An introduction

MARX P. CATALAN, RMT

 It is a branch of microbiology that is
concerned with bacteria

 Bacteria – single celled organism that

multiply by binary fission
 Larger and more complex than viruses
 Viable under light microscope
 Prokaryotic, has both DNA and RNA
 Generally belong to the Kingdom Monera.

 Minute, unicellular organisms that reproduce

through binary fission.

 Considered prokaryotes due to the absence

of a nuclear membrane. They possess both
DNA and RNA.
 There are two domains of Bacteria

I. Eubacteria
▪ Proteobacteria
▪ Thin gram negative cell wall
▪ Includes photosynthetic, anaerobic photosynthetic
bacteria and cyanobacteria
▪ Firmicutes
▪ Thick gram positive cell wall
▪ Includes rods, cocci, Actinomycetes, Mycoplasma
(wall-less bacteria
II. Archae Bacteria
 Methanogenes
▪ Strict Anaerobes
▪ Produce Methane (CH4), CO2 and Hyroden
 Extreme Halophiles
▪ Require High Salt concentration
 Thermoacidophiles
▪ Grow on Hot and acidic environment
SIZE
 Unit of microbial measurement is the micrometer
(m), formerly micron () which is equal to:
 1m = 1/1000 of a millimeter (mm)
 1m = 1/25,000 of an inch.

 Average size of the bacteria generally varies from

0.5 – 2m in diameter and 2 – 8m in length.
FUNDAMENTAL SHAPES
 Bacilli (bacillus, singular) – rod
shaped organisms

Bacilli
 Cocci (coccus, singular) –
spherical or round organisms

 Spirilla (spirillum, singular) – Cocci

spiralled or comma-shaped
organisms

SPIRILLUM
 Two factors that affect bacterial
arrangements:

 Plane of division

 Position taken after cell division

 Pairs – diplococci (e.g., N. gonorrheae)
– diplobacilli (e.g.,)

DIPLOCOCCI DIPLOBACILLI
 Chains – streptococci, – streptobacilli

STREPTOCOCCI STREPTOCBACILLI
 Grapelike clusters – staphylococci

STAPHYLOCOCCI
 Groups of four – tetrads (e.g., Peptococcus)

TETRADS
 Packets of eight – cuboidal (e.g., Sarcinae)

PACKETS OF EIGHT
 Palisades (slipping) – organisms tend to place
themselves side by side
(e.g., Corynebacterium)

PALISADES
 Chinese character (snapping) – organisms
tend to bend at the point of division

CHINESE CHARACTERS
 Greek words “taxes” – arrangement, “nomos”
– law

 It is an orderly classification and grouping of

organisms into taxa (categories)

 Involves three structured, interrelated

categories:
 Classification/Taxonomy

 Nomenclature

 Identification
 Based on the is based on similarities and
differences in genotypes and phenotypes

 Microbiologist traditionally emphasize

placement and naming of bacterial species
into three categories
 Family (similar to Human clans)
 Genus (equivalent to human last name)
 Species (equivalent to human 1st name)
 The plural of genus is genera and there are
many genera in the family
Enterobacteriaceae

 Ex: Famliy: Enterobacteriaceae

▪ Genus: Escherichia
▪ Species: coli
 Nomenclature provides naming assignments
for each organism

 Standard rules for bacterial names:

 The name of the family is CAPITALIZED and has
an aceae ending (ex:Enterobacteriaceae)
 Source of Carbon (for making cellular
constituents). Carbon represents 50% of the
dry weight of a bacterium.

 A source of nitrogen (for making proteins).

Nitrogen makes up 14% of the dry weight

 Source of energy (ATP) – for carrying out

cellular functions).
 orderly increase of all chemical constituents
of the cell.

 A process which entails the replication of all

cellular structures, organelles and
protoplasmic components from the nutrients
present in the surrounding environment.
 Under favorable conditions almost all
bacteria are able to produce very rapidly.

 The average time required for an organism to

double its number is referred to as the
generation time or doubling time. (e.g., E.
coli – 20 minutes)
A. CARBON

Classification of organisms:
1. Autotrophs (lithotrophs) – require only water,
inorganic salts, and carbon dioxide for growth; they
don’t require organic nutrients for growth

2.Heterotrophs (organotrophs) – require an organic

form of carbon for growth
B. NITROGEN

 Major component of proteins and nucleic acids of a typical

bacterial cell.

 The end product of all pathways for nitrogen assimilation is

the ammonium ion (NH4+).

 Most microorganisms use NH4+ as a sole nitrogen source,

and many organisms possess the ability to produce it from
amines.
C. GROWTH FACTORS

 Organic compounds needed by bacteria in order to grow. In

bacterial culture, these substances are usually provided in the
culture medium.

 Classification:
 Prototrophics – do not require an exogenous source of growth factor since
they synthesize their own.

 Auxotrophics – require the addition of growth factor to culture media for

growth to occur.
 
Examples of growth factors:
1.B-complex vitamins 4. pyrimidines
2.amino acids 5. pentoses
3.purines 6. fatty acids
D. INORGANIC SALTS

 Salt in small amount stimulates the growth

of some organisms. Organisms requiring
high salt concentrations are called
halophilic.
E. OXYGEN

Classification of organisms

 Aerobes – grow in the presence of atmospheric (free)

oxygen
 Obligate aerobes – grow only in the presence of oxygen
 Facultative anaerobes – fundamentally aerobes, but can
grow in the absence of oxygen
 Microaerophiles – grow best at low or reduced oxygen
tensions
 Anaerobes – grow in the absence of atmospheric oxygen
 Obligate anaerobes – grow only in the absence of
oxygen
 Facultative aerobes – fundamentally anaerobes, but can
grow in the presence of oxygen
 Aerotolerant anaerobes – do not grow well but do
survive in the presence of oxygen
F. CARBON DIOXIDE

 Some organisms such as Neisseria and Brucella

require a higher concentration (3-10%) of CO2 for
growth. These organisms are called
capnophiles.
G. MOISTURE

 This is indispensable for bacterial growth. It serves

as a solvent for food and forms the major portion of
the protoplasm. Organisms requiring increased
moisture content are termed humidophiles.

 
A. TEMPERATURE

 Every bacterium has an optimal temperature, the

temperature at which the organism grows best.
 
Classification:

1. Psychrophilic (cold loving) – grows at 10C-200C

2. Mesophilic – grows at 20-400C (most pathogens grow at 37C)
3. Thermophilic (heat loving) – grows at 50-600C
 
B. HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION

 Most pathogenic bacteria have an optimal pH of 7.2 –

7.6.

Classification:

1. Acidophiles – grows at pH 6.5 – 7.0

2. Neutrophiles – grows at pH 7.5 – 8.0
3. Alkalophiles – grows at pH 8.4 – 9.0
 
C. OSMOTIC PRESSURE

 Organism requiring high osmotic pressures are

called osmophiles.
 Refers to the increase in number of organisms

 is obtained by plotting the logarithm of the

number of cells against the time of growth.
A. LAG PHASE (PHASE OF REJUVENATION OR PHASE OF PHYSIOLOGIC
YOUTH)

 The period of adaptation of the organisms to their

new environment characterized by little or no
multiplication.

 The cells in this phase are very active

metabolically. Active synthesis of enzymes and
other essential constituents occurs.
B. EXPONENTIAL PHASE (LOGARITHMIC PHASE)

 The period at which the cells are in a state of

balanced growth characterized by maximal rates of
cell division and mass increase. It is during this
phase that the generation time is constant.
 
C. STATIONARY PHASE (PHASE OF EQUILIBRIUM OR PLATEAU PHASE)

 The period at which the rate of cell production

equals the rate of cell death. Growth ceases due
to:

1. accumulation of waste products

2. exhaustion of nutrients
3. change in pH and other factors
D. DEATH PHASE (PHASE OF DECLINE)

 The period at which complete cessation of

multiplication occurs such that the death rate
in the medium increase rapidly.
ASSIGNMENT: (5 points each)

1. ENUMERATE METHODS OF MICROBIAL CONTROL AND

STERILIZATION
2. ENUMERATE METHODS OF MICROSCOPIC
IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA
3. ENUMERATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIAL
CULTURE
4. ENUMERATE THE CLASSIFICATION OF CULTURE MEDIA
Study in advance BACTERIAL CULTURE
AND IDENTIFICATION, and METHODS
OF MICROBIAL CONTROL and
STERILIZATION