Introduction to Bacteriology
1- Bacteria are living organisms, prokaryotes (lacking
definite nucleus membrane )
2 - Bacteria belong to Kingdom Monera.
3- Bacterial cell has cell wall composed of peptedoglycan,
4- Bacteria are occur almost everywhere.
General Characters of Bacteria
• They are widely spread in nature i.e. present in soil, air and water.
• They are unicellular, prokaryotic microorganism .
• The cell bears a thick rigid cell wall outside the plasma membrane .
• They have great variation in the mode of nutrition i.e. may be autotrophic and
heterotrophic. In heterotrophism mode of nutrition they may be parasite
saprophyte or symbiotic in nature.
• They lack true chlorophyll but few photosynthetic bacteria have a special type
of chlorophyll called bacteriochlorophyll.
• All the enzymes required for respiration are found in the cell membrane.
• Both DNA and RNA are present in the bacterial cell. DNA is in the form of single
circular chromosome.
• Vegetative reproduction is generally by binary fission, and exospores in
filamentous bacteria &Form endospore as dormant stage.
• True sexual reproduction is absent in bacteria but there are examples of
genetic recombination which may be of following types viz. conjugation,
transduction and transformation.
Significance of bacteria to man kind
• Why study bacteria?
• Bacteria cause disease e.g. typhoid, anthrax, tuberculosis.
• Bacteria produce a number of important antibiotics.
• Bacteria play an essential role in mineral cycles (as carbon
cycle, nitrogen cycle ….) in the soil, so help plants in growth.
• Bacteria play a significant role in our food industry, e.g., the
manufacture of diary products such as butter, cheese and
yoghurt through its ability to convert milk sugar to lactic acid.
• The flavor to these products produced by the bacteria during
the process of manufacture.
• Bacteria are employed (used) in the manufacture of certain
vitamins (B12) and amino acids.
The Bacterial Cell
Size &Morphology
• A- Size
• The dimensions of a bacterial cell is measured by microns (1 = 1 m = 1/100
mm).
• The size of bacteria ranges from 0.2 or less (e.g.Mycoplasm) to 500 (some sp.
of Sirochatyes).
• The size of most bacterial species lies between 1-10 .
• B- Morphological types of bacteria:
Morphologically, bacteria are classified into 3 main groups as:-
a- Coccus (pl. cocci)
b- Bacillus (Bacilli)
c- Curved bacteria
d- Filamentous Eubacteria(Actinomycetes)
a- Coccus (spherical cells)
Monoccous (Monococci) The cells occur singly OR
( a) Streptococcus (cells adhere in chain).
(b) Diplococcus (Diplococci): ( cells occur in pairs).
(c) TetracocccusThe cells occur (adhere) in group of four .
(d) Sarcinae(cells form cubes or cubical masses of 8 or 15 or 32 cell.
(e) Staphylococcus ( cells occur in cluster or form grape-like
b- Bacillus (Bacilli)
c- Curved bacteria
a- Vibrio (Pl. vibrios)The cells are short, curved,
comma-shape, e.g. Vibrio cholera.
b- Spirillum (Pl. spirilla)The cells are rigid, spirall
twisted,
C-SpirochaetaThese bacteria appears like a cork screw. The
spiral is more flexible and has multiple turns.
D- Filamentous Eubacteria(Actinomycetes)
• Fungi like bacteria (Carry exospores on their aerial branches. Generally
found in soil, water and sewage and some are pathogenic. Collected in
one group and known as Actinomycetes. E.g. Streptomuces,
Bacterial Cell Structure
• Cell wall
• Structures inside cell wall
(membrane, cytoplasm , ribosomes and
bacterial genome )
• Structures outside cell wall
( Capsules , Flagella , Fimbriae)
Bacterial Cell Structure
The Cell Wall
• The outermost component of bacterial cell .
• Common in all bacteria except mycoplasma .
• Structure differs according whether bacteria
are Gram-positive or Gram –negative
• Cell wall composed of Peptidoglycan .
Function of the cell wall
• Maintains the bacterial shape.
• Supports the weak cytoplasmic membrane.
• Plays a role in cell division.
• Responsible For passive diffusion of fluid &
nutrients and staining properties.
Cell Wall-Deficient Bacteria
• Naturally occurring Mycoplasma .
• Induced L-forms (by inhibition of cell wall
synthesis )
Cytoplasmic membrane
• It lies just inside the peptidoglycan layer .
• Structure
( a phospholipids bilayer contains protein ,
dose not contain sterol except mycoplasma ).
Mesosomes ( invaginations inside cytoplasm )
Lateral mesosomes
Septal mesosomes
Function of Cytoplasmic membrane
• Selective permeability .
• Excretion of extracellular enzymes and toxins.
• Respiration .
• Plays an important role in cell division
The Cytoplasm
• It is a viscous watery solution or soft gel that
contains a variety of organic & inorganic
solutes.
• It contains Ribosomes, inclusion granules &
Plasmids
a- The Ribosomes
• Site of protein synthesis
• 70S being composed of 30S & 50S subunits
B- Inclusion Granules
• Round granules observed in many bacteria.
• They are not permanent or essential
structure .
• They are either stored energy or nutrient
reserve .
c- Plasmids
• Extra chromosomal double stranded circular
DNA
• They carry certain genetic information
e.g. antibiotic resistances , toxin production
Bacterial Genome
• Single circular chromosome
• Dose not have nuclear membraine,mitotic
apparatus or histones.
Capsule
• Present only in some bacteria & stained with
capsular stain.
• Formed of polysaccharide or polypeptide or
hyaluronic acid .
• It has antiphagocytic function& determines
the virulence of many bacteria .
• It also plays a role in attachment to mucous
membranes .
Flagella
• The organs of motility .
• They arise from cytoplasm .
• Formed of flagellin proteins
• Stained with special flagellar stain.
Fimbriae ( Pili )
• Short & thin hair like filaments .
• They are formed of pilin proteins .
• Attachment ( adherence ) organs.
• Sex pili involved in the transfer of DNA
between bacteria .
Bacterial Spores
• Highly resistant resting phase of some bacteria
• Spores do not reproduce
• Occurs in response to unfavorable conditions.
• They stained with spore stains .
• Highly resistant to dryness , heat &
disinfectants .
• Germinates to vegetative form which can
multiply.
Bacterial Reproduction
• By simple binary fission .
• Cells grow in size.
• Double stranded DNA separate &attached to
mesosome & acts as a template for another copy
• The protoplasm divided into two equal parts .
• The parent cell separates into two daughter cells
Steps of Binary Fission
