Definitions Flashcards
Cocci/coccus
Ball-shaped or spherical (e.g. staphylococcus)
Bacilli/bacillus or rods
Cylindrical shaped
Vibrios
Cylindrical but slightly curved
Spirilla/spirillum
Coiled twice or more into a rigid helix
Spirochetes
Spiraled, corkscrew shaped resembling a spring
Branching or filamentous
Multiple branches off a rod structure [used to be classified as fungi]
Pleomorphism/pleomorphic
Variety in appearance of the same species
Pallisades arrangement.
When a chain of cells remain attached and folds back (snaps) forming a row of cells side-by-side like a stack of coins.
Polar (in relation to flagella):
attached at one or both ends.
Monotrichous:
singular flagellum.
Lophotrichous:
small bunch of flagella on one site.
Amphitrichous:
on both ends
Peritrichous:
Random attachment of flagella.
Fimbria:
Small, bristle like fibers found on only some gram negative cells. Form biofilms.
Pilus:
Long, rigid tubular structure used for conjugation.
Glycocalyx:
External coating that protects the cell from the environment, sustains shape, and allows adhesion. Slime layers and capsules.
Slime layer:
Loose structure, prevents loss of water and nutrients.
Capsule:
Tightly boundstructure, thick and dense. Produce a sticky, mucoid characteristic.
Who invented the gram stain?
Danish physician, Hans Christian Gram.
What is the cell envelope made of?
Cell wall, cell membrane, and in some bacteria an outer membrane.
Gram positive:
Thick cell wall and membrane
Gram negative:
Outer membrane, and thin cell wall and cell membrane
Serotype:
Members of a species that have a unique response to antibodies due to distinct surface molecules.
