MICROBIOLOGY Elements of Microbial Structure

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS AND Prokaryotic Cell

HISTORICAL EVENTS IN MICROBIOLOGY
1. Cell Wall
What is Microbiology?  The cell wall is a
relatively permeable
 It is the study of structure located outside
microorganisms and agents too the cytoplasmic membrane
small to be seen by the naked and lends structural
eye. strength to a cell.
What is Microorganism? *The composition of the cell wall
 These are the life forms too depends on the peptidoglycan
small to be seen by the unaided Bacterial
eye.
 Usually measures <1 mm  N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)
 N-acetylglucosamine acid (NAG)
Did you know? o NAM and Nag residues are
Luciferase bonded by β-(1,4) –
glycoside bond
 Is an enzyme that catalyzes the  Ester
oxidation of luciferin, causing
it to emit light like in Archaea
Photobacterium.  N-acetyltalosaminuramic acid
Thiomargarita namibiensis (NAT)
 Ether
 Is once hailed as the largest
bacterium. 2. Cytoplasmic Membrane
 1999 – 1800 micrometers  It acts as a semi-
permeable membrane that
Thiomargarita magnifica
allows certain molecules
 Now the largest bacterium, and to enter and exit the cell
is 50 times bigger than the 3. Nucleoid
latter.  Houses the genetic
 2022 – 9000 micrometers material in prokaryotic
cell
Thiomargarita 4. Cytoplasm
 Is the gel-like fluid
 Sulfur pearl
inside the cell, and holds
Two Types of Cell the cells structure in
place
1. Prokaryotic 5. Plasmid
 Unicellular, cells lack a  The extrachromosomal ring
nucleus and other membrane- of DNA
bounded structures  Most of the time consists
a. Bacteria the resistance genes and
b. Archaea unique metabolism
2. Eukaryotic 6. Ribosomes
 Unicellular and multicellular,  Site for protein synthesis
possesses a clear nucleus and
organelles
a. Eukaryotes
i. Animal
ii. Plant
Eukaryotic Cell
1. Cell Wall
 found in plant cells
(cellulose) and most
microorganisms but are not
found in animal cells.

2. Cytoplasmic membrane

3. Mitochondria
 Provide energy necessary
to power the cell

4. Nuclear Membrane
 It is a double layer that
encloses the cell’s
nucleus, where the
chromosomes reside.
 Passage of the transcribed
DNA

5. Nucleus
 Houses the genetic Cell
material for eukaryotic -Is defined as the smallest,
cell basic unit of life that is
responsible for all of life's
6. Ribosomes processes.” Cells are the
structural, functional, and
7. Endoplasmic Reticulum biological units of all living
 Serves as a storage, beings. A cell can replicate itself
protein synthesis, and independently. Hence, they are known
lipid metabolism as the building blocks of life.
 Rough ER – proteins
 Smooth ER – lipids Organelle
- a membrane-bounded cell
8. Golgi Complex structure that has a definite
 A factory in which function.
proteins received from the
ER are further processed - e.g nucleus, mitochondria,
and sorted for transport Golgi complex, and ribosomes
to their eventual
Gene
destinations.
-is made up of DNA and is the
9. Cytoplasm basic physical and functional unit
of heredity.
Transcription
-the process by which the
information encoded in DNA sequences
is copied into an RNA.
Translation
-the process whereby the
information in an RNA molecule is
used by the ribosome to synthesize a
protein.
Properties of All Cells
1. Structure
*All cells have a cytoplasmic
membrane, cytoplasm, a genome made
of DNA, and ribosomes
2. Metabolism
 all the biochemical
processes that convert
food into energy.
Catabolism
 transforming molecules
into energy.
 exergonic – release energy
Anabolism
 synthesizing macromolecules
 endergonic – require energy
3. Growth
 Information from DNA is
converted into proteins,
which do work. Proteins
are used to convert
nutrients from the
environment into new cells
4.Evolution
 results when genes in a
population of cells change
in sequence and frequency
over time, leading to
descent with modification.
 For example, the
indiscriminate use of
antibiotics in human and
veterinary medicine has
selected for the
proliferation of
antibiotic resistance in
pathogenic bacteria
Properties of Some Cells 3. Transduction
 is the process by which a virus
1. Differentiation transfers genetic material from
 Some cells can form new cell one bacterium to another.
structures such as a spore.  Viruses called bacteriophages
 Sporulation are able to infect bacterial
o Protects the DNA cells and use them as hosts to
 Clostridium make more viruses.
botulinum Vertical Gene Transfer
 Basillus subtilis
 is referred to as the transfer
2. Communication of genetic information,
 Cells interact with each other including any genetic
by chemical messengers. mutations, from a parent to
their offspring.
 EPS (Extracellular Polymeric
Substance) Importance of Microorganisms in the
o are organic polymers of Planet
microbial origin involved
in bacterial cells' 1. Cyanobacteria
interactions with their  first living being in the
environment planet.
o EPS is comprised of
polysaccharides, proteins, 2. Life is possible everywhere
extracellular DNA (eDNA),  Ubiquitous
and lipids.
3. More numerous than any other
*Biofilm kind.
-is an assemblage of surface-  Bacteria
associated microbial cells that is o The most numerous
enclosed in an extracellular microorganisms
polymeric substance matrix (plaque,  Archaea
slimes in bathroom) o Are extremophiles

3. Motility 4. Global ecosystems depends on

their activities.
 Some cells are capable of self-
propulsion. 5. Influence society in many ways.
 Cilia, flagella, pseudopodia
Five Major Groups of
4. Horizontal Gene Transfer Microorganism/Agents
 Cells can exchange genes by 1. Bacteria
several mechanisms. 2. Fungi
1. Conjugation 3. Protozoa
 is the transfer of genetic 4. Algae
material between bacterial 5. Virus
cells by direct cell-to-cell
contact or by a bridge-like Fields of Applied Microbiology
connection between two cells.
1. Medical Microbiology
This takes place through a
2. Public Health Microbiology
pilus/pili.
3. Food and Dairy Microbiology
2. Transformation
4. Industrial Microbiology
 the genetic alteration of a
5. Microbial Ecology
cell resulting from the direct
uptake (abosorb) and
incorporation of exogenous
genetic material from its
environment through the cell
membrane(s)
How are microorganism discovered? Francesco Redi
Zacharias Janssen  He was the first person to
challenge the theory of
 With his father Hans spontaneous generation by
 In 1597, built the first demonstrating that maggots come
compound microscope from eggs of flies.
Robert Hook
 In 1665, built the first usable
compound microscope.
 Discovered “cells or little
boxes” – Micrographia
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
 In 1670, using his microscope,
he was the first to observe
microorganisms, which he called
John Needham
“Animacules”
Spontaneous Generation vs Biogenesis  performed an experiment by
boiling chicken broth, placing
Spontaneous Generation it in a sterile flask, and then
sealing the flask. After a few
 All living beings come from days, he observed microorganism
non-living matter. growth in the flask. What was
 Vital force is required such as the major flaw of his
air experiment? Boiling the broth
 e.g fly-poop, maggots-meat, activated dormant
fish-mud, oyster-slime, microorganisms that were not
scallops-sand, limpets and present before boiling.
barnacles-hallow of rocks
Biogenesis
 life begets life