Bacterial Classification Overview
40 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

The Gram stain was discovered by ______ in 1884.

H.C. Gram

Bacteria that are spherical or elliptical in shape are called ______.

cocci

The coagulase test is used specifically for ______.

staphylococci

The bacilli are bacteria that have a ______ shape.

<p>rod</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mycobacteria are difficult to stain due to their high content of ______.

<p>lipids</p> Signup and view all the answers

Staphylococcus aureus divides in ______ planes forming an irregular configuration.

<p>three</p> Signup and view all the answers

The vibrio bacteria are known for their ______, comma shape.

<p>curved</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ test is used for Gram-positive cocci.

<p>pyrrolidonyl arylamidase</p> Signup and view all the answers

Spirilla are bacteria that have a ______ shape.

<p>spiral</p> Signup and view all the answers

Actinomycetes resemble radiating rays of the ______ when viewed in tissue lesions.

<p>sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mycoplasmas are unique because they are ______ wall deficient.

<p>cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phototrophs obtain energy from ______.

<p>light</p> Signup and view all the answers

Chemotrophs cannot perform ______.

<p>photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Autotrophs utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) to prepare their own ______.

<p>food</p> Signup and view all the answers

Heterotrophs use organic compounds as their carbon ______.

<p>source</p> Signup and view all the answers

Fastidious heterotrophs require ______ nutrients for their growth.

<p>special</p> Signup and view all the answers

The classification of bacteria is important to distinguish them from one type to another, and can be used to serve a variety of ______.

<p>functions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Wet-mounted and properly stained bacterial cell suspensions can differentiate bacteria based on their ______ characteristics.

<p>morphologic</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Gram reaction of the organism is a method used in ______ staining.

<p>Gram</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria may be grouped based on their growth characteristics, such as whether they grow aerobically or ______.

<p>anaerobically</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cell wall (O), flagellar (H), and capsular (K) ______ are used to classify certain organisms at the species level.

<p>antigens</p> Signup and view all the answers

Phage typing has been used primarily as an aid in epidemiologic surveillance of diseases caused by ______ aureus.

<p>Staphylococcus</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria can be identified and classified largely based on their reactions in a series of ______ tests.

<p>biochemical</p> Signup and view all the answers

Campylobacter jejuni grows well at 42° C in the presence of several ______.

<p>antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that can grow at 0°C or below are called ______.

<p>psychrophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

Most human pathogens are classified as ______.

<p>mesophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that can grow best above 45°C are known as ______.

<p>thermophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that can tolerate oxygen but do not require it are called ______ anaerobes.

<p>facultative</p> Signup and view all the answers

Organisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen are known as ______ anaerobes.

<p>obligate</p> Signup and view all the answers

Archeobacteria that grow at extremely high temperatures are referred to as ______ thermophiles.

<p>hyper</p> Signup and view all the answers

Acidophiles grow best at an ______ pH.

<p>acidic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Microorganisms that require low concentrations of oxygen are termed ______ microphiles.

<p>micro</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that can break down toxic forms of oxygen but do not use it for respiration are called ______ tolerant anaerobes.

<p>aero</p> Signup and view all the answers

The optimum pH of growth for Vibrio cholerae is ______.

<p>8.2</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that grow best at neutral pH (6.5-7.5) are called ______.

<p>neutrophiles</p> Signup and view all the answers

Halophiles require moderate to large salt ______.

<p>concentrations</p> Signup and view all the answers

Extreme halophiles require salt concentrations between ______ to ______%.

<p>20, 30</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that have no flagella are classified as ______.

<p>atrichous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Endospore forming bacteria, like Bacillus, produce spores ______ the bacterial cell.

<p>within</p> Signup and view all the answers

Bacteria that do not produce spores are classified as ______ spore forming bacteria.

<p>non</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Bacterial Classification

  • Bacterial classification is crucial for distinguishing different types
  • It serves various functions, including identification
  • Bacteria can be grouped using diverse typing schemes

Morphological Characteristics

  • Wet-mounted and stained bacterial suspensions aid differentiation
  • Methods should be simple and straightforward
  • Examples include Gram stain, acid-fast staining, motility, flagellar arrangement, spore presence, capsule presence, inclusion bodies, and shape
  • This information helps identify organisms to the genus level, minimizing misclassification

Growth Characteristics

  • Bacterial growth can occur aerobically, anaerobically, facultatively, or microaerobically
  • Proper atmospheric conditions are essential for isolation and identification
  • Other important growth assessments include: incubation temperature, pH, required nutrients, and resistance to antibiotics
  • Specific examples like Campylobacter jejuni growth at 42°C are given. Escherichia coli and other members of Enterobacteriaceae can grow on minimal media.

Antigens and Phage Susceptibility

  • Cell wall (O), flagellar (H), and capsular (K) antigens aid species and serotype identification
  • Serotyping helps determine strains with exceptional virulence or public health significance (e.g. Vibrio cholerae O1, various E. coli serotypes)
  • Phage typing aids in epidemic surveillance (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, mycobacteria, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi)

Biochemical Characteristics

  • Bacteria are often identified and classified based on biochemical reactions
  • Key tests commonly used include: oxidase, nitrate reduction, amino acid degradation, fermentation, carbohydrate utilization
  • Other tests are specific to certain families, genera, or species (e.g. coagulase test for staphylococci, pyrrolidonyl arylamidase test for Gram-positive cocci)

Classification by Gram Stain and Cell Wall

  • Gram stain, discovered by Hans Christian Gram in 1884, remains a vital technique
  • Gram stain classifies bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative based on their morphology and differential staining
  • Some bacteria, such as mycobacteria, are not easily stained due to lipid content in peptidoglycan
  • Alternative techniques (e.g., Kinyoun stain) overcome limitations by targeting the resistance to destaining

Classification Based on Shape

  • Spherical (cocci)
    • Monococcus (single cell)
    • Diplococcus (paired cells)
    • Streptococcus (chain-like cells)
    • Tetrad (four cells)
    • Sarcina (eight or sixteen cells in a cubical arrangement)
    • Staphylococcus (clusters)
  • Rod-shaped (bacilli)
  • Spiral-shaped (spirilla)
  • Vibrio (comma-shaped)
  • Specific examples are provided within the shape categories like Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus anthracis, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori etc.

Classification Based on Bacterial Cell Shape

  • Cocci: Spherical or elliptical bacteria that may remain single or aggregate in various configurations
  • Bacilli: Rod-shaped or cylindrical
  • Vibrios: Curved, comma-shaped
  • Spirilla: Spiral shape

Classification of Other Group

  • Actinomycetes: Branching filamentous bacteria resembling radiating sunrays
  • Mycoplasms: Bacteria lacking a cell wall with round or oval structures or interlacing filaments

Classification Based on Mode of Nutrition

  • Phototrophs: Gain energy from light
    • Photolithotrophs: Use reduced inorganic compounds as electron sources
    • Photoorganotrophs: Use organic compounds as electron sources
  • Chemotrophs: Gain energy from chemical compounds
    • Chemolithotrophs: Oxidize inorganic compounds for energy
    • Chemoorganotrophs: Use organic compounds for energy

Classification on the Basis of Carbon Requirement

  • Autotrophs: Use carbon dioxide (CO2) as their sole carbon source
    • Photoautotrophs: Obtain energy from light to fuel CO2 assimilation
    • Chemoautotrophs: Derive energy from chemical reactions to incorporate CO2
  • Heterotrophs: Use preformed organic molecules as their carbon source

Classification Based on Temperature Requirements

  • Psychrophiles: Thrive in cold environments

  • Psychrotrophs: Can adapt to varying cold to moderate temps

  • Mesophiles: Optimum growth in moderate temperatures (25-40° C) - includes many human pathogens

  • Thermophiles: Adapt to high temperatures

  • Hyperthermophiles: Thrive in extremely high temperatures

Classification Based on Oxygen Requirements

  • Obligate aerobes: Require oxygen
  • Facultative anaerobes: Can grow with or without oxygen
  • Obligate anaerobes: Cannot grow in the presence of oxygen or oxygen-derived compounds
  • Aerotolerant anaerobes: Do not need oxygen for metabolism but are unaffected by its presence
  • Microaerophiles: Tolerate very low concentrations of oxygen

Classification based on pH

  • Acidophiles: Adapted to acidic environments
  • Alkaliphiles: Thrive in alkaline environments
  • Neutrophiles: Prefer neutral conditions

Classification Based on Osmotic Pressure Requirements

  • Halophiles: Thrive in high salt concentrations
  • Extreme or Obligate Halophiles: Require very high salt concentrations
  • Facultative Halophiles: Tolerate moderate salt concentrations

Classification Based on Flagella Number

  • Atrichous: Lack flagella
  • Monotrichous: Single flagellum
  • Lophotrichous: Multiple flagella at one end
  • Amphitrichous: Multiple flagella at opposite ends
  • Peritrichous: Multiple flagella distributed over the entire cell surface

Classification Based on Spore Formation

  • Spore-forming bacteria produce spores under adverse conditions; endospores are formed within the cell (e.g., Bacillus, Clostridium)
  • Non spore-forming bacteria do not produce spores (e.g., E. coli, Salmonella)

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

Description

This quiz explores the fundamentals of bacterial classification, including morphological and growth characteristics. Learn about the techniques for identifying bacteria, from staining methods to growth conditions essential for isolation. Test your knowledge on how different typing schemes help avoid misclassification.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser