The bacterial cell

Joel Manyahi MD, MMed

 Learning objectives
• Differences btn Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell
• Shapes, arrangements and size of bacteria
• Structures and components of bacterial cell
• Bacterial classification
• Differences between gram positive and gram
negative bacteria
 Introduction

• Bacteria are microscopical in size and

unicellular

• Size 0.2 – 5µm diameter

Cells :
– Eukaryotes (True cell)
– Prokaryotes (primitive cell)
• Distinguished based on structure and
complexity
Prokaryotes
• Eubacteria “ true bacteria”
- human pathogens or environmental
• Archaea
- environmental organisms
• Blue green algae
 Prokaryotic cell vs Eukaryotic cell
• No membrane bound organelles

• Cell membrane lack sterols ( e.g cholesterol)

• Chromosomes singular double-stranded circular DNA

(5m bp)
• Ribosome
-70S
subunit 30S (16S rRNA), 50S (5S & 23S rRNA)
 Bacterial classification
• Macroscopic and microscopic

• Metabolic requirements

• Antigenicity

• Genotype
Shape and size of bacterial cells
Rigid cell wall determines shape

• Spherical

• Rod shaped

• Spiral/helical

• Comma shaped
• pleomorphic
Bacterial cells arrangement: depends on plane of
successive cell division
 Size of bacteria
• Bacterial range in size 0.2 to 5µm diameter

• Smallest bacterial ( mycoplasma)= the size of

largest viruses (poxyviruses)

• Longest bacteria rods approach the size of

yeast and human red blood cell
Structure of bacteria
 Components of bacteria cell
Cell wall
• Encases protoplast, outside of CM (except
mycoplasma)
• It is thick, strong, rigid and porous
• maintains the characteristic shape of the bacterium
• Composed of peptidoglycan, in addition outer
membrane in Gram negative bacteria
• Cell wall chemical composition allows bacteria to
be divided into 2 group by Gram stain
 Components of bacteria cell
Cell wall
• Gram staining reflects structure of cell wall
• Gram-positive bacteria consist mainly of
several layers ( about 40) of peptidoglycan
-teichoic acid and teichuronic acid.
• Gram-negative bacteria contain a single or
two layers of peptidoglycan, outer membrane
and periplasmic space
 Comparison of cell wall between Gram
positive and Negative bacteria
Components Gram positive cells Gram negative cells

Peptidoglycan Thicker; Multilayer Thinner; single layer,

complex
Teichoic acid Yes No

Lipopolysaccharides No Yes
(endotoxin
Periplasmic space No Yes

Porin No Yes

Phospholipid in outer No Yes

membrane
 Components of bacteria cell
Cell wall
• Weakening, removal or defective formation of
the cell wall results in the production of
various abnormal forms
- protoplast
- Spheroplasts
- L-forms ( wall less bacteria that replicate)
 Cell Walls of Acid-Fast Bacteria
• Mycobacteria, have an unusual cell wall

• Acid-fast bacilli - resist decolorization with

acid–alcohol after being stained with carbol
fuchsin.

• This property is related to the high

concentration of lipids, called mycolic acids
 Cytoplasmic structures
Cytoplasmic membrane
• Encloses internal components and structure
• Semi-permeable membrane
• Chemically similar to eukaryotes, except lack
sterols
• Performs many functions attributable to
organelles in eukaryotes
Cytoplasmic structures- genetic elements

1. Bacterial chromosome 2. Plasmids

(genome) • Extra - chromosomal
• single, double-stranded DNA
circular DNA • Coding
• contained in nucleoid – Antibiotic resistance
• MW approx 2 x 109 and factor
contains 2000 genes – Pathogenesis/virulence

• No histones • Most commonly found

in Gram negative
 Cytoplasmic structures
• Bacterial ribosomes
- Site of protein synthesis
- Consists 30S + 50S, 70S ribosomes

- Proteins, RNA different eukaryotes

– Major targets for antibacterial drugs

• Granule – storage area of nutrients

 External structures
Capsules
• outside the cell wall
• gelatinous layer covering the entire bacterium
• usually polysaccharides, few polypeptides B.anthracis
• Unnecessary for growth, but protective
• Poorly antigenic, antiphagocytic
• Major virulence factor in certain bacteria S.
pneumoniae
 External structures
• Structures that protrude from cell into the
environment
• Flagella
- Some organisms are motile
- locomotory organelles- flagella
- provide motility to food/poisons-
chemotaxis
- Bacteria have one or several flagella and
anchored at different parts
 External structures
Pili (Fimbriae)
• Hair like projections outside bacteria
• Found mainly in Gram negative bacteria
• Two types:
– common – adhesion to host cells
– sex – associated with conjugation
 Bacterial spores (Endospores)

• Some gram positive (Bacillus, Clostridium) but never gram-

negative
• Dormant state, produced when starved
• Resistance to adverse condition
- heat, desiccation and disinfectants
• Contains
-complete copy of chromosomes
- min conc of essential proteins,ribosomes
-high conc of ca+ bound to dipicolinic acid
• Favorable condition germinate to vegetative cell