MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

I. SCOPE OF MICROBIOLOGY

DIFFERECES BETWEEN MICROBIOLOGY AND BASIC TYPES OF CELLS

PARASITOLOGY
 Microbiology – refers to the branch of science 1. Prokaryotic - single-celled or unicellular
that deals with microorganism organisms belonging to the domains Bacteria
 Parasitology – refers to the branch of biology or and Archaea
medicine concerned with the study of parasitic 2. Eukaryotic - eukaryotic cells have
organism. membrane-bound nucleus

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MICROBIOLOGY AND PROKARYOTES VS. EUKARYOTES

PARASITOLOGY
 PROKARYOTES
 Microbiology and parasitology are two  Unicellular organism that lacks
branches of biology membranes-bounded structure
 They mainly involve the in the study of  Most noteworthy of which is the
microorganism nucleus.
 Also, both fields study the lifecycle, spreading  Prokaryotic cells tend be small, simple
diseases, and prevalence of microorganism. cells, measuring around 0.5µm in
 Furthermore, the microorganism subjected to diameter;
study in both fields include bacteria, fungi, - Prokaryotic cells DO NOT HAVE
protozoa, algae, archaea, virus, prions, etc. MEMBRANE-BOUND
STRUCTURE
CELLS THAT MAKE UP THE MICROBIAL WORLD
- HAVE distinct cellular regions.
 Cell – the cell the basic unit of life - DNA bundles together in a region
 Cells are exceedingly complex called nucleoid.
 Cell possess thousand of different chemicals  Prokaryotes DO NOT HAVE
undertaking thousands of different but MITOCHONDRIA
interrelated reactions, simultaneously, at
enormous speed and under exquisite control.
 Cell membranes – are based on what is
known as the lipid bilayer structure, and
are the “studded” with very large
numbers and many types of proteins.
 FUNCTION of cell membrane: protection,
transport, cell to cell recognition, and
specially in bacterial cells they also
participate in the biomedical reactions of
metabolism.
 Fluid-mosaic model – referred as the
modern understanding of the general
properties and structure of the cell
membrane.

PROKARYOTIC CELL FEATURES
The key structures present in a prokaryote cell
Nucleoid – a central region of the cell that
contains its DNA
Ribosome – ribosomes are responsible for
protein synthesis.
Cell wall - the cell wall provides structure
and protection from the outside
environment. Most bacteria have rigid cell
wall made from the carbohydrates and
proteins called peptidoglycans.
Cell membrane – every prokaryote has a
cell membrane, also known as the plasma
membrane, separates the cell from the
outside environment.
Capsule – some bacteria have a layer of
carbohydrates that surrounds the cell wall
called the capsule.
- Capsule helps the bacterium attach
to surfaces
Fimbriae – fimbriae are thin, hair-like
structures that help with cellular
attachment.
Pili – are rod-shaped structures involved in
multiple roles, including attachment and
DNA transfer.
Flagella – flagella are thin, tail-like
structures that assist in movement.
EXAMPLES OF PROKARYOTES
1. BACTERIA
2. ARCHAEA
PROKARYOTES VS. EUKARYOTES
 EUKARYOTES
 Are organism whose cells have a
nucleus and other organelles enclosed
by a plasma membrane
 Organelles are internal structures
responsible for a variety of functions,
such as energy productions and protein
synthesis.
 Eukaryotic cells are large (around 10-
100µm) and complex.
 Most eukaryotes are multicellular
organism, there are some single-cell
eukaryotes
EUKARYOTIC CELL FEATURES
Within a eukaryotic cell, each membrane-bound
structure carries out specific cellular functions.
The primary components of eukaryotic cells:
Nucleus – the nucleus is stores the genetic
information in chromatin form.
Nucleolus – found inside the nucleus, the
nucleus is the part if eukaryotic cells where
ribosomal RNA is produced
Plasma membrane – the plasma membrane
is the phospholipid bilayer that surrounds
the entire cell and encompasses the
organelles within.
Cytoskeleton or cell wall – provides
structure, allow for cell movement and
plays a role in the cell division.
Ribosome - are responsible for protein
synthesis
Mitochondria – also known as the
powerhouse of the cell; responsible for
energy production
Cytoplasm – the cytoplasm is the region of
the cell between the nuclear envelope and
plasma membrane.
Cytosol – is a gel-like substance within the
cell that contains the organelles.
 Endoplasmic reticulum – is an organelle
dedicated to protein maturation and
transportation.
Vesicle and vacuoles – are membrane-
bound sacs involved in the transportation
and storage.
Other common organelles found in many,
but not all, eukaryotes include Golgi
apparatus, chloroplast and lysosomes

A comparison showing the shared and unique

features of prokaryotes and eukaryotes

TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION IN

PROKARYOTES VS EUKARYOTES

 TRANSCRIPTION – The process by which

the DNA is copied to RNA
EXAMPLES OF PROKARYOTES - Prokaryotic cells – transcription and
translation are COUPLED, meaning
 Animals translation begins during mRNA
 Plants synthesis.
 Fungi  TRANSLATION – The process by which
 Algae RNA is used to produce protein.
 Protozoans - Eukaryotic cells - transcription and
translation are NOT COUPLED,
COMPARING PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES meaning transcription occurs in the
 PROKARYOTES - DNA is double- nucleus, producing mRNA—then
stranded and circular exits the nucleus, and translation
 EUKARYOTES – DNA is consisting of occurs in the cell’s cytoplasm.
multiple molecules of double-stranded
linear
KEY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PROKARYOTES AND
EUKARYOTES

All cells, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic, share

these 4 features:

1. DNA
2. Plasma membrane
3. Cytoplasm
4. Ribosome