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Questions and Answers
What is the characteristic of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria that allows them to retain the crystal violet stain?
What is the characteristic of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria that allows them to retain the crystal violet stain?
What is the main component of the cell wall of acid-fast bacteria that makes them resistant to decolorization?
What is the main component of the cell wall of acid-fast bacteria that makes them resistant to decolorization?
Which type of bacteria lacks a cell wall entirely?
Which type of bacteria lacks a cell wall entirely?
What is the characteristic of the cell wall of archaea?
What is the characteristic of the cell wall of archaea?
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What is the function of sterols in the cell membrane of mycoplasmas?
What is the function of sterols in the cell membrane of mycoplasmas?
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Which type of bacteria has a cell wall that is most similar to the cell walls of archaea?
Which type of bacteria has a cell wall that is most similar to the cell walls of archaea?
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What is the primary function of lipopolysaccharides in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria?
What is the primary function of lipopolysaccharides in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria?
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Which type of bacteria is most likely to be affected by the decolorization step in acid-fast staining?
Which type of bacteria is most likely to be affected by the decolorization step in acid-fast staining?
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What is the primary component of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria that allows it to retain the crystal violet stain?
What is the primary component of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria that allows it to retain the crystal violet stain?
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Which type of bacteria is likely to have a cell membrane that is more resistant to osmotic stress?
Which type of bacteria is likely to have a cell membrane that is more resistant to osmotic stress?
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Study Notes
Cell Walls of Different Bacteria and Microorganisms
- Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall, which retains the crystal violet stain used in the Gram stain procedure.
Characteristics of Cell Walls
- Gram-negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which does not retain the crystal violet stain but takes up the counterstain (safranin).
- Acid-fast bacteria have a waxy lipid (mycolic acid) in their cell wall, which makes them resistant to the decolorization step in acid-fast staining.
Unique Cell Walls
- Archaea lack peptidoglycan in their cell walls and instead have pseudopeptidoglycan or other complex polysaccharides.
- Mycoplasmas lack a cell wall entirely and have a cell membrane containing sterols for added strength.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the differences in cell walls of various microorganisms, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, acid-fast bacteria, archaea, and mycoplasmas. Understand the characteristics that distinguish one from another. Learn about the composition and function of their cell walls.
