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Questions and Answers
What is the function of flagella in bacteria?
What is the function of flagella in bacteria?
Which type of bacteria has flagella present at both ends?
Which type of bacteria has flagella present at both ends?
Which bacteria have no flagella?
Which bacteria have no flagella?
Which bacteria have flagella found all over the body?
Which bacteria have flagella found all over the body?
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What are bacterial spores characterized by?
What are bacterial spores characterized by?
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Which genera of bacteria produce spores among human pathogen bacteria?
Which genera of bacteria produce spores among human pathogen bacteria?
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What are most bacterial capsules composed of?
What are most bacterial capsules composed of?
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Which function do bacterial capsules serve?
Which function do bacterial capsules serve?
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What is the primary function of bacterial ribosomes?
What is the primary function of bacterial ribosomes?
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Where is a bacterium's genetic information stored?
Where is a bacterium's genetic information stored?
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What is the main characteristic of bacterial nuclei?
What is the main characteristic of bacterial nuclei?
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What is the nature of plasmids in bacteria?
What is the nature of plasmids in bacteria?
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Study Notes
Importance of Plasmids
- Plasmids confer special characters such as toxigenicity, antibiotic resistance, and the ability to use unusual components as nutrients.
Flagella
- Flagella are whip-like structures protruding from the bacterial cell wall responsible for bacterial movement.
- Flagella are composed of flagellin protein.
- Bacteria are classified based on the number and position of flagella:
- Atrichous: No flagella.
- Monotrichous: One flagellum at one end (e.g., Vibrio).
- Lophotrichous: Two or more flagella at one end.
- Amphitrichous: Flagella at both ends.
- Peritrichous: Flagella found throughout the body (e.g., E. coli).
Bacterial Spores
- Bacterial spores are spherical to oval in shape with a thick spore wall and high resistance to chemical and physical factors.
- Only the genera Clostridium and Bacillus produce spores among human pathogen bacteria.
Capsules and Slime Layers
- Bacteria secrete extracellular polymers composed of polysaccharides and sometimes protein outside their cell walls.
- Capsules are composed of polysaccharides (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae) or polypeptides (e.g., Bacillus anthracis).
- Functions of capsules:
- Antiphagocytic, contributing to virulence.
- Protecting against lysozyme.
- Promoting attachment to surfaces.
- Permitting adherence to medical implants and catheters.
- Providing protection against temporary drying.
- Blocking the attachment of bacteriophages.
Bacterial Cytoplasm
- Cytoplasm contains a large number of RNA and ribosomes (approximately 20,000 per cell).
- Bacterial ribosomes function as organelles for protein synthesis.
- Cytoplasm stores reserve substances (glycogen depots, polymerized metaphosphates, lipids).
Bacterial DNA
- Bacterial genetic information is stored in chromosomes and plasmids.
- Chromosome: a single double-stranded DNA without a nuclear membrane or nucleolus.
- Plasmids: extra-chromosomal DNA, circular, and capable of autonomous replication, can be transferred from one bacterium to another.
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Description
Test your knowledge about bacterial flagella and plasmids in this quiz. Learn about the importance of plasmids and the role of flagella in bacterial movement.
