Introduction to Bacteria

Question 1

how are bacteria identified?

Answer 1

Gram staining: positive (purple), negative (red)

shape: cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod shaped)

Question 2

main structures of a typical bacterial cell

Answer 2

penicillin binding proteins, peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide (gram -ve), flagellum, fimbrae

Question 3

function of penicillin binding proteins

Answer 3

to synthesise peptidoglycans

Question 4

function of peptidoglycan

Answer 4

give the cell strength and shape

carbohydrate polymers cross linked with amino acids

Question 5

function of flagellum

Answer 5

motility

Question 6

function of fimbrae

Answer 6

adherence

Question 7

classification and nomenclature used for bacterial species

Answer 7

name is based on the genus and the species

strains of a species has similar characteristics

typing used to identify strains