BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY (MICP 211)

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK

2 1 - PRELIM PERIOD 2

BACTERIAL MORPHOLOGY,
GROWTH REQUIREMENTS

 Implement a study habit to read and comprehend the following prior to online class proper:
unit objectives; course module and learning videos.
 Actively search for unfamiliar medical terminologies and relate to discussions.
 Establish effective teacher- student interactions through participation in the synchronous
online class discussion. through LMS discussion board or through Online Class chat box. Ask
relevant questions.
 Answer and submit course unit tasks online if there is any.
 For additional direction read study guide prior to class proper

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

A. Cognitive Objectives:
a.1.Knowledge Acquisition:
Explain the basic principles of bacterial morphology, including the shapes (cocci, bacilli, spirilla) and
arrangements (clusters, chains, pairs) of bacteria.
a.2. Comprehension and Analysis:
Identify and classify bacterial samples based on their morphology, demonstrating an understanding of
the relationship between bacterial structure and function.

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a.3.Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:
Analyze various growth requirements of bacteria, such as temperature, pH, and nutrient availability,
and relate how this initiates or sustains the infection of the patient.

B. Psychomotor Objective:
b.1. Microscopic Skills:
The learner will be able to demonstrate proper techniques for observing bacterial morphology under a
microscope and record bacterial morphology accurately

C. Affective Objective:
Teamwork and Communication:
The learner will collaborate effectively with peers in sharing observations, discussing results, and
contributing to a collaborative understanding of bacterial morphology and growth requirements.

This module was derived from the textbook

Microbiology & Parasitology: A textbook & lab
manual for the Health Sciences, by Dr. Quiles &
Dr. Bartolome, 2nd edition.
Read and understand:
Chapter 3: Bacterial Morphology page 29;
Chapter 4:Bacterial Growth Requirements page 41

B
acteria are metabolically active single-celled prokaryotic bacteria divide by binary fission.
These microbes contribute to disease pathogenesis. Some can endure extreme temperatures
and pressures.
Let us start and analyze bacteria growth needs like temperature, pH, and nutrition availability and
how they affect patient infection.
BACTERIAL MORPHOLOGY
 The size, shape, and morphologic arrangement of various bacteria can be easily viewed with a
compound light microscope.
 Bacteria size
 spheres measurement usually ranges from about 0.2 um in diameter to 10.0 um–long spiral-
shaped bacteria, to even longer filamentous bacteria.

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  average coccus is about 1 um in diameter
 average bacillus is about 1 um wide x3 um long
 Bacteria range in size from 0.2 to 5 micrometers.
 Mycoplasma, the smallest microbe, is comparable in size to poxviruses (largest viruses) and
may survive without a host. The longest bacterium rods are 7 μm in size, similar to yeasts and
human red blood cells.
 Bacteria reproduction
 by binary fission - bacteria divide; one cell splits in half to become two daughter cells
 The time it takes for one bacterial cell to split into two cells is referred to as that organism’s
generation time
 Bacteria Basic Shapes.
 Bacteria come in three basic shapes: spherical (cocci), rod-shaped (bacilli), and spiral-shaped
(spirilli) (sometimes referred to as spirilla).
 Variety Of Morphologic Arrangements.
 Following binary fission, the daughter cells can either completely separate or remain
connected, resulting in a variety of morphologic arrangements. The specifics are as follows:

DESCRIPTION IMAGE EXAMPLE

Diplococci- Streptococcus pneumonia,
(singular: diplococcus)
Cocci that divide and remain Moraxella catarrhalis,
attached in pairs.
Enterococcus spp,

Neisseria gonorrhea
Streptococci - Streptococcus pyogenes,
(singular: streptobacillus) Rods
that remain attached in chains Streptococcus pneumonia,
after cell division.
Streptococcus mutans

Staphylococci Staphylococcus epidermidis,

(singular: staphylococcus) Cocci
in a grapelike cluster or Staphylococcus haemolyticus,
broad sheet.
Staphylococcus aureus,

Staphylococcus capitis

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Tetrad - Aerococcus
A group of four cocci.
Pediococcus

Tetragenococcus

Sarcina / Octad - Sarcina aurantiaca,

(plural: sarcinae) A group of
eight bacteria that remain in a Sarcina lutea,
packet after dividing.
Sarcina ventriculi

Coccobacilli - Chlamydia trachomatis,

(plural: coccobacilli) A
bacterium that is an oval rod Haemophilus influenza,

Gardnerella vaginalis

Diplobacilli - Coxiella burnetii,

(singular: diplobacillus) Rods
that divide and remain Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis,
attached in pairs
Moraxella bovis

Streptobacilli - Streptobacillus moniliformis,

(singular: streptobacillus) Rods
that remain attached in chains Streptobacillus Levaditi,
after cell division.
Streptobacillus felis,

Streptobacillus hongkongensis.

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Palisade - Corynebacterium diphtheria that
causes diphtheria
picket fence-like shape due to a
bend at the site of division
during cell division;

bacilli stack up next to each

other, side by side.

Vibrio Vibrio mytili,

These are the comma-
Vibrio anguillarum,
shaped bacteria that are
slightly bent. Vibrio parahaemolyticus,

Vibrio cholera.

Spirochetes Leptospiraspecies (Leptospira

- are spiral bacteria that interrogans),
have a helical shape.
Treponema pallidum,
- flexible & have an axial
filament which helps in Borrelia recurrentis
motility.

- These filaments are key

feature that distinguishes
spirochetes from other
bacteria.

- These filaments travel the

length of the bacterium,
aiding in the twisting of
the bacteria’s motility.

Spirilla (Helical- Campylobacter jejuni,

shaped/Corkscrew form)
- Have a similar structure Helicobacter pylori,
with spirochete but more
rigid Spirillum winogradskyi.
- like spirochetes, have a
flagellum, but they lack the
endoflagella.

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 Other Shapes and Arrangements

 Appendaged Bacteria
> bacteria that produce a distinct structure such as pillus or fimbriae.
> Those that produce these appendages are more virulent.
> Example: Neisseria gonorrheae, the agent of Gonorrhea.

 Pleomorphic Bacteria
> This category includes bacteria that do not have a defined form.
> They can alter shape,, but in pure culture, they appear to have a definite form.
> Examples: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. genitalium.

 Filamentous Bacteria
> These are filament-shaped bacteria that are long, thin.
> sometimes, divide to form branches resembling strands of hair or spaghetti called mycelium.
> Example: Actinomycetes.

 Club-shaped Rod Bacteria

> These bacteria are thinner on one side than the other.
> Ex. Corynebacterium.

 Box-shaped/ Rectangular Bacteria. Ex. Haloarcula marismortui ( not pathogenic); Triangular-

shaped Bacteria. Ex. Haloarcula ( saline environments such as salt lakes, marine salterns, and saline
soils); Stalked Bacteria. Possess a stalk on one end of the cell. Ex. Caulobacter crescentus ( found
and lakes and streams ); Star-shaped Bacteria. Ex. Stella humosa ( found in freshwater, soil, and
sewage).

Let us ascertain your understanding.

What is the general shape of the following bacteria?

BACTERIA CHOICES:

1. Streptococcus pyogenesis The cause of strep throat It is: A. Round

2. Propionibacterium acnes: the reason for acne is a bacillus. It is shaped B. Rod
as: C. Spiral
3. Streptococcus pneumoniae is:
4. The bacteria that causes leptospirosis is:
5. Campylobacter coli has a helical form, which is referred to as:
6. N. gonorrhoeae is also known as gonococcus:
7. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis is an acid-fast bacillus. It is a ______
shape.

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 Classification of Bacteria As To Gram- Staining are gram-positive or gram–negative.
 Some structures play specific roles, for example: in bacterial virulence (capsule), in bacterial
identification (cell wall or flagella), and in targets of antimicrobial agents (cell wall).
 Let’s elaborate these structures below:

ENVELOPE STRUCTURES

Glycocalyx (Slime Capsule

Layers and Capsules) - An outer, viscous covering on some
bacteria composed of a
- A gelatinous polysaccharide or polypeptide.
polymer - Function: Protects against phagocytosis
surrounding a cell
located outside their highly organized and firmly attached to the
cell wall. cell wall.

Slime layer
- A glycocalyx that is unorganized and loosely
attached to the cell wall.
- Function: Mediates adherence to surfaces.

Cell Wall Murein Sacculus-

Murein or mucopeptide -
- The outermost
component of all Peptidoglycan, also known as murein, is a
bacteria is the cell polymer made up of sugars and amino acids
wall (except that forms a mesh-like peptidoglycan layer
Mycoplasma outside of most bacteria's plasma
species, which are membrane, creating the cell wall.
bounded by a cell
membrane, not a Murein represents a type of bacterial
cell wall). exoskeleton known as murein sacculus, that
completely surrounds the cell.

Function of cell wall : provide rigidity,

strength, and protection.

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 Both gram positive and gram negative cell
walls contain an ingredient known
as peptidoglycan (also known as murein)

Gram - positive -
Teichoic acids- A polysaccharide found in
gram-positive cell walls.
Polysaccharides - Carbohydrate
consisting of many sugar units; glycogen,
cellulose, and starch are examples

Gram - negative cell -

1. Outer membrane - gram negative
cell wall has presence of a plasma
membrane located outside of the
peptidoglycan layers, known as
the outer membrane
2. Lipoprotein - large molecules
known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS),
which are anchored into the outer
membrane and project from the cell
into the environment. LPS is made up
of three different components: 1) the
O-antigen or O-polysaccharide, 2) the
core polysaccharide, and 3) lipid A,

 Periplasmic space - The space

between the plasma membrane and
outer membrane of Gram- negative
cell wall is referred to as the
periplasmic space.

Acid-Fast -
- Outer-layer is lipid-rich; myolic acids
(hydrophobic)
- Inner layer is peptidoglycan

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 PROJECTING STRUCTURES

Flagella - Polar (at one or both poles or ends of

(plural: flagella) A thin the cell).
appendage from the > If polar, flagella may be
cytoplasm to the cell monotrichous (a single flagellum
exterior. > at one pole lophotrichous (a tuft
of flagella coming from one pole
Composed of 3 structural > amphitrichous (flagella at
elements, the basal both poles of the cell
body, the hook and the
filament
Peritrichous - Having flagella distributed
The movement of a over the entire cell
bacterium toward or
away from a particular
stimulus is called taxis. Atrichous - Bacteria that lack flagella.
Such stimuli include
chemicals Function of Flagella: Motility
(chemotaxis) and light
(phototaxis).

Pili or Fimbriae Pilin -

Fimbria Common Pili -
(plural: fimbriae) An Conjugation - The transfer of genetic
appendage on a bacterial material from one cell to another
cell used for involving cell-to-cell contact.
attachment.
Pilus Function of Pili / Fimbriae: Adherence to
(plural: pili) An appendage
cell surface
on bacterial cell; for
Conjugation & gliding
motility.

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Axial Filaments - Endoflagella - other name
Bundle of fibrils -
The structure for motility
found in spirochetes; Function: motility
also
called endoflagellum.

CYTOPLASMIC MEMBRANE
Also called as Cell called as cell sac or plasma membrane too.
membrane -
Cytoplasm -
In a prokaryotic cell, everything inside the
plasma
membrane;
Functions of Cell Membrane:
- Selective permeable - The property of a plasma
membrane to allow certain molecules and ions
to move through the membrane while
restricting others.
- In Aerobe, it is site of:A)Electron transport
chain & B) ATP production
-Also contains: : Mitochondria, enzymes for
biosynthesis of DNA

INTERNAL STRUCTURES

Nucleoid - Single circular, double-stranded DNA -

The region in a bacterial Function of Nucleiod: contains the

cell containing the chromosome
chromosome.

Mesosomes - Cell division -

The bacterial cell cycle can be arbitrarily
an extension of the cell divided into two segments: a DNA cycle that
membrane presence in includes DNA replication and chromosome
cytoplasm as infolding segregation
Bacterial binary fission is the process that
bacteria use to carry out cell division.

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 Function of mesosomes: serve in DNA
replication and guide distribution of
duplicated bacterial chromosomes into the
two daughter cells during cell division. They
also carry the enzymes for aerobic
respiration and increase the surface area for
the same

Ribosomes - 70s protein -

All prokaryotes have 70S (where S=Svedberg
Tiny spherical organelles units) ribosomes
that make proteins by
joining amino acids The 70S ribosome is made up of a 50S and 30S
together. subunits.

Bacterial ribosomes are Svedberg -

composed of two subunits The Svedberg unit (S) offers a measure of
with densities of 50S and particle size based on its rate of travel in a tube
30S. subjected to high g-force.

Function of Ribosomes: for protein synthesis

whereby they receive and translate genetic
instructions for the formation of specific
proteins
Granules or inclusion Function of inclusion bodies: serve as storage
Bodies - vessels. Glycogen is stored as a reserve of
A granule or viral particle carbohydrates and energy.
in cytoplasm or nucleus
of some infected cells;
important in the
identification of viruses
that cause infection

Endospores Dipicolinic acid (DPA) -

Forms complex with calcium ions within
A resting structure formed endospore core. plays role in endospore heat
inside some bacteria. resistance & in protecting endospore genome
from UV light

Sporulation -
Process of spore and endospore formation; also
called sporogenesis.
Vegetative state -
Normally-growing cell that forms the endospore is
called vegetative cell. Spores are metabolically
inactive & dehydrated. They can remain viable for

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 thousands of years. When exposed to favorable
conditions, they can germinate into a vegetative
cell within 90 minutes

Germination -
Process of starting to grow from a spore or
endospore

Function of endospore: It allows the bacterium to

produce a dormant and highly resistant cell to
preserve the cell's genetic material in times of
extreme stress. Endospores can survive
environmental assaults that would normally kill
the bacterium.
 Toxins
 Endotoxins
 Generated during the breakdown of bacterial cell wall when bacteria die
 Activate host complement and coagulation cascades
 Causes septic shock
 Non-disease-specific symptoms: Fever, Pain, Shock, Fatigue, Discomfort,
 Exotoxins
 Produced and secreted
 Can result in severe, disease-specific symptoms
 3 main categories: Enterotoxins, Neurotoxins, Cytotoxins
 Examples:Cholera, Botulinum, Diphtheria, Tetanus toxins
Let us ascertain your understanding.
What specifically is the structure being described?
No. Questions Choices
1. Which structure is responsible for preventing bacteria from being consumed by Capsule
white blood cells? Pilus
Flagella
2. In conjugation and gliding motility, which structure is involved? Capsule
Pilus
Flagella
3. What is the name of an organism that breaths only in the presence of oxygen? Obligate aerobes
Obligate anaerobes
Microaerophiles
4. Oxygen is required for growth but when the level is too high, growth comes to a Obligate aerobes
halt. Obligate anaerobes
Microaerophiles
5. Which of the following allows the bacterium to produce a dormant state? Endospore
Granules
Ribosomes
6. Which of these can be used as a storage area? Endospore-
Granules
Ribosomes
7. Which of the following have the categories Enterotoxins, Neurotoxins, and Endotoxin
Cytotoxins? Exotoxin

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 Bacterial Growth Requirement
Nutritional Requirement of Bacteria are as follows:

Carbon

Nitrogen, sulfur,
Phosphorous

Inorganic Ions

Growth Factors

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Physical Requirements are the following:
Moisture / Water  Water is a medium in which bacteria acquire nutrients

Oxygen  Obligate aerobes (aerophilic)

 Obligate anaerobes
 Microaerophiles
 Facultative anaerobes

Temperature  Mesophiles
 Psychrotrophs
 Psychrophiles
 Psychrophiles
 Hyperthermophiles
pH  Neutrophiles
 Alkaliphiles
 Acidophilic
Osmotic Condition  Hypotonic
 Isotonic
 Hypertonic
 halophile:
 Facultative Halophiles

Bacterial Growth Curve

represents the number of live cells in a bacterial population over a period of time

Lag Phase - Log/ Logarithmic / Exponential Phase - Stationary - Death or Decline Phase

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 Week 2 Discussion Board - Bacterial Morphology,
Growth Requirements

Analyze various growth requirements of the following bacteria in the

scenarios; its temperature, pH, and nutrient availability. Relate how this
initiates or sustains the infection of the patient.
A. Intimate washes and other types of vaginal washes have been
associated to a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of bacterial infection
and a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of urinary tract infections. What
could be the cause of this based on the class discussion?
B. One recent study among school children found that those
who snacked on cookies and potato chips were four times more
likely to develop tooth decay than children who did not. Use
the information you learned this week and analyze why this
happens.
Share your thoughts with us in the canvas's discussion board or in our
ZOOM chat box.

Good to Know:
 Bacterial nomenclature relates to the naming of bacteria and other organisms using the
binomial system, which was developed by Carl Linnaeus (1674-1748).
 A species name for a bacterium is made up of a genus name and a species epithet.
 Ex. Moraxella bovis - the genus name denotes that the bacterium is from the genus
Moraxella, and the species epithet denotes that it was isolated from cow.
 Bacterial names are international and Latin or latinized Greek are used to form the
name.
 The scientific name of the species is always written in italics when the genus name and
species epithet are combined.
 You can abbreviate the genus name after it has been written for the first time in a text,
e.g. M. bovis. However, note that there are also bacteria called Mycoplasma
bovis and Mycobacterium bovis.

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 For better learning through visuals , here are some useful links

Topics Links

Bacteria: Structure & Types – Microbiology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f4gibe

Go6o

The Bacterial Interior: Components of a Bacterial Cell – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zOOFa

Microbiology n_Ok

Bacterial Classification: Heterotrophs, Chemoautotrophs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

& Photoautotrophs – Microbiology FRfAi51A3o

Here are important terminologies associated to this week’s topic. Do an active search for the some.

Atmospheric Requirement -
Biochemical Activities -
Biofilm - a complex aggregation of microbes.
Colony -
Emerging infectious disease -
Genetic Composition -
Growth - an orderly and organized increased in the sum of all components of the organism.
Metabolic Activities -
Monomorphic - Having a single shape; most bacteria always present with a genetically determined
shape.
Morphology -
Motility -
Nutritional Requirements -
Pathogenicity -
Resistance - ability to ward off diseases
Sarcina (plural: sarcinae) (1) A group of eight bacteria that remain in a packet after dividing. (2) When
written as a genus, refers to gram positive, anaerobic cocci.
Staining -
Streptococci (singular: streptococcus) (1) Cocci that remain attached in chains after cell division. (2)
When written as a genus, refers to gram positive, catalase-negative bacteria.

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ASSIGNMENT: Answer your textbook : Microbiology and parasitology. A textbook and laboratory
manual for the health science (2nd edition) by Dr. Bartolome and Dr. Quiles. On pages 39 to 40.

POINTS TO PONDER FOR CLASS DISCUSSION.

A. Bacteria are widespread and can be found in almost any environment. Expand on this.
B. Bacteria do not have true sexual reproduction. Discuss this further to demonstrate your point.
C. Based on microbiological research, how does canned food cause food poisoning? So, what bacterial
character makes it possible?
D. Why is it possible for bacteria from the lungs to enter the brain? What distinguishes their structures
from one another?

Engelkirk, Paul G. (2019). Burton's Microbiology for the health sciences, 8th ed. . Philadelphia :
LWW.616.01 E3 2007

Quiles, & Bartolome. (2020). Microbiology and Parasitology: A Textbook and Laboratory
Manual for the Health Sciences (2nd ed.). C&E Publishing House.

Tortora, G.J. (2014) Microbiology. Pearson: Singapore. 616.9041 T63 2014

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology. (n.d.).
https://microbenotes.com/bacterial-sizes-shapes-arrangement/ Accessed January 28, 2022.

/AVG

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