RESEARCH PAPER

ON
MICROORGANISMS
(Bacteria, Protozoa & Fungi)
Classification

Characteristics

Submitted
by: Evangelista, Tristan Nicole B. BSMT 1B Submitted to: Dr. Carol Fe Gariando
Microorganism

Basis of classification:

1. Bacteria

Are

Phenotypic

microscopic

classification

living
organisms,

Morphological

usually one-

Classification
Bacteria can be classified into six
major

groups

on

morphological

basis.

These are spherical or oval cells. On

basis

of

multiply
rapidly by
simple cell

1. True Bacteria
Cocci
the

celled
They

arrangement

of

division
Absorb
nutrients
from their

individual organisms they can be

immediate

described as:

environmen

Monococci
(Cocci

in

singles)

Monococcus spp.

Diplococci
(Cocci in pairs)
Streptococcus pneumonia

Staphylococci
(Cocci

in

grape-like

everywhere
Are
typically
single-celled
organisms
called

Streptococci

that may

Tetrad
(Cocci in group of four)
Micrococcus spp.

found

clusters)
Staphylococcus aureus
(Cocci in chains)
Streptococcus pyogenes

t
It can be

Sarcina
(Cocci in group of eight)

prokaryotes
serve as
digestive
aids, cause
disease or
aid in
decompositi
on.
Unlike
eukaryotes,
they do not
have nuclei.

 Bacteria
contain
their DNA
and other
genetic
material as
a single
strand in
their

Bacilli

cytoplasm,

These are rod-shaped bacteria. On

and they

the

of

reproduce

organisms, they can be described

through a

basis

of

arrangement

process

as:
-

called

Diplobacilli
Streptobacilli
Palisades

binary
fission.
They
lack chlorop

Coccobacilli

hyll
Can
aggregate
into
colonies of
millions or
even
billions of
organisms
within
a space as
small as a

2. Actinomycetes
(actin-ray, mykes-fungus)
These are rigid organisms like true
bacteria but they resemble fungi in
that they exhibit branching and

drop

of water
Most
bacteria
have rigid
cell walls,

tend to form filaments. They are

of which

termed

there are

such

because

of

their

resemblance to sun rays when seen

in tissue sections.

several
types.

These walls
are
important

3. Spirochaetes
These are relatively longer, slender,
non-branched

microorganisms

of

spiral shape having several coils,

whose flagella which are under the
cell

covering

cause

winding

movement.

4. Mycoplasmas
These bacteria lack in rigid cell wall
(cell wall lacking) and are highly
pleomorphic and of indefinite shape.
These are highly pleomorphic and of
indefinite
round

or

shape.

They

occur

in

oval

bodies

and

in

interlacing filaments.

5. Rickettsiae & Chlamydiae

These

are

very

small,

obligate

parasites, and at one time were

considered closely related to the
viruses. Now, these are regarded as
bacteria.
Based on Anatomical
Features

Capsule:
- Capsulate
Streptococcus

pneumoniae

Non-capsulate
Viridans streptococci

for
preventing
the
bacterial
cell from
bursting.

 Flagella:
- Flagellate
Monotrichous
Lophotrichous
Amphitrichous
Peritrichous
Aflagellate
Shigella spp.

Spore:
- Spore-forming
Bacillus spp.

Non-sporing
Escherichia coli

Based on Staining Reaction

Grams stain:
- Gram-positive cocci
-

Staphylococcus aureus

Gram-negative cocci
Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Gram-positive rods
Clostridium spp.

Gram-negative rods
E. coli

Acid fast stain:

- Acid-fast bacilli
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis

Non-acid-fast bacilli
Staphylococcus aureus

Based on Cultural
characteristics

Extra growth factors

requirements:
Fastidious
Hemophilus influenza

Non-fastidious
Escherichia coli

Hemolysis on Sheep
-

Blood Agar:
Alpha-hemolysis
Streptococcus

pneumoniae

Beta-hemolysis
Streptococcus pyogenes

Utilization of
-

carbohydrates:
Oxidative
Micrococcus

Fermentative
Escherichia coli

Growth rate:
- Rapid growers
Vibrio cholera

Slow growers
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis

Pigment production:
- Pigment producer
Staphylococcus aureus

Pigment nonproducer
Escherichia coli

Based on Nutrition

Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
Based on Environment
factors

Temperature:
- Psychrophiles

(15-200 C)
Pseudomonas
fluorescens

Mesophiles
(20-400 C)
Escherichia coli,
Salmonella enterica,

Staphylococcus aureus

Thermophiles
(50-600 C)
Bacillus

stearothermophilus

Extremely

thermophiles (as
high as 2500 C)
Oxygen dependence:
- Aerobe
grow in ambient
temperature, which
contains 21% O2
and a small amount
-

of CO2, 0.03%
Obligate aerobes
strictly require O2for
their growth
(Pseudomonas
aeruginosa)

Microaerophilic
grow under reduced
O2, 5- 10% and
increased CO2, 810%
Campylobacter jejuni,

Helicobacter pylori

Facultative anaerobe
capable of growing
either in presence or

absence of O2
-

E. coli

Obligate anaerobe
Clostridium spp.

Capnophilic (require
increased
concentration of
CO2, i.e., 5-10%
H. influenzae, N.
gonorrhoeae

- Aerotolerant
pH:
- Acidophiles
(Lactobacillus
acidophilus)

Alkaliphiles
(Vibrio)

Neutralophiles (pH 68)

Majority of the
medically important
bacteria grow best at
neutral or slightly
alkaline reaction (pH
7.2-7.6)

Salt concentration:
Halophiles
Non-halophiles
Atmospheric
pressure

Genotypic
classification
DNA-DNA
Hybridization
G+C Content

 Eukaryotic

2. Protozoa

microorgani

Sarcodina
Motility is due to the streaming of
ectoplasm, producing protoplasmic
projections called pseudopodia (false
feet). Examples: Free-living form like
Amoeba proteus* and parasitic form
like Entamoeba histolytica*.

sm

Heterotrophi
c
microorgani
sm

They do not
have

cell

wall

They

have

the

ability

during their
entire

life

cycle or part
of it to move
by
locomotor

Mastigophora
Locomotion is effected by one or more
whip-like,

thin

structures

called

flagella. Examples: Free- living forms

like

Euglena

longicauda*,

viridis*,
Heteronema

parasitic

forms

like

vaginalis,

Trypanosoma

Cercomonas
acus*

and

Trichomonas
gambiense*,

Giardia lamblia*.

organelles
or

by

gliding
mechanis

They

have

heterotrophi
c mode of
nutrition,
whereby
the
ingest

Locomotion is carried out by means of

short hair-like projections called cilia,
whose synchronous beating propels the
organisms. Examples: Free-living forms
like Paramecium caudatum*, Stentor
Vorticella

campanula*

and parasitic form like Balantidium

coli*.

free-

living forms

Ciliophora

polymorpha*,

particulates
,

such

as

bacteria,
yeast,

and

algae, while
the
parasitic
forms
derive
nutrients
from

the

body fluids
of

their

hosts.

They
reproduce
primarily by
asexual
means,
although in

Sporozoa

some

Unlike the above three classless of

protozoa,

members

sporozoa

do

organelles

in

not

of
have

their

the

class

locomotor

mature

stage;

however, immature forms exhibit some

type of movement. All the members of
this group are parasites.

3. Fungi

groups
sexual
modes also
occur.

 Basidiomycota
Contains the familiar mushrooms
and

toadstools.

number

of

Divided

classes

into

including

the Gasteromycetes (includes

the

puffballs and stinkhorns) and the

Teliomycetes (includes rusts and
smuts).
pored

The

familiar

fungi

gilled

belong

and
to

the Hymenomycetes. All members

of the Basidiomycota produce their
spores on a characteristic cell called
a basidium (plural basidia).

 Ascomycota
The largest number of species
occur in this section. Includes the
class Discomycetes (the cup fungi)
and the Pyrenomycetes (flask fungi).
Members

of

the

produce

spores

in

structure

called

Ascomycota
a

sack

like

an ascus (plural

asci).
Fungi can
be single
celled or
very
complex
multicellula
r organisms
They are
found in
just about
any habitat

Zygomycota
Mostly microscopic species
includes the pin moulds that attack
fruit in your refrigerator.

but most
live on the
land,
mainly in
soil or on
plant
material
rather than
in sea or
fresh water
Hyphae,
mycelium,
thalus
Heterotrophi

Oomycota
The Oomycota includes the water

c by
Adsorption

Reproduced
by Spores

moulds

and

some

important

pathogens such as potato blight.

Many have produce motile spores
during their life cycle which can
swim.

Nonvascular
organism
Fungi
are
heterotrophi
c
Fungi
multiply
either
asexually,
sexually, or
both
They
reproduce

Deuteromycota
An

artificial

by means of

sub-division

spore
They
typically

containing those species for which

no sexual state has been identified
and therefore cannot be placed in

many

so

called moulds such as Penicillium.

the

phenomeno

are thought to be derived from the

Includes

non-motile
Fungi
exhibit

any of the above sub-divisions. Most

Ascomycota.

are

of

alteration of
generation
Fungi store
their

food

as starch
The nuclei
of fungi is
very small

Myxomycota
The slime moulds. Very different
from any of the above although
spores are produced which look like

the spores of the higher fungi. Many

species include

an

stage in their life cycle.

amoeba-like