BIO102

GENERAL BIOLOGY II

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 BACTERIA

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 In our today’s discussion,
students will be taken to the
next level of understanding
biodiversity with particular
reference to bacteria

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 Overview of Monera
1. Bacteria are the only form of life that
exists on earth 3.5 billion years ago (BYA)
2. They are the smallest (<1 µm to 30 µm long)
and abundant organisms on earth
3. They are everywhere because of their
unusual metabolic capability (soil, water, plant,
animal, man, radioactive waste, earth’s crust, arctic ice, glaciers, hot spring )
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 Bacteria belong to the kingdom
Monera
Total weight of all bacteria in the world
exceeds that of all other living organisms
put together

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 Objectives:
The objective of study of bacteria are to:
1. classify common forms of bacteria
2. list economic importance of bacteria
3. identify the natural habitats of algae
4. evaluate ecological uses of bacteria to ecosystems
5. state traits distinguishing bacteria from all other
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December BIO102 6
Learning Outcome:
Students should be able to:
1. classify five common forms of bacteria
2. list ten economic importance of bacteria
3. identify five natural habitats of bacteria
4. evaluate ten ecological uses of bacteria to ecosystems
5. state five traits distinguishing bacteria from all other
plants
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 Fossil Record
All bacteria are prokaryotes
Fossil and chemical evidences showed that
3 billion years ago (BYA) atmosphere
was anaerobically rich in CO2 and H2

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 Fossil bacteria are about 3.5 billion years
old (BYO)
Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic bacteria) aged
between (3.3 and 3.2 BYO) as compared with
the oldest eukaryote (1.5 BYO)

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 Classes of Bacteria
Metabolically, bacteria are divided into:
1. Photosynthetic bacteria (Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae)
2. Non-photosynthetic (true bacteria)

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Morphologically, cells of bacteria uniquely
composed of:
1. prokaryotic (naked) nucleus
2. simple chromosomes
3. muramic acid in the cell wall

Cells are involve in genetic recombination mode of reproduction

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 Knowledge gained in this course makes
you more conscious of bacteria
1. abundance 2. diversity

3. Roles played in humans

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 Especially, for those going to major in
Microbiology, Plant Pathology

As well as those requiring the knowledge in

their various field of studies

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Download:
Visit:
oyesiku.olubukunola@oo
uagoiwoye.edu.ng

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 Biology of Bacteria
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria
Bacteria are fungi companion decomposers
They decompose organisms in aquatic and terrestrial food
chains/webs
Facts about Bacteria
1. positive impact
2. negative impact
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Positive impacts of Bacteria on Environment
1. Bacteria help in mineralization process

2. They help in decomposition of organic matter into simple mineral

elements

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Negative impacts of bacteria on environment

1. Bacteria metabolic waste produce unpleasant water and soil odours

2. lack of oxygen cause mass death of bacteria, increasing level of

ammonia in the environment

3. Bacteria bloom (white murky/cloudy) change colour of water

4. Algae like bacteria also consume oxygen

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 Reproduction in Bacteria

Unlike algae, bacteria do not reproduce by

mitosis and meiosis as in other organisms
They adopts:
1. fission method (asexual method)
2. genetic recombination method (sexual method)
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 Asexual Method of Reproduction in Bacteria

Major mode of reproduction is by fission:

Extension and constriction of bacterial cells followed by splitting into two
parts

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 Asexual Process:

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 Sexual Reproduction in Bacteria
Sexual reproduction is genetic recombination

Transfer of genetic materials (pro-DNA) between two

different strains

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 Sexual methods
1. Conjugation

2. Transduction

3. Transformation

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 Sexual conjugation
Recombination of genetic material (DNA), which takes
place through a conjugation tube:
linking two mating haploid bacterial cells

One bacterial cell is a donor (-) and the other is a recipient cell (+)

Example: Escherichia coli

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 Transduction method
independent recombination of DNA of bacteriophage
(bacterial virus) in bacterium protoplasm
if by accident DNA of the bacteriophage cells combines with
that of bacteria cells

a new daughter cells appeared

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 Process of Transduction

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 Transformation Method
transformation of non-capsulated, (harmless) bacterial
cells into capsulated (pathogenic) bacterial cells
By mixing extracts of both capsulated and non-
capsulated bacteria in a culture

Non-capsulated bacteria gain the capacity to transform

themselves into capsulated type of bacteria
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 Process of Transformation

December 13, 2023 Prof. Olubukunola O. OYESIKU (Bup) 28

 Consequence of Transformation Method
Genetic recombination by transformation is accountable
for: spread of bacteria resistance to antibiotics
when bacterial cells are broken down (extract) by chemical or heat

Examples:
Pneumococcal (non-capsulated, oval-shaped) bacteria
transformed to Diplococcus pneumonia (capsulated) and causes
pneumonia

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 Classification of bacteria
1. Nutritional classification

2. Molecular classification

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 Nutritional classification
1. Chemotrophic bacteria

2. Heterotrophic bacteria

3. Phototrophic bacteria

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 Chemotrophic bacteria
Obtain energy from oxidation of inorganic molecules:
Sulphur

Nitrogen

Iron compounds

Gaseous hydrogen

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Chemosynthetic bacteria produce energy for organisms in
complete darkness in deep-sea at a temperature of about
360 OC
Reduced inorganic molecules to obtain energy
CO2 and H2S are sources of CHO energy

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 Example: Archaebacteria
Chemotrophic bacteria responsible for production of methane gas

They are anaerobic bacteria live in:

digestive tracks of cattle and ruminants

sewage treatment plants and deep-seas

Lack muramic acid in cell walls unlike other bacteria

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Capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen

Metabolically differs from all other bacteria but

Shares number of characters with purple non-Sulphur bacteria

(Halobacterium)

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 Heterotrophic bacteria (Saprobic)
Obtain energy from dead organic matter
Both saprobic bacteria and fungi cause mineralization of
decaying and recycling organic materials

Soil odour is associated with heterotrophic

microbes (bacteria and fungi)

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 Phototrophic bacteria
With absence of chlorophyll-a, all other chlorophylls in
bacteria have the basic structure similar to higher plants
Group-1: Cyanobacteria
Group-2: Green-Sulphur bacteria
Group-3: Purple Sulphur bacteria
Group-4: Non-Sulphur bacteria
Group-5: Prochloron
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 Group-1: Cyanobacteria
Bacteria with blue-green pigment
Photosynthetic process similar to that of eukaryotic
organisms
They stored CHO as glycogen in the cell walls

Examples:

Anabaena Oscillatoria Nostoc

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 Group-2 : Green-Sulphur bacteria
& Group-3: Purple Sulphur
bacteria
Classified with the aid of different pigments

Sulphur compound substitutes for water in absence of

chlorophyll-a

Purple-Sulphur bacteria is characterized by rotten egg

odour
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 Group-4: Non-Sulphur bacteria
Identify by patches of a purple pigment on the plasma
membrane
Motile and sensitive to violet light
Convert sunlight into chemical energy
Common in full sun and saline habitat (salt pools or lakes)
Example: Halobacteria halobium
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 Group-5: Prochloron
Shares similar chloroplast with Cyanobacteria and green
algae

Lives along sea shores in association with colonial marine

animals (sea-squirts, coral shells)

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 Phototrophic Equations in Functions of
Bacteria

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 Molecular classification

Gram-negative bacteria

Gram-positive bacteria

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 Gram-positive bacteria
Gram-positive bacteria cell wall consists:
Single macromolecule
Peptidoglycan (15 nm to 80 nm thick) in diameter

Readily takes up stain

Lack
lipopolysaccharide
Cell walls vulnerable to attacking antibiotics (penicillin)

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 Gram-negative bacteria
Peptidoglycan (10 nm thick) in diameter

lipopolysaccharide coat protects thin outer layer of the cell walls from
attack of antibiotics (penicillin)

Lipopolysaccharide prevents staining of the cell walls ( resistance to

antibiotics reactions)

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 Other Structural Traits of
Bacteria
Cytoplasm

Flagella

Pilli

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 Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm within a plasma membrane coated with
enzymes on the inner surface

Cytoplasm inclusions include:

DNA
Ribosomes
Plasmids
other granular organelles

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 Flagella
Flagella , slender locomotors attached to the outer surface of
cell wall

Restricted to a particular location

Rigid and helical in form (seen by electron microscope)

Beat with rotary motion (unique only to prokaryotes)

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 Pilli
Pilli are short spines which characterized gram-negative
bacteria
Functions of Pilus is not known
Speculation: bridge for the transfer of DNA, or attract
partner for conjugation process

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 Morphology of Bacteria
Basic shapes:

1. Rod 2. Spherical 3. Spiral

Cells occurring in gelatinous matrix, colonies, chains and threads

(independent of one another)
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 Habitats of Bacteria
Habitat where oxygen is limiting factor (aerobic bacteria)
obligate aerobe, cannot make ATP in the absence of oxygen
Habitat with comparative oxygen supply (obligate anaerobic
and facultative anaerobic bacteria)
facultative anaerobe makes ATP by switching between aerobic respiration if
oxygen is present to fermentation if oxygen is absent

obligate anaerobes die in the presence of oxygen

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 Common bacteria of oxygen rich habitat
Obligate anaerobe only survive in habitat without oxygen
Example: Streptococcal
bacteria
Facultative anaerobe live in habitat with oxygen or switch to
fermentation if oxygen is in short supply

Respiration yields more energy than fermentation

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 Respiration versus
Fermentation
Process of fermentation yield less energy from organic
molecules in the absence of oxygen
while
Process of respiration yield more energy from organic
molecules in the presence of oxygen

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 Extreme Habitats
Few bacteria occupy habitats with extremely high
temperatures

Example:
Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus (produce ethanol) in hot
springs at a temperature close to 80 OC

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 Chemosynthetic bacteria occupy the ocean floor at a
temperature close to 360 OC

while

Other bacteria remain in a state of suspended animation

for a longer period at temperature range of -7 OC to -14 OC
at great depth of iceberg (ca. 450 m)

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 Ecology of Bacteria
They are key species of ecological food chain
(or web) of an ecosystems
Almost all living plants depend upon
them for their nutritional elements:
Spirulina and Cyanobacteria are an important source of
proteins
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 Nitrogen fixing bacteria fix nitrogen in
nodules of legume roots and enhance soil
fertility balance
Heterotrophic bacteria are known to be
potential decomposers like fungi

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 Flavobacterium aids decomposition of
synthetic materials:
dyes
nylon
plastic
s
herbicides
pesticides
Petroleum
product
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Bacteria are used as possible indicators of life
in other planets with known atmospheric pH
and ammonia concentration

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Illustration:
Jupiter planet have extreme atmospheric alkalinity (pH >
13) and not suitable for bacteria survival

But Venus planet give possible survivability with its

atmospheric pH of 11.5 and high concentration of
ammonia

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 Economic uses of Bacteria
In a dairy food production:
Bacteria are used in production of cheese by fermentation
of lactose into lactic acid (coagulation of milk protein)
Bacteria are sources of commercial preservatives
Such as Acetic acid, Vinegar, Amino acids and enzymes

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 Spirulina and Cyanobacteria are sources of commercial
protein mix with human foods or animal feeds

Spirulina protein is ten times that of wheat and soy beans

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 In the field of criminology
Finger prints have unique bacteria that can be used as
personal identifiers, even in identical twins.

These bacteria are left behind on any material our fingers

touch

Genetic sequencing, revealed specific bacteria on a

material that matched the hand that touched it

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 In drug production
Actinomycetes accounts for 75% antibiotics registered
by NAFDAC
Such include Streptomycin, Aureomycin Neomycin and Tetracycline

Others are Tyrothricin, and Bacitracin

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 Albeit, a few bacteria are sources of diseases in higher
organisms

Examples:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for tuberculosis in humans

Other diseases in humans caused by bacteria include Cholera, anthrax,

gonorrhea, tetanus and diphtheria

Fire blight disease is caused by plant pathogens

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 End of Lecture

Many thanks for your

time
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 TEST
Bacteria
(10 Minutes)

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