- categorized into: bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and
parasites (protozoa and helminths).
Living cells can be classified into two: prokaryotes and
eukaryotes.
PROKARYOTES
- do not possess a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles.
- example is bacteria.
- genetic material: not enclosed within a membrane, not
associated with histones, usually circular
- size: smaller (1-2 um by 1-4 um or less)
- cell type: mostly unicellular
- nucleus: no true nucleus and nuclear membrane; called
nucleoid
- cell wall: simple
- cell division: budding or binary fission
- sexual reproduction: transfer of DNA
- cytoskeleton: absent
- mesosome: functions as mitochondria and Golgi
complex
- ribosomes: 70s; located in cytoplasm
- membrane-bound organelles: absent
- extrachromosomal plasmid: present
- duration of cell cycle: short (20-60 mins.)
EUKARYOTES
- possess a true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles.
- example are plants, animals, fungi, parasites, and algae.
- genetic material: enclosed within a membrane,
associated with histones, usually linear
- size: greater than 5 um in diameter
- cell type: mostly multicellular
- nucleus: with true nucleus enclosed by nuclear
membrane
- cell wall: complex
- cell division: mitosis
- sexual reproduction: meiosis
- cytoskeleton: present
- mesosome: absent
- ribosomes: 80s; located in membranes (endoplasmic
reticulum), 70s; found in organelles (mitochondria &
chloroplast)
- membrane-bound organelles: present
- extrachromosomal plasmid: absent
- duration of cell cycle: long (12-24 hrs.)
MEDICALLY IMPORTANT MICROORGANISMS
- organisms that have the potential or the ability to
produce significant clinical disease in humans.
- may be part of normal flora or true pathogenic
organisms.
VIRUSES
- acellular organisms that possess only a single nucleic
acid, either DNA or RNA but never both.
- capsid: outer surface.
- capsomeres: repeating sub-units of capsid.
- dependent on host cells for reproduction.
- lacks genes and enzymes for energy production.
- considered as obligate intracellular parasites.
- classified into nine: (1) type of nucleic acid they
possess; (2) shape of capsid (isocahedral, helical,
polyhedral, complex); (3) number of capsomeres; (4) size
of capsid; (5) presence or absence of envelope; (6) type
of host infected (human, plant, animal); (7) type of
disease produced; (8) target cell or tropism (ex. T-helper
cells for HIV); (9) immunologic or antigenic properties.
BACTERIOPHAGES
- special type of virus that primarily affect bacteria.
- similar to other virus: (1) obligate intracellular
parasites; (2) similarly shaped to others; (3) may be
classified based on the type of nucleic acid they possess.
- play a role in the acquisition of virulence factors of
certain bacteria (ex. diptheria toxin of Corynebacterium
diphtheriae), as well as in the transfer of material from
one bacterium to another (transduction).
BACTERIA
- possess both DNA & RNA, and nucleoid.
- cell type: prokaryotic, unicellular
- role in ecosystem: producers and decomposers
- optimal pH: neutral (6.5-7.0)
- cell structure: no true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles.
- main component of cell wall: peptidoglycan
- sterols in cell membrane: absent except in Mycoplasma
- mode of nutrition: heterotrophic, chemoautotrophic,
photoautotrophic, aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative
anaerobic.
- reproduction: binary fission
- physically categorized: (1) gram-negative bacteria with
cell wall, Escherichia coli; (2) gram-positive bacteria with
cell wall, Staphylococcus aureus; (3) acid-fast bacteria
with lipid-rich cell well, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; (4)
bacteria without cell wall, Mycoplasma.
FUNGI
- fungal ribosomes are larger than bacterial (80 Svedberg
units).
- possess both DNA and RNA.
- cell type: eukaryotic, multicellular
pg. 1
- role in ecosystem: mainly decomposers
- optimal pH: slightly acidic (4.0-6.0)
- cell structure: posses a true nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
- main component of cell wall: chitin
- sterols in cell membrane: ergosterols
- mode of nutrition: heterotrophic; majority aerobic and
facultative anaerobic.
- reproduction: sexual and asexual spores
PROTOZOA
- representative for parasites.
- possess both DNA and RNA.
- cell type: eukaryotic, unicellular
- main component of cell wall: pellicle
- reproduction: binary fission
- two morphologic forms: cysts (infective stage) and
trophozites (pathogenic stage).
DIATOMS
- inhabit both fresh and saltwater.
- contribute greatly to oxygen in atmosphere and serve
as important links in the food chain.
- resposible for “red tide”.
- produce a powerful neurotoxin that when ingested in
significant amounts, causes a potentially fatal disease
called paralytic shellfish poisoning.
- main component of cell wall: silocone dioxide (for
filtration, insulation, and abrasives)
- cellular structure: unicellular, eukaryotes

ALGAE
- plant-like organisms as most have chloropyll and
capable of photosynthesis.
- do not produce significant disease in humans.
- important source of food (emulsifiers and stabilizers),
iodine, and other minerals.
- vary in size: single-celled phytoplanktons to large
seaweeds.
- main component of cell wall: cellulose
- taxonomic classification: Kingdom Protista
- cellular structure: unicellular, multicellular or colony-
forming; eukaryotes
- photosynthetic: yes
- energy source: carbon dioxide
- storage form of energy: starch
- vascular system: absent
- habitat: mostly water
- composed of roots, stems and leaves: no
- reproduction: sexual and asexual

PLANTS
- taxonomic classification: Kingdom Plantae
- cellular structure: multicellular
- photosynthetic: yes
- energy source: carbon dioxide
- storage form of energy: starch
- vascular system: present
- habitat: mostly rooted to ground
- composed of roots, stems and leaves: yes
- reproduction: sexual (complex)

pg. 2