Mnbv BACTERIAL STRUCTURE - Penicillin acts by preventing the

AND FUNCTION synthesis of peptidoglycan.

Prokaryotes - Composed of outer and inner (thin
- “Pro” meaning before and “karyon” peptidoglycan) membranes
meaning nucleus, nut or kernel. - Outer membrane -
- These are organisms that do not contain a proteins, phospholipids and
true nucleus surrounded by nuclear lipopolyssachride
membrane, characteristic of lower forms a. Lipid A – major constituent; toxic
such as bacteria b. Core polysaccharide
- They do not contain organelles and all c. Antigenic O – specific polysaccharide
functions take place in the cytoplasm or
cytoplasm or cytoplasmic membrane
- LPS have the following important function:
Cell Envelope a. They are vitals in evading the host defense
- Outermost structure b. They contribute to the negative charge
- Composed of outer membrane and of the bacterial surface, which
periplasm (gram negative only), cell wall stabilizes the membrane structure
and plasma membrane c. LPS considered as an endotoxin

Cell Wall
- Also referred to as peptidoglycan or murein
layer [See comparison between gram positive and gram
- It is composed of disaccharide- negative bacteria]
pentapeptide subunits; also made up Acid-fast Cell Wall
of teichoic acid or lipoteichoic acid. - It has a Gram positive cell wall structure
- Is a rigid structure that maintains the - Contain a waxy layer of glycolipids and
shape of the cell fatty acids (mycolic acid) that is bound to
- MAJOR FUNCTION: the exterior of the cell wall
- to prevent bacterial cells from rupturing - Mycolic acid has a strong hydrophobic
when the osmotic pressure inside the structure
cell is greater than outside the cell - Example:
- It also serves as a point of anchorage a. Mycobacterium
for flagella b. Nocardia
- Its synthesis and structure have been
the primary target of antimicrobial Absence of a Cell Wall
agents - Prokaryotes that do not have a cell wall
contain sterols in their cell membrane
Gram Positive Cell Wall - Example
- Composed of a very thick protective a. Mycoplasma
peptidoglycan (murein) layer
b. Ureaplasma
- Consist of glycan chains of alternating N-
acetyl- D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-
muramic acid. Plasma Membrane
- Teichoic acid is negatively charged and - Deepest layer of the cell envelope
contributes to the negativity of the cell wall; and the internal matrix of the cell
it may also bind and regulate the - It consists of a phospholipid bilayer that
movement of cations into and out of the cell surrounds the cytoplasm
Gram Negative Cell Wall
 - It functions as the mitochondria, golgi - Some examples of
complexes and lysosomes of eukoryotic cells. Polyphosphate granules:
- Act as an osmotic barrier
- Regulates the transport of solute across -Corynebacterium diptheriae - Babes-ernst bodies
the membrane as well as the generation of -Yersinia pestis -Bipolar Bodies
chemical energy - Mycobacterium tuberculosis - Much’s granule
- Site of respiration and photosynthesis
Endospores/Asexual spores (Resistant
CYTOPLASMIC STRUCTURE
structures)
- They are small, dromant structures
Ribosome (Non-membranous structure) located inside the bacterial cell
- Site of protein - They aid in survival of bacteria
biosynthesis and gives the against external conditions
cytoplasm a granular - They are produced within vegetative cells
structure
Genome
- Consist of single, circular chromosome
- Appears diffused nucleoid or chromatin of some Gram-positive bacteria.
body that is attached to a mesosome. - They are composed of dipicolinic acid and
Cytoplasmic structure calcium ions (calcium dipicolinate).
Plasmid - Examples:
- Extrachromosomal, double stranded a. Bacillus
element of DNA that is associated with b. Clostridium
virulence.
- Located in the cytoplasm and serves as a
Nice to Know
site for the gene to code for antibiotic
Types of Spore according to location
resistance and toxin production.
- Not essential for bacterial growth so a 1. Terminal spore - Clostridium tetani
bacterial cell may or may not contain a 2. Subterminal spore - Clostridium botulinum
plasmid 3. Central spore - Bacillus anthracis
- It sometimes disappears during cell
division and it can make bacteria Terminology:
pathogenic. 1. Sporogenesis/Sporulation - process of
spore formation
Plasmid 2. Germination - is the end of spore’s
- There are two kinds of plasmid: dormant stage
a. Large plasmid - production of B-
lactamases that provide resistance to Glycocalyx
B- lactam antibiotics like penicillin - It is an outward complex of
and oxacillin polysaccharides on the bacterial surface
b. Small plasmid - is resistant to and other cells.
tetracyclines and chloramphenicol - It helps the bacteria to attach to the
surface of solid objects or tissue
Inclusion bodies - It appears as capsule or a slime layer
- Serves as the energy source or food
reserve of the bacteria a. Capsule - organized material that is firmly
- Composed mainly of polysaccharide; they attached to the cell wall
lessen osmotic pressure - Made up of polysaccharide polymers
- Examples: - Protects the bacteria from the attacks of
a. Glycogen human defense system. Resist
b. Cyanophysin granules phagocytosis and dessication
c. poly-B-hydroxybutyrate granules
d. carboxysomes a. Slime layer - unorganized material that is
loosely attached to the cell wall
e. Gas vacuoles
- Also made up of polysaccharide
f. Polyphosphate granules
- It can either inhibit phagocytosis or aid in
the adherence of the bacteria to the host
tissue or synthetic implants.
Flagellum
- It is an exterior protein filament (flagellin) that
rotates and thus, causes bacteria to be motile.
- Important in the survivability and
the pathogenic ability of bacteria
- The arrangement of the flagella is as follows:
a. Atrichous - without flagellum
b. Monotrichous - single flagellum on one end
c. Amphitrichous - single flagellum on
both ends
d. Lophotrichous - tuff/group of flagella on Eukaryotes
one end or both ends - These are microorganisms that
e. Peritrichous - spread over the whole surface contain a true nucleus (with
chromosome bound by a nuclear
membrane)
- These are cells of higher plants,
animals, fungi, protozoa and other
more morphologically complex and
larger organisms than prokaryotes
- They contain many membrane-bound
organelles such as nucleus,
endoplasmic reticulum, golgi body,
mitochondria and lysosomes, in
which cellular functions are
performed.

Pili (Fimbria)
- These are hair-like, proteinaceous
structures that extend from the cell
membrane to the external environment (2
um in length).
- Aid in the attachment of bacteria to surface
- Example:
a.
b.

1. Common or somatic pilus - virulence

factor/organ of attachment ARCHEABACTERIA (ARCHEA)
2. Sex pilus - essential part of the genetic
transfer/conjugation process Archea - from greek word “archaics”, which
means ancient.
- The cellular structures of archaea include
the cell wall, plasma membrane,
ribosomes and flagella.
- They do not contain a nucleus and
membrane- bound organelles
- Cell wall of archeabacteria never contain
peptidoglycan, but they mostly contain a
protein or glycoprotein wall structure
known as the “S-layer”
- Classified aerobes, facultative anaerobes
or obligate anaerobes
- Either Gram positive or Gram negative
COMPARISON BETWEEN GRAM POSITIVE AND GRAM
NEGATIV

COMPARISON BETWEEN PROKARYOTIC AND

EUKARYOTIC CELL
Let's Answer!

1. Which of the following terms refer to organisms with "true nucleus"

A. Archaebacteria
B. Bacteria
C. Prokaryotes
D. Eukaryotes

2. Which of the following gives a high susceptibility of mechanical breakage to Gram-negative cell wall?
A. Porins
B. Periplasmic space
C. Peptidoglycan
D. Phospholipids

3. Which of the following lacks a cell wall?

A. Nocardia
B. Capnocytophaga
C. Mycoplasma
D. Chlamydia

4. What refers to the extrachromosomal structure that serves as the site for genes to code for antibiotic
resistance and toxic production of bacteria?

A. Plasmid
B. Carboxysomes
C. Slime layer
D. Genome

5. Which of the following inclusion bodies are found on Corynebacterium diphtheriae?

A. Much's granule
B. Bipolar Bodies
C. Polyphosphate
D. Babes-Ernst bodies

6. Which is the intracellular structure that allows organisms to withstand extreme conditions?
A. Fimbriae
B. Endospores
C. Murien
D. Intron