Biology

of
Microorganisms
By

Prof.Dr Nehal Yousef

Biology of Microorganisms
Microbiology:
Study of tiny
microscopic size

living

organisms

of

Medical Microbiology:
Study the causative agents of infectious
diseases of man
The response generated by man against
infectious agents
Methods of diagnosis
Treatment and prevention

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes
Cell structure
Cell wall

Simple
Present except Mycoplasma

Eukaryotes
Complex
Absent except Fungi & Algae

Cytopl. membrane

Sterols absent

Sterols Present

Nucleus

Primitive nucleus

True nucleus

Nuclear membrane

Absent

Present

Nucleoli

Absent

Present

Mitochondria

Absent

Present

Chromosome

Single

Multiple

Ribosomes

Sediment. Coeff. 70 S

Sediment. Coeff. 80 S

Multiplication

Binary fission

Mitosis

Examples

Bacteria, Rickettsia

Fungi, Protozoa, Algae

Eukaryotic cell

Prokaryotic cell

(e.g. animal)
Rough endoplasmic
reticulum
Nucleus

Cell membrane Nucleoid

Flagellum
Cell wall

Gram +
Pili

Capsule
Cytoplasm
Mitochondria

Gram
Granule

Cell (inner) membrane

Outer membrane
Ribosomes
Cell wall

Similarity between eu- and pro- karyotics

Medically Important Organisms

* Bacteria :
* Fungi
*Viruses:
*Prions:

Infectious proteins devoid of nucleic acid

Morphology of Bacteria
Size
Shape

:
:

Arrangement:

0.2-14 um
Spherical (cocci)
Rod- shaped (bacilli)
Curved rods
Spiral (flexuous spiral)
Variable in shape (pleomorphic)
Pairs or diplos
Tetrad
Chains
Grape-like clustres

Structure of Bacterial Cell

Bacterial Structures

Flagella
Pili
Capsule
Cell Wall
Plasma Membrane
Mesosome
Cytoplasm
Nuclear material
Inclusions
Spores
Ribosome
Chapter 4

Cell structures

Functions

Cell wall

Maintain the Shape , Protect the cell Responsible

for Gm stain reactionContain somatic O antigen
. Responsible for endotoxic activity of Gm
negative
. Plays a role in cell division

Cell membrane

Selective permeability,
excretion of toxins

Nucleus

Genetic information, Control Growth and

Metabolism

transport

.Secretion&

Flagella

Locomotion

Fimbria
Plasmid

Attachment, conjugation
Extrachromosomdouble stranded circular DNA
molecule

Cell structures

Functions ( Cont.)
Protein synthesisComposed of RNA
Ribosomes
and proteins
.
Mesosome EnergyPlay a role in cell division
s
(Origin of cross walls), Play a role
in cell respiration
(site of electron transport)
Capsule

Anti- phagocytic

Spore

Protection against unfavorable

conditions.

Structure of Bacterial Cell

1- Cell wall: Basal structure murine base
. Outer most rigid structure
. Surrounding the plasma membrane
a- in gram positive bacteria
. Peptidoglycan (mucopeptide) - very thick
. Teichoic acid (somatic O antigen)
b- in gram negative bacteria
. Inner layer of peptidglycan - thin layer
. Outer layer of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)
. The periplasmic space in between filled with gel

preduced peptidoglycan
thick, dense
layer coverd outer
peptidoglycan layer membrane,}

Gm +ve and Gm ve cell wall

Bacteria
Growth And Metabolism

Growth Requirement Of Bacteria

* Growth of bacteria depends on:

. adequate supply of food

Food is essential for :
. Build up of protoplasm
. Production of energy
* Metabolic activities are brought about:
. Various enzymes
* Enzyme activity is conditioned by:
. Moisture
. Temperature
. pH

1- Bacterial Nutrition
1- Autotrophic bacteria:
- Free living, non parasitic
importance)

(No

medical

- Utilize simple inorganic substances as:

. CO2 as a source of carbon
. Ammonium salts as a source of nitrogen
- Energy needed is obtained from:
. Light
. Oxidation of organic substances

Bacterial Nutrition (cont.)

2-Heterotrophic bacteria:
. Most bacteria of medical importance
. Require complex preformed organic substance
. Obtained food from plant or animal source
. Live in or on animal body (parasitic bacteria)
. Many grow on simple media
. Some require complex organic material
(Blood,serum)

- Gaseous Requirements
1- Oxygen requirements: 4 groups
a- Obligatory aerobes:
Only grow in presence of free oxygen
Energy system depends on O2 as H2 acceptor
b- Facultative anaerobes:
Bacteria that grow in presence or absence of O2
Use O2 to generate energy by aerobic respiration
if present
Use anaerobic respiration in absence of O2
c- Obligate Anaerobes:
Grow only in complete absence of O2
In presence of O2, toxic molecules are produced
(H2O2)
Anaerobic bacteria lack enzymes that breakdown

d- Microaerophilic bacteria:
Organisms grow best in presence of minimal
amount of O2
2- Carbon dioxide (CO2) requirement:
. Bacteria require CO2 minute quantities as in
air
. Some require higher CO2 concentration
(carboxyphilic)
e.g. Pathogenic Neisseria (5 % CO2)
Brucella abortus
(20 % CO2)

Physical Requirements Of Bacteria

1- Temperature requirements:
Temperature range Optimum temperature
Mesophilic bacteria
18 42 C
37 C
Psychrophilic bacteria
5 30 C
15- 20 C
Thermophilic bacteria 25 80 C
50- 60 C
. Most medically important bacteria grow at 25-40 C (Mesophilic)
. Optimum growth at 37 C
. Non pathogenic bacteria grow at temperature
lower than 20 C
Higher than 55 C (Thermophilic bacteria)
2- Hydrogen ion concentration (pH):
. Pathogenic bacteria grow at a narrow range of pH (7.2 - 7.6)
. Few species require an alkaline pH (Vibrio cholerae, pH 8)
. Some prefer an acid pH (Lactobacilli, pH 4)

Bacterial Growth Curve

Lag phase:
Logarithmic phase:
Stationary phase:
Decline phase

Bacterial Growth Curve

Number of viable bacteria/ml calculated at regular time interval

A growth curve (divided into 4 stages) is obtained
1- Lag phase:
. Period from inoculation to beginning multiplication
. No or little cell division occurs
. Bacteria adapt to the new environment
. Clinically corresponds to incub. peroid of disease
2- Logarithmic (Exponential ) phase:
.Rapid cell division (most active phase)
.Number of bacteria increase steadily
. Clinically corresponds to clinical signs & symptoms of disease
. This phase continues until:
. Exhaustion of nutrients and/or accumulation of toxic waste prod.

Bacterial Growth Curve

3.
.
.
.
.
.

(CONT.)

Stationary phase:
Number of dying cells equals newly formed cells
Number of living bacteria remains constant
Total number of bacteria (living + dead) increases
Slow growth due to:
Nutrient depletion , waste product accumulation or pH change
Clinically corresponds to recovery stage of disease
Stationary
Log

Decline

Lag
cell number

4.
.
.

Decline phase:
Time in hours
Number of living bacteria decreases steadily
Death rate exceeds multiplication rate
Exhaustion of nutrients and accumulation toxic products

Clinical Significance of Growth curve

Correlation of 4 stages of growth curve to stages of disease
Phases of growth curve
In vitro

Stages of disease
In vivo

- lag phase

Incubation period of disease

- Logarithmic & Stationary phase

Clinical signs & symptoms

- Decline phase

Recovery & convalescence

Bacterial Reproduction
* Bacterial cell division is a sexual
* Bacteria multiply by simple binary fission
* Start by duplication of chromosome
* Each copy attach to cytoplasmic membrane at mesozome
* Cytoplas. Membr. forms a transverse membr. growing inwards
* A new transverse cell wall grows inwards
* A complete transverse septum separate two daughter cells