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Classification of Microorganisms

The document discusses the classification of microorganisms according to taxonomy. It describes the taxonomic hierarchy from domain to species and explains the three domains of life - Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Various classification systems are outlined including Bergey's Manual which is based on genetic information. Major taxonomic groups of bacteria and methods for classifying fungi, protists, and archaea are also summarized.

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Princewill Seiyefa
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70 views

Classification of Microorganisms

The document discusses the classification of microorganisms according to taxonomy. It describes the taxonomic hierarchy from domain to species and explains the three domains of life - Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Various classification systems are outlined including Bergey's Manual which is based on genetic information. Major taxonomic groups of bacteria and methods for classifying fungi, protists, and archaea are also summarized.

Uploaded by

Princewill Seiyefa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Classification of

Microorganisms
Taxonomy
 Organizing, classifying
and naming living things
 Formal system originated
by Carl von Linné (1701-
1778)
 Identifying and classifying
organisms according to
specific criteria
 Each organism placed
into a classification
system
Taxonomy
 Domain
 Kingdom
 Phylum
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 species
3 Domains
 Eubacteria
 true bacteria, peptidoglycan
 Archaea
 odd bacteria that live in extreme
environments, high salt, heat, etc. (usually
called extremophiles)
 Eukarya
 have a nucleus & organelles (humans,
animals, plants)
Taxonomy
 4 main kingdoms:
 Protista
 Fungi
 Plantae
 Animalia
 Algae
Naming Micoorganisms
 Binomial (scientific) nomenclature
 Gives each microbe 2 names:
 Genus - noun, always capitalized
 species - adjective, lowercase
 Both italicized or underlined
 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
 Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis)
 Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Evolution - living things change
gradually over millions of years

 Changes favoring survival are retained and less


beneficial changes are lost
 All new species originate from preexisting
species
 Closely related organism have similar features
because they evolved from common ancestral
forms
 Evolution usually progresses toward greater
complexity
Insert figure 1.15
Woese-Fox System
Classification
Systems in the
Procaryotae
Classification Systems in
the Procaryotae
1. Microscopic morphology
2. Macroscopic morphology – colony
appearance
3. Physiological / biochemical characteristics
4. Chemical analysis
5. Serological analysis
6. Genetic and molecular analysis
• G + C base composition
• DNA analysis using genetic probes
• Nucleic acid sequencing and rRNA analysis
Bacterial Taxonomy Based
on Bergey’s Manual

 Bergey’s Manual of Determinative


Bacteriology – five volume resource
covering all known procaryotes
 classification based on genetic information –
phylogenetic
 two domains: Archaea and Bacteria
 five major subgroups with 25 different phyla
Major Taxonomic Groups of
Bacteria
 Vol 1A: Domain Archaea
 primitive, adapted to extreme habitats and modes
of nutrition
 Vol 1B: Domain Bacteria
 Vol 2-5:
 Phylum Proteobacteria – Gram-negative cell
walls
 Phylum Firmicutes – mainly Gram-positive with
low G + C content
 Phylum Actinobacteria – Gram-positive with high
G + C content
Diagnostic Scheme for
Medical Use

 Uses phenotypic qualities in


identification
 restricted to bacterial disease agents
 divides based on cell wall structure, shape,
arrangement, and physiological traits
Species and Subspecies
 Species
 collection of bacterial cells which share an overall similar
pattern of traits in contrast to other bacteria whose pattern
differs significantly
 Strain or variety
 culture derived from a single parent that differs in structure or
metabolism from other cultures of that species (biovars,
morphovars)
 Type
 subspecies that can show differences in antigenic makeup
(serotype or serovar), susceptibility to bacterial viruses (phage
type) and in pathogenicity (pathotype)
Archaea: The Other
Procaryotes
 Constitute third Domain Archaea
 Seem more closely related to Domain Eukarya than to
bacteria
 Contain unique genetic sequences in their rRNA
 Have unique membrane lipids and cell wall construction
 Live in the most extreme habitats in nature,
extremophiles
 Adapted to heat, salt, acid pH, pressure and
atmosphere
 Includes: methane producers, hyperthermophiles,
extreme halophiles, and sulfur reducers
Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes

 Protista
 Fungi
 Plantae
 Animalia
 Algae
Fungal Classification
 Sexual reproduction
 Spores are formed following fusion of male and
female strains and formation of sexual structure
 Sexual spores and spore-forming structures
are one basis for classification
 Zygospores
 Ascospores
 Basidiospores
Fungal Classification
 Subkingdom Amastigomycota
 Terrestrial inhabitants including those of
medical importance:

1. Zygomycota – zygospores; sporangiospores and


some conidia
2. Ascomycota – ascospores; conidia
3. Basidiomycota – basidiospores; conidia
4. Deuteromycota – majority are yeasts and molds;
no sexual spores known; conidia
Protozoan Classification
 Difficult because of diversity
 Simple grouping is based on method of motility,
reproduction, and life cycle
1. Mastigophora – primarily flagellar motility, some
flagellar and amoeboid; sexual reproduction; cyst
and trophozoite
2. Sarcodina – primarily ameba; asexual by fission;
most are free-living
3. Ciliophora – cilia; trophozoites and cysts; most are
free-living, harmless
4. Apicomplexa – motility is absent except male
gametes; sexual and asexual reproduction; complex
life cycle – all parasitic

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