenic Microorganisms
Kingdom Pathogenic Microorganisms Type of Cells
Animal Helminths (worms) Eukaryotic
Protist Protozoa Eukaryotic
Fungi Fungi (yeast and molds) Eukaryotic
Prokaryote Bacteria Prokaryotic
Viruses Non-cellular

NAZ 08.11.2022
Cells have a nucleus or nucleoid which contains DNA; this is surrounded by cytoplasm, within
which proteins are synthesised, and energy is generated.

Viruses have an inner core of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) but no cytoplasm, so they
depend on host cells to provide the machinery for protein synthesis and energy generation.

NAZ 08.11.2022
True nucleus, with multiple chromosomes Contains organelles
surrounded by nuclear membrane (eg: mitochondria, lysosomes)

Eukaryotes

Larger 80S ribosomes

Do not contain
peptidoglycan

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Contains NO
Single circular molecule of loosely organelles Rigid cell wall - contain
organised DNA, lacking a nuclear peptidoglycan
membrane

Prokaryotes

Smaller 70S ribosomes

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Eukaryotic VS Prokaryotic
Characteristic Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
DNA within nuclear membrane

Mitotic division

DNA associated with histones

Chromosome number

Membrane bound organelles

Size of ribosomes

Cell wall containing peptidoglycan

Example

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Eukaryotic VS Prokaryotic
Characteristic Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
DNA within nuclear membrane No Yes
Mitotic division No Yes
DNA associated with histones No Yes
Chromosome number One More than one
Membrane bound organelles No Yes
Size of ribosomes 70S 80S
Cell wall containing peptidoglycan Yes No
Example Bacteria, archae Helminths, fungi, protozoa

NAZ 08.11.2022
Prokaryote VS Eukaryote

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Bacterial Structure
-shape

Cocci Bacilli Spiral

PKR 08.11.2022
 -arrangement

Chain Cluster

Pairs

PKR 08.11.2022
PKR 08.11.2022
PKR 08.11.2022
IDENTIFY

PKR 08.11.2022
 B

POSITIVE Gram staining NEGATIVE

PKR 08.11.2022
Gram-positive cocci Gram-positive rods

Gram-negative cocci Gram-negative rods

PKR 08.11.2022
 Gram-positive cocci

Staphylococcus Streptococcus Streptococcus

spp spp pneumoniae

PKR 08.11.2022
Gram-negative

PKR 08.11.2022
Gram negative intracellular diplococci

PKR 08.11.2022
Capsulated
Gram-
negative
bacilli
(Klebsiella)

PKR 08.11.2022
Gram stain
of smear of
Bacillus
anthracis

PKR 08.11.2022
IDENTIFY

PKR 08.11.2022
 Easy© formula (keep it simple)
for common pathogenic bacteria (exceptions exist)

Most cocci have the

name cocci attached

All cocci are Gram-

positive except
Neisseria
Diphtheria (Corynebacterium)
Anthrax (Bacillus)
Tetanus (Clostridium)
All bacilli are Gram- Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium)
negative except Actinomycosis
DATTAL Leprae, Lactobacilli, Listeria

PKR 08.11.2022
 Bacterial structure
Flagella

Appendages Pili

Fimbriae
External
Capsule
Glycocalyx
Slime layer
Prokaryotic cell

Cell wall
Cell envelope
Cell membrane

Cytoplasmic matrix

Ribososme

Inclusions
Internal
Nucleoid/chromosomes

Actin skeleton

Endospore
NAZ 08.11.2022
Bacterial Structure
-external
 Glycocalyx

Protect the cell from

Gelatinous, sticky
desiccation.
substance that
surrounds the outside
of the cell.

When the glycocalyx of a Capsules protect cells from

prokaryote is firmly phagocytosis.
attached to the cell surface, Slime layers enable cells to
it is called a capsule. When adhere to each other and
loose and water-soluble, it environmental surfaces.
is called a slime layer.

NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
 Flagella
Composed of a filament, a
hook, and a basal body.

Via taxis, flagella move the

cell toward or away from
stimuli such as chemicals
(chemotaxis) or light
(phototaxis).

Endoflagella is the special

flagella of spirochetes that spiral
tightly around the cell instead of
protruding into the environment.

NAZ 08.11.2022
Endoflagella
 Flagella
–medical importance

• Some species of motile bacteria (e.g., E. coli and Proteus

species) are common causes of urinary tract infections.
• Flagella may play a role in pathogenesis by propelling the
bacteria up the urethra into the bladder.

Some species of bacteria (e.g., Salmonella species) are

identified in the clinical laboratory by the use of specific
antibodies against flagellar proteins.

NAZ 08.11.2022
Monotrichous – single polar flagellum located at one end
Ampitrichous – two flagellar one at each end
Lopotrichous – two or more flagellar at one or both ends
Peritrichous – flagellar all over the surface
Atrichous – absenceNAZ of flagella
08.11.2022
IDENTIFY

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Fimbriae and pili

FIMBRIAE FIMBRIAE PILI

Short, sticky, proteinaceous, Also called conjugation
An important function
nonmotile extensions of pili) are hollow, nonmotile
in biofilm’s slimy
some bacteria that help cells tubes that connect some
masses of bacteria
adhere to one another and prokaryotic cells for
adhering to a surface.
substances in the conjugation
environment.

NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
Bacterial Structure
-cell envelope
 01 03

The bacterial cell wall Protects the cell

provides overall from osmotic lysis
strength to the cell.

Cell wall

02 04

Helps maintain the cell The cell wall can keep

shape, which is out certain molecules,
important for how the such as toxins,
cell will grow, reproduce, particularly for Gram-
obtain nutrients, and negative bacteria.
move.

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Peptidoglycan

Provide rigid Allow cell to

support for the withstand
cell Important in osmotic pressure
Also known as maintaining the
murein characteristic
shape of the cell
 Make up of PEPTIDES + SUGARS (GLYCAN)
= PEPTIDOGLYCAN

Carbohydrate backbone composed of N-

acetylmuramic acid (NAG) and N-
acetylglucosamine (NAM) molecules

NAZ 08.11.2022
 Lipopolysaccharides

Composed of:

O
LIPID A POLYSACCHARIDE
CORE
POLYSACCHARIDE

NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
Teichoic acid

Located outer layer of the Gram-positive cell

wall and extend from it.

Composed of glycerol phosphate or ribitol

phosphate.

Glycerol phosphate penetrates the peptidoglycan

layer and is covalently linked to the lipid in the
cytoplasmic membrane known as Lipoteichoic
acid.
NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
 Comparison
-cell wall

Features Gram-positive Gram negative

Peptidoglycan Thicker, multilayer Thinner, single layer

Techoic acid Yes No

Lipopolysaccharide
No Yes
(endotoxins)

cell wall is the outermost component common to all bacteria

(except Mycoplasma species, which are bounded by a cell
membrane, not a cell wall).

NAZ 08.11.2022
Insert figure 4.12
Comparative cell envelopes

46
NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
 Cell wall
-acid fast

Acid-fast resist decolourization with

acid–alcohol after being stained with
carbolfuchsin.

This property is related to the high

concentration of lipids, called mycolic
acids, in the cell wall eg:
mycobacteria.

NAZ 08.11.2022
Dr.P.K.Rajesh.M.D

One reason why we need this info

PKR 08.11.2022
PKR 08.11.2022
Bacterial Structure
-internal
 Spores
Highly heat resistant and are not killed by many
disinfectants. Boiling will not kill spores.

Have a thick, keratin coat that allows

them to survive many years, especially in
the soil.

Formed when nutrients are in short

supply, but when nutrients are restored,
spores germinate to form bacteria that
can cause disease.

Spores are metabolically inactive but contain DNA,

ribosomes, and other essential components.

NAZ 08.11.2022
NAZ 08.11.2022
PKR 08.11.2022
PKR 08.11.2022
Guinea worm

PKR 08.11.2022