ACTINOMYCETES

ACTINOMYCETES
Actinomycetes are a
fungi-like bacteria forming
long filaments that stretch through the soil.
They have sometimes been classed as fungi
because they both look like, and decompose
similar material as fungi. However, they have
no defined nucleus. As well antibacterial agents
work against them but antifungal agents do not.
So now we can call them actinobacteria.
PHYLOGENY OF ACTINOMYCETES
MORPHOLOGY OF ACTINOMYCETES
ACTINOMYCETES MORPHOLOGY
have filamentous growth, like fungi
on substrate, grow on and in it
thallus -- tissuelike mass, grown in culture
mycelium -- tangled mass of hyphae,
found
in nature
CELL STRUCTURE OF
ACTINOMYCETES
 Actinomycetes can be identified by
their branching growth pattern that results
in large threadlike structures. These
filaments may break apart to form rods or
spheroidal shapes, called bacillus. Some
actinomycetes can form spores.
 Actinomycetes contain a cell wall. Flagella
grows in and on the substrate. Another
internal structure is thallus (a tissue like mass
that grows in cultures).
 One more internal structure is
mycelium (tangled mass of hyphae
that is found in nature).
THE CONDITIONS BY WHICH IT THRIVES
The actinomycetes thrive at comparatively high
temperatures and low moisture contents adequately explains
their abundance in fermenting strawy manure heaps, moist
hays, and other vegetable materials. In the decomposition of
such materials, of common observation is that fast growing
bacteria and fungi are responsible for the initial stages of the
degradation involving the readily available carbohydrates and
proteins. Then the actinomycetes begin to gain the dominance
since they can better tolerate moisture deficiency. The
nitrogen supply is always a major factor in the biological
succession; bacteria thrive on proteinaceous substrates,
whereas both fungi and actinomycetes can make a surprisingly
large amount of growth on a minimum amount of nitrogen.
REPRODUCTION OF ACTINOMYCETES

Conidia of Streptomyces
 ACTINOMYCETES REPRODUCTION
Actinomycetes (and fungi) reproduce via
spores
hyphal growth is followed by fragmentation
and release of spores
conidia spores produced asexually on
aerial filaments called sporophores
shape and arrangement of sporophores
help identification of actinomycete taxa
CELL WALL STRUCTURE OF
ACTINOMYCETES
 The cell wall peptidoglycan contains muramic
acid, glutamic acid, and one or two additional
amino acids.
Actinomyces species also have lysine in the
peptidoglycan..
Actinomycetes contain a cell wall. Flagella grows
in and on the substrate.
Some actinomycetes can form
spores. Actinomycetes can be identified by
their branching growth pattern that results in
large threadlike structures.
Bacillus filaments that break apart to form rods
or spheroidal shapes