Bacterial Taxonomy

Dr. Jyotsna Agarwal

Professor, Dept. of Microbiology,
King George’s Medical University
 What is taxonomy
• Classification: Orderly arrangement and
placement of bacteria based on certain characters
ie. Address

• Nomenclature: giving Names

• Families - related bacteria eg. Enterobacteriaceae
• Within a family - numerous genus eg. Escherichia,
Klebsiella, Salmonella
• A genus contains many species eg. E. coli, E. tarda
 Species
• Taxonomical unit
• Based on morpholopgy, biochemical properties &
antigenic characters
• Nucleotide base ratio constant for a given species
(AT : GC)
• Genetic homology demonstrated by DNA
hybridization > 98%
 Interspecies Classification
They are identical, may show some differences
due to mutation
•Biotype - based on biochemical reactions
•Serotype - based on antigens on bacteria
•Phage type - susceptibility to particular phage
•Colicin type - substance secreted by some bacteria
•Molecular typing: Plasmid profile, DNA sequence
• A bacterial population derived from a single
bacteria by binary fission is called CLONE
• A bacterial population obtained from a particular
source is called STRAIN
 Nomenclature
• Casual name / Scientific name:
eg. Gonococcus / Neisseriae gonorrhoeae
Pneumococcus / Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Name could be a character: Staphylococcus aureus
• Place of discovery: Salmonella london
• Scientist: Clostridium welchii
• Disease: Clostridium tetani
Bacterial Growth
& Metabolism
 Prokaryotes
• Asexual reproduction - binary fission
• Generation time or doubling time
• Clinical implication?
Bacterial Growth Curve
4 phases
 What is a Bacterial colony?

• Colony - visible growth on a

culture plate.
• Colony Forming Unit- CFU ?
 Bacterial Nutrition
• Autotrophs - photo /chemo
• Heterotrophs
– Need preformed organic compounds
– Includes most pathogenic bacteria
• Fastidious heterotrophs
 Bacterial Metabolism

• Help us in identifying bacteria by their end

products
• Help us in knowing how to inhibit bacteria
 Energy Generating Process

• Sugars formed or obtained - broken down to

release energy
– Aerobic respiration
– Anaerobic respiration
– Fermentation

• Microbes that use aerobic respiration, detoxify

generated waste:

Catalase: H2O2 ------- H20 and 02

Superoxide dismutase : oxygen radical ----- H20 and O2
 Energy Generating Process
• Aerobic respiration:
– COMPLETE breakdown of glucose to CO2 & H2O
– Final electron receptor O2
– Yield = 38 ATP
• Fermentation:
– Yield = 2 ATP
– Endproducts: Lactic acid/Alcohol
– Final electron receptor is organic molecule
• Anaerobic respiration:
– Yield >2 <38 ATP
– Absence of oxygen
 Factors affecting bacterial
growth
• Oxygen : Obligate /facultative; aerobes /
anaerobes; microaerophilics
• Temperature
• Ph
• Osmotic pressure
• CO2
 Summary

• Bacterial Taxonomy
• Bacterial growth curve
• Fastidious /non fastidious bacteria
• Obligate/facultative anaerobe
• Obligate aerobes