Microbiology

Morphology & Ultra-Structure of

Microorganism

Prof. Dr. Batool Hassan Al-Ghurabi

 Microbiology: the study of organisms too small to be
seen without magnification.
 Micro - too small to be seen with the naked eye
 Bio - life
 logy - study of
 Microorganisms are ubiquitous.
 Microorganisms include:
 bacteria

 viruses

 fungi

 Parasite {protozoa &helminthes (worms) }

 algae
 1665 Robert Hooke
 “little boxes” - “cells”
 Cell Theory - all living things are made up of
cells.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek 1674
- 1st person to actually see living microorganisms
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek 1674
- 1st person to actually see living microorganisms
Introduction:

• There are several classes of living organisms

• Based on the organization of their cellular structures,

all living cells can be divided into two groups:
eukaryotic and prokaryotic

– Eukaryotic cell types - Animals, plants, fungi,

protozoa, and algae

– Prokaryotic cell types - bacteria & blue green algae

 Prokaryotic Cells

• much smaller (microns) and more simple than

eukaryotes

• prokaryotes are molecules surrounded by a

membrane and cell wall.

• they lack a true nucleus and don’t have membrane

bound organelles like Mitochondria, Golgi
complex, etc.

• large surface-to-volume ratio : nutrients can easily

and rapidly reach any part of the cells.
 Size of Bacteria

• Unit of measurement in bacteriology is the

micron / micrometre (µm)

• Bacteria of medical importance

- 0.2 – 1.5 µm in diameter

- 3 – 5 µm in length
 Shape of Bacteria

• Cocci – spherical/ oval shaped (major groups)

• Bacilli – rod shaped

• Vibrios – comma shaped

• Spirilla – rigid spiral forms

• Spirochetes – flexible spiral forms

• Actinomycetes – branching filamentous bacteria

 Coccus

Cocci in pair – Diplococcus

Tetrad –
groups of four

Cocci in chain - Streptococci

Cocci in cluster - Staphylococci

Comma shaped
Spirilla

Spirochetes
Anatomy of Bacterial Cell
• Outer layer - two components:
1. Rigid cell wall
2. Cytoplasmic (Cell/ Plasma) membrane – present beneath
cell wall
• Cytoplasm - gel-like substance enclosed within
the cell membrane contains cytoplasmic
inclusions, ribosomes, mesosomes and nucleoid
• Additional structures - plasmid, slime layer,
capsule, flagella, fimbriae (pili) and spores.
Structure & Function of Cell Components
CELL WALL

• Outermost layer, encloses cytoplasmic membrane

1. Confers shape and rigidity
2. Peptidoglycan is responsible for
the rigidity of the bacterial cell
wall and for the determination of
cell shape.
3. Composed of Mucopeptide (peptidoglycan/ murein):

formed by N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) & N-acetyl

muramic acid (NAM) alternating in chains, held by
peptide chains.
4. Can not be seen by direct light microscopy and do not stain
with simple stains.

5. Carries bacterial antigens – important in virulence &

immunity.

6. Chemical nature of the cell wall helps to divide bacteria into

two broad groups – Gram positive & Gram negative .

7. Gram +ve bacteria have simpler chemical nature than Gram

–ve bacteria.

8. Several antibiotics may interfere with cell wall synthesis

e.g. Penicillin, Cephalosporins
 Gram positive cell wall
• The Gram-positive cell wall is composed of a thick,
multilayered peptidoglycan sheath outside of the
cytoplasmic membrane.
• Teichoic acids are linked to and embedded in the
peptidoglycan, and lipoteichoic acids extend into the
cytoplasmic membrane
 Gram negative cell wall
• The Gram-negative cell wall is composed of an outer
membrane linked to thin single-layered peptidoglycan
by lipoproteins.
• The peptidoglycan is located within the periplasmic
space that is created between the outer and inner
membranes.
• The outer membrane includes *porins, which allow
the passage of small hydrophilic molecules across the
membrane, and **lipopolysaccharide molecules that
extend into extracellular space.
Property of bacteria Gram Positive Gram Negative

Thickness of wall 20-80 nm 10 nm

Number of layers in wall 1 2

Peptidoglycan content >50% 10-20%

Teichoic acid in wall + -

Lipid & lipoprotein content 0-3% 58%

Protein content 0% 9%

Lipopolysaccharide 0 13%

Sensitive to penicillin Yes Less sensitive

Digested by lysozyme Yes Weakly

Cytoplasmic (Plasma) membrane

• Thin layer 5-10 nm, separates cell wall from

cytoplasm.

• Acts as a semi-permeable membrane: controls the

inflow and outflow of metabolites.

• Composed of lipoproteins with small amounts of

carbohydrates.
Cytoplasm
• Colloidal system of variety of organic & inorganic
solutes in viscous watery solution
= Cytoplasmic Components
1. Ribosomes: place of protein synthesis (70 S)
2. Mesosomes:
1. Multi-laminated structures formed as invaginations of
plasma membrane.

2. Principal sites of respiratory enzymes.

3.Coordinate nuclear & cytoplasmic division during

binary fission

4. More prominent in Gram +ve bacteria

3. Intracytoplasmic inclusions:

Reserve of energy & phosphate for cell metabolism e.g.

Metachromatic granules in diphtheria bacilli
 4. Nucleus:
• No nucleolus
• No nuclear membrane
• Oval or elongated bodies generally 1 per cell
• Genome – single, circular double stranded DNA (one
chromosome).
• Divides by binary fission
=Additional Organelles
1. Plasmid

• Extra-nuclear genetic elements consisting of DNA

• Transmitted to daughter cells during binary fission

• May be transferred from one bacterium to another by

conjugation

• Not essential for life of the cell

• Confer certain properties e.g. drug resistance because the

plasmid carries some genes responsible for drug resistance
.
2. Capsule & Slime layer:
• Viscous layer secreted around the cell wall.

• Polysaccharide / polypeptide in nature

a) Capsule – sharply defined structure, antigenic in nature

• Protects bacteria from lytic enzymes

• Inhibits phagocytosis

• Stained by negative staining using India Ink

• Can be demonstrated by Quellung reaction (capsule

swelling reaction).
b) Slime layer – is loosely associated with the
bacterium and can be easily washed off,
whereas a capsule is attached tightly to the
bacterium and has definite boundaries.
 3. Flagella
• Long (3 to 12 µm) filamentous surface appendages
• Organs of locomotion
• Composed of proteins called flagellins
• The number and distribution of flagella on the bacterial
surface are characteristic for a given species - hence are
useful in identifying and classifying bacteria
• Flagella may serve as antigenic determinants (e.g. the H
antigens of Gram-negative enteric bacteria)
• Presence shown by motility e.g. hanging drop
preparation test.
• Each flagellum consists of 3 parts:
1. Filament
2. Hook
3. Basal body
Polar/ Monotrichous – single
flagellum at one pole

Lophotrichous – tuft of flagella at one

pole

Amphitrichous – flagella at both

poles

Peritrichous – flagella all over

Amphilophotrichous – tuft of flagella

at both ends
4. Fimbriae/ Pili
• Thin, hair like appendages on the surface of many Gram
negative bacteria

• 10-20µ long, acts as organs of adhesion (attachment) -

allowing bacteria to colonize environmental surfaces or
cells and resist flushing

• Made up of proteins called pilins.

• Pili can be of two types

A. Common pili - short & abundant

B. Sex pili - very long pili & small number (one to six),
helps in conjugation (process of transfer of DNA)

5. Spores :
• Highly resistant resting stages formed during adverse
environment (depletion of nutrients).

• Formed inside the parent cell, hence called Endospores

• Very resistant to heat, radiation and drying and can

remain dormant for hundreds of years.

• Formed by bacteria like Clostridium and Bacillus

Shape & position of bacterial spore

Oval central

Spherical central Non-

bulging

Oval sub terminal

Oval sub terminal

Oval terminal Bulging

Spherical terminal

Free spore
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Nucleus Nuclear Absent Present

membrane
Nucleolus Absent Present

Chromosome One circular One or more paired

and linear
Cell division Binary fission Mitosis

Cytoplasmic Structure and phospholipid bilayer, phospholipid bilayer

membrane Composition lacks sterols containing sterols
Function Incapable of Capable of
endocytosis endocytosis and
(phagocytosis and exocytosis
pinocytosis) and
exocytosis
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Cytoplasm Mitochondria Absent Present

Lysosomes Absent Present

Golgi Absent Present

apparatus
Endoplasmic Absent Present
reticulum
Vacuoles Absent Present
Ribosomes 70 S 80 S
Character Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Cell Wall Present Animals & Protozoans

– Absent
Plants, Fungi & Algae -
Present
Composition Peptidoglycan – Cellulose or chitin
complex
carbohydrate
Locomotor Flagella Flagella/ Cilia
organelles