LECTURES IN

MICROBIOLOGY

The Prokaryotes
LESSON 4
Sofronio Agustin
Professor

Lesson 4 Topics

External Structures
Cell Envelope
Internal Structures
Cell Shapes, Arrangement, and Sizes
Classification

External Structures
Flagella
Pili and fimbriae
Glycocalyx

Flagella
Composed of protein subunits called flagellin.
H antigens used in serotyping of bacterial

strains.
Example: Escherichia coli O157: H7

Flagellar Structure

Three components of a flagellum: filament, hook and basal body

Flagellar Arrangement

(a) Monotrichous (b) Lophotrichous (c) Amphitrichous (d) Peritrichous

Bacterial Motility

The rotation of the flagella enables bacteria to be motile.

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Chemotaxis

Chemotaxis is the movement of bacteria in response to chemical signals. It

consists of a series of tumbles and runs toward or away from source of stimuli.

Endoflagella
Spirochetes have their
flagella embedded in the
membrane = endoflagella
Also called axial filament
Example: T. pallidum
(corkscrew motility)

Pili and Fimbriae

Attachment
Mating (Conjugation)

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Fimbriae

Fimbriae are smaller than flagella and are important for attachment.
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Pili

Pili enable conjugation to occur, which is the transfer of DNA

from one bacterial cell to another (mating).

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Glycocalyx
Capsule
Protects bacteria from phagocytic cells

Slime layer
Enable attachment and aggregation of
bacterial cells

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Capsule
The capsule is covalently
bound to the cell wall.
Associated with virulence
in bacteria.
Example:
Streptococcus pneumoniae

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Slime Layer
The slime layer is
loosely bound to the
cell.
Carbohydrate rich
material enhances
adherence of cells on
surfaces
Example:
Streptococcus mutans
and plaque formation

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Biofilms
The slime layer is
associated with cell
aggregation and the
formation of biofilms
Example:
Staphylococcus
epidermidis biofilms
on catheter tips

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Cell Envelope
Cell wall
Gram-positive
Gram-negative

Cytoplasmic membrane
Cell wall-less bacteria

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Cell Wall
Gram positive cell wall
Thick peptidoglycan (PG) layer
Acidic polysaccharides
Teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid

Gram-negative cell wall

Thin peptidoglycan (PG) layer

Lipopolysaccharide layer
Porins
Periplasmic space
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Peptidoglycan Layer

PG is a complex sugar and peptide structure important for cell wall stability and shape.
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Cell Wall Structures

Structures associated with gram-positive and gram-negative cell walls.

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Cytoplasmic Membrane

Phospholipid bilayer
Fluid mosaic model
Embedded proteins for active transport
Enzymes for energy generation
Photosynthetic pigments

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L Forms

Mutations can cause some bacteria to lose the ability to synthesize the cell wall and are called L forms.

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Cell Wall Less Bacteria

No peptidoglycan layer
Cell membrane contains sterols for stability

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The Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma bacteria
have no cell wall, which
contributes to their
pleomorphic shapes
Smallest bacteria
(0.2 um)
Example:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
(SEM on right)
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Internal Structures
Cytoplasm
Genome
Inclusion bodies
Actin
Endospore

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Cytoplasm
Gelatinous solution containing water,
nutrients, proteins, and genetic material

Site for cell metabolism

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Genetic Structures
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Ribosomes

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Bacterial Genome

Most bacteria contain a single circular double strand of DNA called a nucleoid.

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Prokaryotic Ribosome
A ribosome is a
combination of RNA and
protein, and is the site
for protein synthesis
Composed of large
(50S) and small (30S)
subunits
S = Svedverg unit,
measures molecular size
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Inclusion Bodies

Inclusion bodies enable a cell to store nutrients and to survive in

nutrient depleted environments

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Bacterial Cytoskeleton

Actin is a protein fiber present in some bacteria, which is involved in

maintaining cell shape.

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Endospores
Nutrient depletion induces
some bacteria (vegetative
cell) to form endospores in
order to survive
Dehydrated gel state due
to calcium-protein complex
Dipicolinic acid (found
only in spores) hardens the
spore
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Endospore Formation

Some pathogenic bacteria that produce toxins during the vegetative stage are
capable of forming spores. (e.g. Bacillus and Clostridium species)

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Bacterial Morphology

Coccus
Rod or bacillus
Curved or spiral
Cell arrangements
Pleomorphism

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Typical Shapes and Arrangements

Scanning electron micrographs of different bacterial shapes and arrangements.

(a) Streptococcus

(b) Bacillus

(c) Spirochete

(d) Spirillum

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Pleomorphism

Some bacteria show varied shapes and arrangements called pleomorphism.

Ex: Corynebacterium diphtheriaes Chinese letter arrangement.

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Bacterial Shapes and Arrangements

Cellular shapes and arrangements are useful in bacterial identification.

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The Dimension of Bacteria

Relative size of a bacterial cell compared to other cells including viruses.

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Classification
Phenotypic methods
Molecular methods
Taxonomic scheme
Unique groups

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Phenotypic Methods
Cell morphology - staining
Biochemical test enzyme test

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Molecular Methods
DNA sequence
16S RNA
Protein sequence

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Major Taxonomic Groups of Bacteria

The methods of
classification have
allowed bacteria to be
classified into different
taxonomic groups
Re: Bergeys Manual
of Determinative
Bacteriology
(Table on right)
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Unique Bacterial Types

Intracellular bacteria
Photosynthetic bacteria
Sulfur bacteria
Gliding and fruiting bacteria

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Intracellular Bacteria
Intracellular bacteria
must live in host cells for
them to metabolize and
reproduce
Examples:
Rickettsiae
and Chlamydiae

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Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are important photosynthetic bacteria associated with oxygen production.

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Sulfur Bacteria
Green and
purple sulfur
bacteria are
photosynthetic,
do not give off
oxygen, and are
found in sulfur
springs,
freshwater, and
swamps.
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Myxobacteria

An example of a fruiting body bacteria in which reproductive spores are produced.

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Archaea
Associated with extreme environments
Contain unique cell walls
Contain unique internal structures

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Archaea
Archaea are found in:
hot springs
(thermophiles)
high salt content
areas (halophiles)
Example:
Halobacterium
salinarium

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