Abstract
The cell wall of bacteria protects the cell against osmotic lysis. Both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria have peptidoglycan (mucopeptide) as the innermost layer of the cell wall. They differ in amount, and in the nature of the surface layers.
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Abbreviations
- Adhesin:
-
Surface molecules or structures on microbes which facilitate their adherence to host surfaces; examples include pili and teichoic acids.
- Autotrophs:
-
organisms which are able to use CO2 as the sole carbon source.
- Axial filament:
-
proteinaceous organelles of spirochetal forms.
- Bacterial cell wall:
-
barrier against osmotic lysis; composed of peptidoglycan inner layer and various surface layers which differ in different bacteria.
- Capsule:
-
usually carbohydrate layer outside the cell wall of many bacteria anti-phagocytic function.
- Cell membrane:
-
bilayered structure inside bacterial cell wall. Contains enzymes responsible for synthesis of cell wall, etc., as well as transport of solutes and oxidative phosphorylation.
- Enterochelins:
-
iron chelating compounds found in enteric bacteria (e.g., E. coli, Salmonella) which are important in survival in vivo as they permit the organism to accumulate ferrous ions essential for growth.
- Flagella:
-
proteinaceous organelles of motility in rod-shaped bacteria.
- Heterotrophs:
-
organisms that require the major portion of their carbon from organic sources.
- Metachromatic granules:
-
polymetaphosphate inclusions found in many bacteria. Their presence is useful in identification of the diphtheria bacillus.
- Mesosomes:
-
irregular convoluted invaginations of the cell membrane; functions include a role in DNA replication, and secretion.
- Outer membrane:
-
(gram negative bacteria only) - Protects against detergent effects 20–30 profeins that modify permeability (eg., porins) lipopolysaccharide largely replaces phospholipid (lipid A).
- Pili (fimbria):
-
proteinaceous appendages on Gram negative bacteria; function in conjugation and/or adherence to host cell membranes.
- Peptidoglycan:
-
The basic structure of the cell wall of bacteria composed of a disaccharide (N-Acetyl Muramic acid and N-Acetyl Glucosamine) and a tetrapeptide (Alanine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid [or isoglutamine], and diamino pimelic acid [gram positives may have lysine in place of DAPA]).
- Periplasmic space:
-
area between the inner and outer membrane components of gram negative bacteria; numerous enzymes are found here.
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© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
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Hyde, R.M. (1989). Review of Microbial Physiology. In: Microbiology & Immunology. Oklahoma Notes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0340-4_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0340-4_1
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-97008-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-0340-4
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