Basic Bacteriology Flashcards
general principles to consider in visualization
- wavelength of radiation
- magnification
- resolution
- contrast
______ act as waves with wavelengths dependent on the ____ of the electron beam
moving electrons, voltage
True or False
Radiation of smaller wavelengths results in enhanced microscopy
True
the apparent increase in size of an object, indicated by a number and the letter x
Magnification
How does magnification occur?
When a beam of radiation refracts as it passes through a lens
Analogy
Curved glass lenses: Light
Magnetic fields: _____
Electron beams
the ability of an instrument to distinguish between objects that are close together, as close as 0.2 µm
Resolution
resolution distance is dependent on ____
- wavelength of light/electron beam
- numerical aperture of lens
modern microscopes use _____ wavelength radiation and lenses with ____ numerical apertures
Shorter, larger
the differences in intensity between two objects or between an object and its background
Contrast
How is contrast achieved?
Using stains
5 types of light microscopy
- Brightfield
- Darkfield
- Phase Contrast
- Confocal
- Fluorescent
the phenomenon wherein UV light causes specimens to radiate visible light
Fluorescence phenomenon
2 categories of staining under fluorescent microscopy
- fluorochroming
- immunofluorescence/fluorescent antibody technique
the reaction between the fluorescent dye and the specimen (everything will be stained)
Fluorochroming
technique involving enhanced staining wherein the antibody binds to the fluorescent dye and only the part with the corresponding antigen is stained
Immunofluorescence
2 types of electron microscopy
- Transmission (TEM)
2. Scanning (SEM)
electron beams pass through the object and allows visualization of internal structures
Transmission (TEM)
electron beams scan the surface of objects and provide a 3D view of surface structures
Scanning (SEM)
2 ways by which bacteria can be examine
- unstained, living state
- fixed, stained state
3 techniques to examine unstained, living bacteria
- Direct wet mount prep
- Hanging drop prep
- Intravital staining
preparation used to detect motile bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni and Vibrio cholerae
Direct wet mount prep
microscopes used to view a direct wet mount prep of bacteria
- dark field
- phase contrast
- light microscope w/ partially closed diaphragm (if previous 2 are unavailable)
differences between direct wet mount prep and hanging drop prep
- morphology in hanging drop is less distorted
- motility in hanging drop is better appreciated
technique in examining unstained living bacteria using a diluted dye
Intravital staining
What should be done before fixing and staining bacteria?
Smear preparation
4 steps for fixed, stained state
- smear prep
- air-drying
- fixation
- staining
purpose of air-drying after smear prep
- preserve bacterial morphology
- allow smear to adhere to slide
most common method of fixation
Heat fixation
How do you heat fix a slide?
Pass the slide with smear side up over a flame 3-5 times
fixative used during chemical fixation
Alcohol and formalin
3 types of staining
- simple
- differential
- special
type of staining wherein a single dye is employed so that all the cells will have the same color
Simple staining
examples of simple stains
- dilute carbol fuchsin
- methylene blue
2 types of simple staining
- positive staining (stained spx)
- negative staining (stained bg)
- type of staining wherein more than one dye is employed so that more than one color is observed
- where contrast is most commonly observed
Differential staining
commonly used differential stains
- Gram stain
- acid-fast stain
type of staining employed to isolate a structure of the bacterial cell so that it can be seen
Special staining
devised Gram staining
Dr. Hans Christian Gram
2 large groups divided by Gram stain and their colors
Gram (+) - deep-violet/purple
Gram (-) - pink/red
general rules for Gram (+) bacteria
All cocci are + except:
- Neisseria grp.
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Veillonella
general rules for Gram (-) bacteria
All bacilli are - except:
- acid fast organisms (including Mycobacterium, Nocardia)
- spore formers (Bacillus, Clostridium)
- Corynebacterium sp.
Spiral organisms are also - when stained
primary stain in Gram staining
Crystal violet
mordant in Gram staining
Gram’s iodine
the large insolube complex formed after adding the mordant
Crystal violet iodine (CV) complex
When does differentiation start during Gram staining and acid fast staining?
In the decolorization step
decolorizer in Gram staining
Absolute alcohol or a mixture of acetone and alcohol
after decolorization, what happens to all gram (-) cells?
Become colorless
after decolorization, what happens to all gram (+) cells?
Remain violet
counterstain in Gram staining
Safranin
What does safranin do in Gram staining?
Give color to gram (-) cells
Steps in Gram staining (Hucker’s method)
- Smear
- Crystal violet
- Gram’s iodine
- Absolute alcohol
- Safranin
*washing is done in between steps and after the last step
3-step variation in Gram staining
Incorporate Safranin w/ Alcohol so that when the mixture is added, it will both decolorize and counterstain
3 bases on the principles behind Gram staining reaction
- composition of cell envelope
- presence of magnesium ribonucleate (protein complex)
- loss of cell wall integrity
explain the principle behind Gram staining based on cell envelope composition
Gram (+): cell wall has more proteins than lipids. Decolorizer coagulates proteins, thereby narrowing pore sizes, decreasing permeability, and trapping CVI complex in cells - retaining violet color.
Gram (-): cell wall has more lipids than proteins. Decolorizer dissolves lipids, thereby widening pore sizes, increasing permeability, and releasing CVI complex from cells - losing violet color.
What is the substance responsible for an organism’s gram positiveness?
Magnesium ribonucleate
What causes the loss of cell wall integrity?
- old age
- action of autolytic enzymes
- antibiotic treatment
meaning of ‘acid fast’ organisms
organisms with long chains of fatty acids in cell walls that make them resistant to decolorization by acid alcohol
What is the substance responsible for the acid fastness of an organism?
Long chain mycolic acids
2 methods of staining acid fast organisms
- Ziehl-Neelsen
2. Cold Kinyoun
primary stain in acid fast staining
Carbol fuchsin (red)
decolorizer in acid fast staining
Acid alcohol
counterstain in acid fast staining
Methylene blue
Steps in Acid fast staining
- Smear
- Carbol fuchsin
- Acid alcohol
- Methylene blue
Which stain colors organisms with long chain mycolic acids in acid fast staining?
Carbol fuchsin
Which stain colors organisms without long chain mycolic acids in acid fast staining?
Methylene blue
end result or colors after acid fast staining
acid fast - red
non-acid fast - blue
composition of gram (+) cell envelope
- variable capsule
- thick peptidoglycan (cell wall)
- cytoplasmic membrane
composition of gram (-) cell envelope
- variable capsule
- outer membrane
- single planar sheet of peptidoglycan (cell wall)
- cytoplasmic membrane (inner membrane/plasma membrane)
a gelatinous, sticky substance surrounding the cell
Glycocalyx
When is the glycocalyx called a capsule?
When it is made up of organized, repeating units of organic chemicals firmly attached to the cell surface (forming another or a definite cell layer)
examples of organisms with the glycocalyx as capsule
▪ Streptococcus pneumoniae ▪ Klebsiella pneumoniae ▪ Haemophilus influenzae ▪ Bacillus anthracis ▪ Clostridium perfringens
When is the glycocalyx called a slime layer?
When it is loose and water soluble
examples of organisms with the glycocalyx as slime layer
▪ Sarcina lutea
▪ Bacteroides sp.
significance of the presence of capsule or slime layer
- protect the cell from desiccation
- presence of glycocalyx is a feature of many pathogenic prokaryotes
- plays a role in organisms’ ability to survive & cause disease
- capsule is antigenic
Which layer of the outer membrane is known as the endotoxin of gram (-) bacteria? Why is it called as such?
the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) layer (specifically lipid A) because it is released only when the gram (-) bacteria is destroyed which causes:
- fever
- vasodilation
- inflammation
- shock
- blood clotting
Which portion of LPS is antigenic?
Polysaccharide (somatic or O antigen)
significance of outer membrane of gram (-) bacteria
- has surface antigens
- has phage receptors (porins)
- it is a selective permeability barrier
part of the cell envelope which provides structure and shape to the cell, acts as a barrier, and protects the cell from osmotic lysis
Cell wall
composition of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell wall
Peptido portion: amino acids
Glycan portion: 2 regularly, alternating sugars
- NAG (N-acetylglucosamine)
- NAM (N-acetylmuramic acid)
What is formed when layers of peptidoglycan sheets enclose the organism where each layer is cross-linked to each other by amino acids?
Murein sacculus
composition of gram (+) cell wall
- teichoic acids
- lipoteichoic acids
- cell wall associated proteins
What anchors the cell wall to the next layer in gram (+) bacteria?
Lipoteichoic acids
What anchors the outer membrane to the cell wall in gram (-) bacteria?
Lipoprotein layer
major surface antigens of gram (+) cells
- teichoic acids
- cell wall associated proteins
How can the cell wall be removed?
Using hypertonic solution of sucrose or salts
if the source of the wall is an osmotically sensitive organism and is a gram (+) cell, it is called a ___
Protoplast
if the remnants of the outer membrane are found on the wall as an osmotically sensitive organism and is a gram (-) cell, it is called a ___
Spheroplast
organism that is naturally occurring without a cell wall
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
cell wall that contains a variety of specialized polysaccharides and proteins but no peptidoglycan
Archaeal cell wall
major properties of cell wall
- protection from osmotic lysis
- rigidity and shape to cell
- major surface antigens of gram (+) cells
- support for propulsion of flagella
located between cell membrane and outer membrane, found only in gram (-) bacteria, and contains the peptidoglycan and periplasm
Periplasmic space
a gel-like substance containing water, nutrients, and secretions of the cell involved in specific transport
Periplasm
functions of the cell membrane
- transport solutes in/out of cell
- housing enzymes involved in OM and CW synthesis, assembly & secretion of extracytoplasmic & extracellylar substances
- generation of chemical energy
- mediation of chromosomal segregation during replication
- housing molecular sensors that monitor chemical and physical changes in environment
long, whiplike structures extending beyond the surface of the cell and glycocalyx and propel the cell through the environment
Flagellum
flagellar antigen
H (Hauch) antigen
role of mordant when staining the flagellum
Increases the parameter of the filament (thicken) so when stained, it can be easily visualized
3 parts of the flagellum
- long thin filament
- hook
- basal body
composition of the flagellum’s filament
Many identical globular protein molecules (flagellin)
a curved structure where the base of the flagellum’s filament is inserted
Hook
anchors the filament and hook to the CW by a rod and a series of 2 or 4 rings
Basal body
True or False
The hook, rod, and rings of the flagellum allow the filament to rotate 360°
True
5 flagellar arrangements based on Messea’s classification
- monotrichous
- lophotrichous
- amphitrichous
- peritrichous
- atrichous
a single, polar flagellum
Monotrichous
examples of organisms w/ monotrichous flagellum
- Vibrio cholerae
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
cells with a tuft of flagella on only one end
Lophotrichous
examples of organisms w/ lophotrichous flagella
Pseudomonas spp other than P. aeruginosa
both ends contain either a single flagellum or a tuft of flagella
Amphitrichous
examples of organisms w/ amphitrichous flagella
Pseudomonas spp other than P. aeruginosa
flagella is found all over the cell surface
Peritrichous
examples of organisms w/ peritrichous flagella
Salmonella typhi (agent of typhoid fever) Proteus vulgaris
not flagellated organisms
Atrichous
examples of organisms w/ atrichous flagella
Shigella dysenteriae (agent of bacilliary
dysentery)
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Some spiral bacteria have _____ flagella that spiral tightly around the cell instead of protruding into the environment
Amphitrichous
When are flagella considered as endoflagella?
When they form an axial filament that wraps around the cell between the cell membrane and the outer membrane (periplasmic space)
examples of organisms w/ endoflagella
Spirochetes
functions of the flagella
- motility of the cell
- useful in ID of bacteria
- allow classification of prokaryotes into strains called serovars
What do you call it when flagellated bacteria change the antigenic type of its flagella?
Phase variation
sticky, proteinaceous, bristle-like projections used by gram (-) bacteria to adhere to one another and to substances in the environment
Fimbriae
example of an organism with fimbriae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
tubules composed of a protein called pilin
Pilus/Pili
a type of pili that mediate the transfer of DNA from one cell to another
Sex/conjugal pili
importance of microfibrils (fimbriae & pili)
- allow cells to adhere to host cells (adhesins)
- allow cells to adhere to host cells containing sugar (lectins)
- conduit for DNA passage
- surface translocation
a membrane-associated cytoplasmic sac containing lamellar, tubular, or vseicular structures
Mesosome
2 types of mesosomes
- septal (DNA replication & cell division)
- lateral (secretion)
highly coiled DNA intermixed with RNA, polyamines, and various proteins
Nucleoid
functions of nucleoid
- houses info for bacterial functions
- directs synthesis of cellular products
small, roughly spherical cytoplasmic particles made up of 30% proteins and 70% RNA
Ribosomes
function of ribosomes
Protein synthesis
food reserves or storage granules also known as inclusion bodies
Cytoplasmic granules
2 types of cytoplasmic granules
- glycogen (glucose)
- polyphosphate granules (inorganic phosphates)
other names of polyphosphate granules
- metachromatic granules
- volutin granules
- Babes-Ernst granules
examples of organisms with polyphosphate granules
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (agent of TB)
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae (agent of
diphtheria) - Yersinia pestis (agent of plague)
importance of cytoplasmic granules
- taxonomy as not all bacteria contain these granules
How are endospores formed?
By sporulation
When does sporulation occur?
- when there is a scarcity of food
- when the spore-former encounters unfavorable environmental conditions
2 genera producing spores
- aerobic Genus Bacillus
- anaerobic Genus Clostridium
the process of restoring the vegetative bacteria
Germination
What substance makes spores resistant to adverse environmental conditions?
Calcium dipicolinate
3 classification of spores based on location
- central
- subterminal
- terminal
How would you know if the spore is centrally located in the cell?
If there are equal amounts of stained cytoplasm on both sides of the spore
How would you know if the spore is subterminally located in the cell?
If there are unequal amounts of stained cytoplasm on both sides of the spore
How would you know if the spore is terminally located in the cell?
If all the stained cytoplasm is only on one side of the spore
importance of the presence of spores
- taxonomy: helps in identifying the organism
- clinical: helps in sterilization
organism with a large terminal spore that is wider than the bacterial cell, giving it a drumstick appearance
Clostridium tetani
small, circular, double-stranded pieces of DNA
Plasmids
True or False
The presence of plasmids in bacterial cells is essential to the viability of the organism
False, not essential
4 types of plasmids
- F (fertility) factor
- R (resistance) factor
- Colicinogenic plasmid
- Virulence plasmid
plasmid which provided for the discovery of bacterial sexuality
F factor
cells with F factor considered as males/donors
F+ cells
cells with F factor considered as females/recipients
F- cells
when cells have this factor, it can convert the entire cell population to become antibiotic resistant
R factor
plasmid that contains genes that code for synthesis of bactericidal proteins
Colicinogenic plasmid
Bactericidal proteins are called ____
Colicines
plasmid that contains genes that will code for toxin production
Virulence plasmid