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Taxonomy : The science of classification of living organisms.

Example : Escherichia coli
 Kingdom : Prokaryote.
 Order: Eubacteria.
 Family : Enterobacteriaceae.
 Genera : Escherichia.
 Species: Coli.
 Strain: K12.

1. Cytoplasmic Sterol absent Sterol Present

membrane (except mycoplasma)
2. Nuclear Absent Present
Membrane
3. Nucleolus Absent Present

4. Chromosome One circular and coiled DNA Multiple, linear

5. Ribosomes 70 S 80 S
6. Respiration Cytoplasmic membrane Mitochondria
7. Reproduction Asexual (Binary fission) Sexual & Asexual

8. Example Bacteria & Rickettsia Fungi & Animal &

Human & Protozoa.

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Bacterial Structure

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 : small prokaryotic unicellular organisms that range in size
from about 0.2 to 8 µm, Multiply by binary fission.

Structure of Bacteria
A. Essential “Basic” Components :

1. Cell envelope (Cytoplasmic membrane + cell wall).

2. Cytoplasm.
3. Genome (Chromosome & genetic materials).

B. Non-Essential “Extra-Basic” components

1. Flagella
2. Pili “Fimbria”
3. Capsules
4. Endospores

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 A- The cell envelope

(1) Bacterial cell wall

Site: The outer most basic structure of the bacterial cell.
Mainly formed of peptidoglycan polymers which maintain the rigidity and
shape of the cells.

Structure
1. Gram Positive bacteria:

a-inner layer of peptidoglycan:

 Thick layer.
 50-60% of the cell wall.
 it’s the site of action of penicillin, cephalosporins & lysozyme
enzyme.

b- Teichoic acid:
 surface fibers.
 highly immunogenic.

2. Gram negative bacteria:

a- inner layer of peptidoglycan: Thin layer (5-10% of the cell wall)

b- outer membrane “Lipopolysaccharide”

1. Lipid A Layer “Endotoxin”
2. Polysaccharide “Somatic O antigen”

c- Periplasmic space: between cytoplasmic membrane and outer

membrane and filled with gel like substance of protein and enzymes.

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 1-Shape and it’s rigid structure.

2.Osmotically insensitive so, protect the cytoplasmic membrane.

from bursting in hypotonic solutions.

3-Role in cell division.

4.Staining affinity of the organism.

5.contain somatic O antigen.

Cell Wall-Deficient Bacteria

1. Mycoplasma:

 Naturally devoid of cell wall & never

revert to the walled state.

 Shape : Pleomorphic

 Antibiotic : not destroyed by penicillin which act on the bacterial wall.

 Stain : cannot be stained with gram stain.

 Rigidity : cytoplasmic membrane contain sterol so they confer some

rigidity to their membrane to compensate for the absence of cell wall.

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2. L-Form

 Definition :
Bacteria which lost cell wall under the
effect of certain environmental
conditions 
(As treatment with penicillin & Lysozyme).

 Characters:

a. Can revert to the parental form “walled state” on removal of the

cell wall inhibitor (But some are stable).
b. Differ from protoplast & Spheroplast in their ability to replicate.

 Importance : can cause chronic infection (as Urinary tract infection).

3. Protoplast
Definition :
Gram positive bacteria treated with
penicillin or lysozyme and placed in
osmotically protective media.

4. Spheroplast

Definition :
Gram negative bacteria with
remnants of outer membrane formed
after treatment of bacteria with
penicillin or lysozyme then place in
osmotically protective media.

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 (2) Cytoplasmic membrane
Definition : semi-permeable double-layered structure composed of
phospholipid & protein.

1.Selective permeability to different molecules.

2.Active transport of nutrients through special enzymes.
3.Secretion & Excretion of toxins & hydrolytic enzymes outside the cell.
4.Source of energy as it is the site of respiration.
5.it provides enzymes needed for cell wall synthesis.
6.it play a role in DNA replication.

Mesosomes
Definition : Convoluted invaginations of the cytoplasmic
membrane.
Function :
1.Replication : role in cell division because they are the origin
of the cross walls during cell division.
2.Respiration : as they are the site for electron transport.

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 II- Intracytoplamic structures
(1) Bacterial genome
it is the total contents of the bacterial cells
“Nuclear body + Plasmid + Transposon”

A. Nucleoid (Nuclear Body)

 Definition :
a primitive nucleus (1 mm long) not surrounded by nuclear membrane.
 Composition :
single circular double stranded DNA + small amount of RNA.
 Importance:
forms the bacterial chromosome on which about 2000 genes essential
for growth and multiplication are carried.

B. Plasmids
 Definition:
Extra chromosomal double stranded Circular DNA molecules that are
capable of replicating independently of the bacterial chromosome.
 Importance
a. Carry genes not essential for bacterial growth or replication so their
loss doesn’t affect the cell viability
b. Carry genes of:
 toxin production.
 Enzymes.
 antibiotic resistance.

C. Transposons “Jumping genes”

Definition : pieces of DNA that move from one site to another within or
between the DNAs of bacteria, plasmids or bacteriophages.
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 (2) Ribosomes
 Definition: Tightly packed spherical particles present in the cytoplasm.
 Clusters of ribosomes are called polysomes.

 Composition:
1. 40% Protein
2. 60% RNA.

 70 S in size →
1. Small Subunit (30S)
2. Large subunit (50S).

 Function : Site of protein synthesis.

(3) Intracellular inclusions or storage Granules

 The cytoplasm contains granules which represent accumulation of food
or energy reserve

 Example →
The volutin granules (Metachromatic granules) which is commonly seen
in Corynebacterium diphtheria.

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 III- Structures outside the cell wall
(1)Capsule
Definition:
gelatinous layer covering the entire bacterium & usually formed inside the
host tissue.

Composition & Types

a-Polysaccharide:
1. Pneumococci.
2. Meningococci.
3. Hemophilus Influenza.
b-Polypeptide:
 Anthrax bacilli.

Stain : in gram it appears as unstained halo around the organism.

Importance of capsule
1.Virulence factor: as it protects bacteria from phagocytosis.
2.Serotyping : identification of some organisms by using anti-serum
against the capsular polysaccharide.
3.Vaccine: the capsular polysaccharides are used as immunogens in
certain vaccines (As Pneumococcal & meningococcal & H.infulenza type B)

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 (2) Biofilm
Definition :
it’s a structured community of bacterial cells
embedded in a self-produced
muco-polysaccharide polymer matrix
and attached to an inert surface or living tissue.

Importance
1. Bacteria located deep within a biofilm are effectively isolated from
immunity cells, antibodies, antibiotics.
2. Mediates adherence of streptococcus mutans to the surface of the
teeth for formation of dental plaques which is the precursor of
dental caries.

(3) Pili (Fimbria)

Definition :

 thin micro-fibrils made of pilin proteins in many Gram Negative

bacteria.
 Anchored in outer membrane of cell wall & extend radially from the
surface.

Classes & Functions :

1.Ordinary pili : for specific
attachment to host cell receptors.

2.Conjugation Pili (Sex Pili) : in Gram

negative bacteria are required for the
process of conjugation & transfer of
conjugative plasmids.
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 (4) Flagella
Function : Long appendages that mediate motility of bacteria.
Composition : Many subunits of a single proteins (Flagellin).
Antigenicity : antigenic carry flagellar or H antigen.
Stain : seen only by the EM & can be stained by special stain.

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 (5) Endospores
Definition : Highly resistant structures formed usually outside the host in
response to adverse conditions as heat, dehydration and radiation.

Formation & Composition

 Formed inside the bacterial cell
 Contain:
1. bacterial DNA.
2. small amount of cytoplasm.
3. cell membrane.
4. peptidoglycan.

 Spores remain dormant for many years but when the environmental
conditions improve germination of the spores occurs and the bacteria
return to their vegetative state.

Shapes : Spherical or Oval.

Location : inside its empty envelope .
Examples
1. Bacillus anthracis : Central, non-bulging oval spores.
2. Clostridium tetani : terminal, round, bulging oval spores.

Staining : by special staining ( Ziehl neelsen ) with 0.5% H2SO4.

Eradication from any object : sterilized in the autoclave .

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