Bacteria

1.Morphology
2.Nomenclature
3.Classification
4.Metabolism
5.Reproduction
 Morphology

 Bacteria are prokaryotic cells. The cell structure is

simpler than that of other organisms as there is no
nucleus or membrane bound organelles.
 In terms of morphology, bacteria may be classified into
three basic bacterial shapes:
 Cocci (coccus)-describe as spherical or round shaped
 Bacilli (bacillus)- describe as rod or capsule shaped
 Curve and Spirilla (spirillum)- curve and spiral shaped
 Coccobacilli- some may be very short elongated cocci
Morphology

 They may be arranged singly,

 in pairs (diplococci)
 in chains (streptococci)
 in clusters (staphylococci)
 in groups of four (tetrad)
 in groups of eight (octad)
 Structure

Glycocalynx
 The outermost covering of the bacteria. It is a gelatinous
substance that is located in the cell wall.
 Composed of polyssacharide or polypeptide or both.
 Also called capsule if it is strongly attached to the cell wall and
slime layer if it is loosely attached.
Cell Wall
 Also called the murein sacculus.
 The main component is peptidoglycan, also called as
mucopeptide.
 It is multi-layered in gram positive bacteria and single-
layered in gram negative bacteria.

Gram positive cell walls

 Teichoic acids- comprise major surface of gram positive
organisms and can elicit antibody response.
 Polysaccharides- it includes neutral sugars such as
mannose, arabinose, rhamnose and glucosamine.
Including some acidic sugars such as glucuronic acid and
mannuronic acid.
Gram negative cell walls
 Outer membrane- a bi-layered structure where the inner
leaflet is composed of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS has a
complex glycolipid called Lipid A, responsible for its
endotoxin activity. This repeat unit is called the O antigen.
 Lipoprotein- functions to anchor the outer membrane to
the peptidoglycan layer and stabilizes the outer
membrane.
 Periplasmic space- a fluid filled space between the outer
membrane and the inner plasma membrane.
Acid fast cell wall
 Acid fast organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis
possess an outer layer that is lipid rich.
 Composed of large amounts of waxes that are known as
mycolic acids.
 The inner layer of the cell wall is also made up of
peptidoglycan but because the outermost layer is lipid
rich, cell walls of acid fast is hydrophobic.
Flagella
 These are thread-like structures made up entirely of
molecules of the protein sub unit flagellin.
 Flagella are classified into four types:
 monotrichous- single polar
 lopotrichous- a tuft of flagella at one end of bacterium
 amphitrichous - flagella at both ends
 peritrichous- all around the bacterium
 Bacteria without flagella is called atrichous.
Pili or Fimbriae
 They are fine and short in comparison with flagella.
 Their structural protein sub units are called pilins.
 They function for adherence to cell surface (common pili)
or attachment to another bacterium during a form of
bacterial gene exchange called conjugation (sex pili).
Axial Filaments
 Also called endoflagella and are found in spirochetes.
 These are composed of bundles of fibrils, the structures of
which are similar to flagella.
 The filaments rotate producing movement of the outer
sheath of the spirochetes propelling them forward.

Cytoplasmic Membrane
 Located beneath the cell wall. Sometimes called cell sac
because it encloses the cytoplasm of the cell.
 In aerobic organisms, it is the site of the electron
transport chain and serve as the site of ATP production.
 The cytoplasmic membrane also contains the enzymes
needed for the biosynthesis of DNA, cell wall components
etc.
Nucleoid
 Bacteria have no true nucleus that is surrounded by a
nuclear membrane.
Mesosomes
 It is also involved in the secretion of substances produced
by bacteria. Functions for cell division.
Ribosomes
 For protein synthesis.
Granules or Inclusion Bodies
 Serve for storage of food and energy.
Endospores
 It is composed of dipicolinic acids which confers
resistance to heat, drying, chemical agents, and
radiation: making it difficult to destroy.
 The process of spore production is called sporulation,
this occurs when the environmental conditions are
detrimental to the bacteria.
 Nomenclature

 Nomenclature of bacteria refers to naming and

bacteria and other organisms are named according to
the binomial system, which was introduced by Carl
Linnaeus (1674-1748).
 Bacterial nomenclature and naming are regulated by
the International Code of Nomenclature of
Prokaryotes (shortly the Prokaryotic Code), but the
classification of actual species is not. 
 Bacteriahas a species name, which is composed of
a genus name that tells you to which genus it belongs
and a species epithet which, together with the genus
name, is unique to the bacterium.
 Thegenus name and the species epithet form together
the scientific name of the species, which is always
written in italics. Bacterial names are international
and Latin or latinized Greek are used to form the
name.
 The hierarchical system of the official nomenclature is
as follows: (only the popular ones are given)
 Phylum (or Division)
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species
 Subspecies
 Classification
 The organisms can be distinguished by the nature of their
cell walls, by their shape, or by differences in their
genetic makeup.
 The Gram stain is a test used to identify bacteria by the
composition of their cell walls, named for Hans Christian
Gram, who developed the technique in 1884. The test
stains Gram-positive bacteria, or bacteria that do not
have an outer membrane. Gram-negative bacteria don't
pick up the stain.
 Acid fast stain possess a cell wall that is made up
inner layer of peptidoglycan and an outer layer rich
in waxes composed of mycolic acid and other
lipids. 
 Reproduction

 Most bacteria multiply by a process called binary

fission. In this process, a single bacterial cell, called
the "parent," makes a copy of its DNA and grows
larger by doubling its cellular content. The cell then
splits apart, pushing the duplicated material out and
creating two identical "daughter" cells.
 The DNA found in parents and offspring after binary
fission is exactly the same.
Thank you!

By: Jhesa Hannnah B. Rimando