Lesson 2

Types of microorganisms. Structure, size & shape of microorganisms. Properties of each classification. Factors influencing growth & reproduction.

Objectives
Understand the different types of microorganism. Describe the structures, size & shapes of microorganism. Discuss the different factors influencing growth of microorganisms.

Types of microorganisms
Microorganism is divided into 5 different groups: Bacteria Virus Protozoa Fungi Algae

Bacteria
Single-celled. Disease causing. Classification: ~ Gram positive vs Gram negative. ~ Shapes & arrangement ~ Aerobic & anaerobic

Colour at the end of the Gram staining procedure.

Gram positive Gram negative.

Blue to purple

Pink to red

Differences between the cell wall

Gram positive vs Gram negative

Gram positive Gram negative Colour at the end of the Blue to purple Pink to red Gram staining procedure. Peptidoglycan in cell walls Thick layer Teichoic acids & lipoteichoic acids in cell walls. Present Thin layer Absent

Lipopolysaccharides in cell Absent walls

Present

Shapes & arrangement

Cocci spherical, round, ovoid Bacilli rod-shaped Spirilli spiral-shaped Vibrious comma shaped

Aerobic & anaerobic

Aerobic requires O Anaerobic do not requires O
2 2

Structure of bacteria

Flagella (pl.) /Flagellum (sing.)

Monotrichous

Lophotrichous Amphitichous Peritrichous

Pili/Fimbriae
Pili (sing. pilus) / fimbriae (sing. Fimbria) Hair like structure. Often in Gram negative bacteria. Thinner than flagella. Rigid structure. 2 types of pili : 1) Enables bacteria to adhere/attach to surfaces. 2) Enables transfer of genetic material from one another.

Capsule
Consists of complex sugars/ polysaccharides which may combine with lipids & proteins depending on species. Chemical composition in capsule differentiate types of bacteria.

Cell wall
Define the shape of bacterial cells. Chemically complex Extremely porous, semi rigid &lies outside the cell membrane. Prevent cell from bursting when fluid flows into cell by osmosis. Main component ~ peptidoglycan or murein.

Gram-positive bacteria has a thick layer of peptidoglycan when compared with gram-negative bacteria.

Plasma/Cell/Cytoplasmic membrane
Permeability barrier; transport of solutes; energy generation; location of numerous enzyme systems. Consists of phospholipids and protein.

Cytoplasm
Semi liquid. Surrounds chromosome, ribosome. Consists of water, enzymes, oxygen, waste products, essential nutrients, protein, carbohydrates & lipids.

Chromosome
Genetic material of cell/DNA

Plasmids
Extra chromosomal genetic material

Ribosomes
Sites of translation (protein synthesis) Consists of RNA and protein

Inclusions
Granules in the cytoplasm Often reserves of nutrients; additional specialized functions. Content ~ Highly variable; carbohydrate, lipid, protein or inorganic

Endospore
Is bacteria spores. Sporulation ~ process which spores are form. Endospores are environmentally tough & are in dormant form. Develop in cytoplasm of bacteria. When land on moist, nutrient surface it can germinates to form a new cell.

Virus
Very small ~ 20-300 nm Virus infect humans, animals, plants, algae, fungi, protozoa & bacterial cells. Oncogenic virus/oncovirus causes specific cancer (HPV)

Examples: Bacteriophages ~ attacks bacteria. HIV ~ AIDS. H1N1 virus ~ swine flu. Human papillomavirus ~ cervical cancer. Herpes viruses ~ herpes Poxviruses ~ smallpox & cowpox

5 specific properties that distinguish virus from living cells.

1) Possess either DNA or RNA. 2) Replication is directed by viral nuclei acid within a host cell. 3) Do not divide by binary fission/mitosis. 4) Lack the genes & enzymes necessary for energy production, 5) Depend on ribosome, enzymes & nutrients of infected cell for protein production.

 Virion (complete vrial practical) consists of:

- Genetic material of DNA or RNA. - Capsid (protein coat) surrounds the genetic material. Made of protein subunits (capsomore). - Envelope ~ acquired membrane layer around the capsid as they emerge through the host cell membrane.

- Protein tails ~ combine with receptors on the host cell, to attach & absorb host.

Protein tails

- Common shapes ~ icosahedral & helical

icosahedral

Protozoa
Eukaryotic. Animal-like microorganisms. Range from 3-2000m. Found in soil & water. Have no chlorophyll. Cannot make food via photosynthesis. May cause disease (parasitic protozoa).

Structure
Include ~ cell membrane, nuclei, endoplasmic D reticulum, C mitochondria, B Golgi bodies, A lysosome. E

 A ~ Cell membrane ~ serves as a barrier between the inner cell and its environment. B ~ Nuclei ~ contains DNA. Uses mitosis. This is the formation of two daughter cells from a parent cell. C ~ Endoplasmic reticulum ~ contributes to the mechanical support and distribution of the cytoplasm and is the pathway for transporting lipids and proteins throughout the cell. Provides the surface area for the chemical reaction that synthesizes lipids, it stores lipids and proteins until the cell needs them.

 D ~ Mitochondria ~ the powerhouse of the cell where ATP is produced (energy production and cellular respiration). E ~ Golgi bodies ~ "Fedex System" of the cell because it packages and delivers proteins, lipids, and enzymes throughout the cell and to the environment. F ~ Lysosome ~ is a sphere in animals cells that is formed by, but is separate from, the Golgi complex. It contains enzymes used to digest molecules that have entered the cell. Think of lysosomes as the digestive system of the cell.

Fungi
Eukaryotic Found living on water, soil, food, animals, plants, human. Unicellular (e.g. yeast) Multicellular e.g. mushroom

Structure of fungi

Basic structure is hypha. A mass of hyphae make up mycelium. Mycelium can permeate soil, water or living tissue. The cell wall of fungi is made of chitin.

Example:-

Penicillium

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast)

Candida albicans

Algae
Eukaryotic, photosynthetic organism. Unicellular (e.g. dinoflagellates)

Multicellular (e.g. kelp)

 In colonies/strands. Found in fresh water, salt water, soil, trees, rocks & plants. Classified according to types of photosynthetic pigments (red, brown, green).

Structure of algae
Flagellum ~ motility. Plastid ~ contain chlorophyll & other pigment Cell wall ~ thick, rigid, delicate sculpture with intricate design. Starch vacuole ~ a space that contain starch (food reserve)

Factors influencing growth of microorganisms

Nutrition Minerals Oxygen pH Temperature Moisture

Nutrition
1) Nutrition are needed by microorganism for: - building material. - cellular synthesis. - energy. 2) Nutrition are obtained from organic matter or inorganic matter.

3) Need carbohydrates, nitrogen, vitamins, water etc. 4) Microorganism are often group according to their energy source & carbon source.

Energy source
Phototrophs Chemotrophs Use light as their source of energy. Use either inorganic or organic chemicals as their source of energy.

Carbon source
Carbon is the structural backbone of the organic compounds that make up a living cell. Autotrophs Require only carbon dioxide as carbon source. Can synthesize organic molecules from inorganic molecules.

Hetetrotrophs Require organic chemicals as carbon source. Cannot synthesize organic molecules from inorganic molecules

Combining their nutritional pattern organism can be placed into 1 of 4 separate groups: 1) Photoautotrophs Use light as energy source Use carbon dioxide as carbon source. Transform carbon dioxide & water into carbohydrates, oxygen via photosynthesis. E.g. cyanobacteria, algae

2) Photohetetrotrophs Use light as energy source. Use organic compounds as carbon source. E.g. green non-sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria

3) Chemoautotrophs Use inorganic or organic chemicals as their source of energy. Use carbon dioxide as carbon source. E.g. Arhaebacteria 4) Chemohetetrotrophs Use inorganic or organic chemicals as their source of energy.

Minerals
Sulfur To synthesis sulfur containing amino acids 7 vitamin. To synthesis phospholipids, DNA, RNA, ATP.

Phosphorus

Potassium, magnesium For certain enzyme to & calcium function. Iron Trace elements Part of certain enzyme. Act as cofactors in enzyme reactions.

1) Obligate aerobes Grow only in the presence of oxygen. Obtain energy via aerobic respiration. 2) Microaerophiles Require low concentration of oxygen (210%) for growth. Higher concentrations are inhibitory. Obtain energy via aerobic respiration

3)

Obligate anaerobes Grow only in the absence of oxygen. Obtain energy via anaerobic respiration or fermentation. Aerotolerant anaerobes/ Obligate fermenters. Can grow in the presence of oxygen. Obtain energy only via fermentation. Facultative anaerobes (most bacteria) Can grow with/without oxygen. Obtain energy via aerobic respiration IF oxygen present. Obtain energy via anaerobic respiration or fermentation IF oxygen NOT present.

4) 5)

pH
Neutrophils (5-8)

Acidophiles (below 5.5)

Allaliphiles (above 8.5)

Phil = like

Temperature
1) Psychrophiles Cold-loving bacteria. Optimum growth temperature -5c to 15c Found in Arctic, glacier.

2) Mesophiles Moderate temperature. Optimum growth temperature 25c to 45c. Found on soil & human.

3) Thermophiles Heat-loving bacteria. Optimum growth temperature 45c to 70c. Found in hot spring & compost heaps.

4) Hypermophiles Very high temperature. Optimum growth temperature 70c to 110c. Found in hydrothermal vents.

Moisture
Required to: Carry food into the cell. Carry waste out of the cell. Maintain the moisture content of the cytoplasm.

Conclusion
They are 5 different types of microorganism groups: Bacteria, Virus, Protozoa, Fungi & Algae. Each groups have different structures, size & shapes of microorganism. 5 different factors influencing growth of microorganisms ~Nutrition, Minerals, Oxygen, pH, Temperature & Moisture