Bacteria Flashcards
Prokaryotes lack….
Cell Membrane
How do bacteria divide?
Transverse Fission
Bacilli
Rod-shaped Bacteria
Cocci
Spherical Bacteria
What are the actin homologues in bacterial cytoskeleton?
mreB, parM. They are required for chromosome/plasmid segregation
What is a clone?
A population derived from a single cell.
Strain
A clone that is genetically different from other clones of the same species
Isolate
A clone cultured from a patient with infection
Serotype
Clone characterized by specific forms of important surface structures recognized by immune system.
What are permeases?
Transport proteins in the plasma membrane required to transport small molecules into the cell
Peptidoglycan monomer
N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG) - N-acetyl-muramic acid (NAM). NAM has a side chain of 5 amino acids containing D-Ala-D-Ala-COOH
Penicillin
Structural analogue of the D-ala-D-ala of peptidoglycan side chains
Penicillin’s mechanism of action
Binds active site of cross linking enzyme and forms irreversible covalent bond, inactivating the enzyme. Can only work on growing cells.
Gram Positive bacteria
Bacteria with thick peptidoglycan 20-50 layers
Gram Negative Bacteria
Bacteria with thin peptidoglycan 1-3 layers
Gram Stain Procedure
1) Heat fix bacteria to slide
2) Stain with Genetian or crystal violet (stains all bacteria)
3) Add Iodine ‘Mordant’ complexes with dye
4) Decolorize - dye/iodine complexes leak through thin peptidoglycan
5) Counterstain with red dye (safranin)
Color results of Gram stain
Gram postive - purplish blue
Gram negative - Red
Protein Fibrillae
found in envelopes of gram positive bacteria and adheres to mammalian cells and extracellular matrix; many types per cell. Covalently bound to peptidoglycan.
Teichoic acids
found in envelopes of gram positive bacteria. Polymers of sugar alcohols linked by phosphate groups
Where is the peptidoglycan found in gram negative bacteria?
It is found in the periplasm.
What is the periplasm
Space between the two lipid bilayer membranes filled with enzymes, solute carrier proteins, polysaccharides.
What makes up the outer membrane?
Inner leaflet- typical phospholipids
Outer leaflet- composed entirely of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- disaccharide with attached fatty acids.
What does LPS compose of?
1) O-antigen: polymer, repeat of 3-5 sugars
2) Core: phosphorylated complex oligosaccharide; adjacent units bonded via divalent cations
3) Lipid A
What is Lipid A?
disaccharide + 6-8 saturated fatty acids. TOXIC. endotoxin because it is physically part of the cell wall and released by lysis.