MICROBIO II

A LITTLE REVIEW FIRST!

1. What are the two main types of cells?
a) “Simple”: ____________________
b) “Complex”:___________________

2. Every living thing can be classified into

one of three domains:
a) _______________________
b) _______________________
c) _______________________
 Recall: The 3 DOMAINS

Archaea Bacteria Eukarya

Eukaryotic Cells
Prokaryotic Cells
• Eukaryotes can be
• Prokaryotes are single-celled single-celled or
• This means that the organism is multi-celled.
made up of only one cell.
 Common Shapes of Prokaryotes
• Under a microscope, prokaryotes often gather in 3 distinct shapes.
• Microbiologists use these distinct arrangements to identify micro-
organisms.

• Cocci
• Spirilli
• (Singular:Coccus)
• (Singular:
• Spherical
spirillum)
• Spiral

• Bacilli
• (Singular: Bacillus)
• Rod-shaped
 Archaea
• Single-celled organisms that are able to live in extreme
environments.
1. Thermophiles
• What does “thermo” mean?
• Can live in very hot environments, such as
deep ocean volcanic vents
• Water can be above boiling point!
2. Halophiles
• “Salt Lovers”
• Found in areas of high salt
• Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan
• Great Salt Lake, Utah
3. Methanogens
• Live in environments that lack oxygen
(anaerobic)
• Give off methane gas
• Common in landfill sites
 Bacteria
• There are 5 main groups of bacteria
1. Gram Positive
• Cell wall gives a positive reaction to a
chemical called a Gram stain (purple)
2. Cyanobacteria
• Make their own food by photosynthesis
3. Proteobacteria Why do you think
• Very diverse – 1/3 all bacteria cyanobacteria are green?
• Can be harmful – salmonella,
Bubonic plague (1300s, killed 1/3 Europe).
• Can be helpful – colon bacteria
4. Spirochetes
• Shaped like tightly coiled springs
• Harmful – syphallis & lyme diseas
• Helpful – Help cows digest grass
5. Chlamydias
• Parasitic
• Live inside eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotes reproduce
Asexually
Recall: Asexual reproduction:
_________________________________________________
Are the offspring identical to each other? ___________
Are the offspring identical to the parent? ___________
What may be an exception?
_________________________________________________

Note: Bacteria contain DNA in the form

of one long, circular chromosome. They
may also contain smaller circular
sections of DNA called plasmids.
Binary Fission – Prokaryotic
Reproduction
Parent Cell

Chromosome is replicated
Some species and the chromosomes
separate move to different sides of
completely, the cell
others remain
attached, forming Protein band forms in
chains or centre of the cell
doublets.

Septum (wall) formation

begins

When septum is complete,

cells are considered
divided
 Conjugation
• Sometimes it’s advantageous for individuals of a species to change their DNA.
• This may allow a population to adapt over time to a changing environment.

Conjugation: the transfer of genetic information between two cells.

Process of Conjugation:
•Two different cells line
up beside each other
•A bridge (pilus) is
formed between the
Some plasmids
two cells
contain DNA that
•Section of DNA from
allow bacteria to
the chromosome or a
survive when
plasmid is copied in one
exposed to
cell (the donor) and
antibiotics. How
then transferred to
could this be
another cell (the
dangerous in a
recipient).
hospital?
 THE 3 DOMAINS

Archaea Bacteria Eukarya

Eukaryotic Cells
Prokaryotic Cells
• Eukaryotes can be
• Prokaryotes are single-celled single-celled or
• This means that the organism is multi-celled.
made up of only one cell.
 Eukaryotic Micro-
Organisms

• There are MANY

types of eukaryotic • Algae
• Tardigrades
• Protozoa
microbes. (aka: water bears)
• We will focus on
the ones listed on
the right: • Yeasts
• Moulds
 Kingdom Protista
• Single or multi-celled eukaryotic organisms that live
in moist environments.
• Protists vary a great deal in size, shape, how they
obtain food, and how they move.
• Known to some scientists as the “Junk Kingdom.”
This is because its members are:
• Animal-like, but not quite animals (Protozoa)
• Plant-like, but not quite plants (Algae)
• So scientists grouped these “___-like” organisms into
one Kingdom.
• This does NOT mean the organisms are not
important!
 Kingdom Protista:
•
Algae
Plant-like protists that live in aquatic environments like oceans,
lakes, ponds, and even puddles.
• Algae are similar to plants because:
• they have cell walls
• can produce their own food by photosynthesis
• contain chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll
• just like plants are key producers in food chains on land, algae
are key producers in food chains in aquatic environments.

Simple example of an aquatic food chain

involving Algae

Simple example of a
terrestrial food chain
 4 Examples of Algae
1. Dinoflagellates
• Have flagella at right angles to each other.
• Beating action makes the organisms spin through the water.
2. Diatoms
• Contain silica in their cell walls
• Covered with beautiful patterns
Diatoms are that form from markings and pits
mined from the in their cell walls.
ocean floor to
make products 3. Euglenoids
that include • Contain chloroplasts as well as flagella
insulation, • Can be autotrophic and/or heterotrophic
filters, and 4. Green Algae
toothpaste. • Microbiologists are still trying to
figure out how to classify these!
• E.g. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
• Photosynthesize, have 2 flagella
(are mobile), and have 2 eyespots
that can sense light
Algae in Action!

Euglenoids
Diatoms

Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates
Without Algae: oceans, lakes, pond
Green Algae windlife, and humans wouldn’t
exist!
 Algal Cell
• Reproduction
Most algae reproduce by mitosis
• Some can reproduce both asexually and sexually!
E.g. Chlamydomonas
1.Cells are normally haploid (n) and under favourable conditions reproduce by
mitosis.
2.In unfavourable conditions, the haploid cells develop into haploid gametes.
3.The gametes fuse to produce diploid (2n) zygotes with tough cell walls.
4. When conditions are favourable again, the zygote divides by meiosis to produce
the normal, haploid cells.
 Kingdom Protista:
• Animal-like protists
Protozoa
• No cell walls / chloroplasts
• Heterotrophs
• 4 Main Types of Protozoans
1. Ciliates
• Move by thread-like beating cilia
• Cilia also beat food into an oral groove
2. Rhizopods
• Move by foot-like pseudopods
• Pseudopods also help capture food
by endocytosis
3. Flagellates
• Move using whipping flagella
4. Sporozoans
• Cannot move on their own
• Parasites – travel in blood and other body fluids
Protozoans in Action!

Ciliates (Paramecium) Rhizopod

Flagellate
Sporozoan (Malaria: Plasmodium falciparum)
 Protozoan Cellular
• Reproduction
All protozoa reproduce by mitosis
• Some can also reproduce sexually via
E.g. conjugation.
Paramecium
1.Micronuclei undergo meiosis, producing 4 haploid products, but 3 disintegrate
2.Remaining micronuclei undergo mitosis (now 2 haploid micronuclei)
3.The two cells exchange haploid micronuclei, they fuse to form a macronuclei,
which are distributed to daughter cells.
 Kingdom Fungi
• Eukaryotic
• Single or multi-celled
• No chloroplasts – heterotrophs
• Release enzymes that beak down material
into smaller molecules that they can absorb.
• Have tough cell walls
• Well known fungi are mushrooms – but these
are not studied in microbiology.
Kingdom Fungi: Yeasts
• Round shape
• Immobile
• Usually reproduce by budding
• Yeast cell grows a bud that
eventually pinches off and grows.
• The new cell is identical to parent
cell.
• Sometimes they can
reproduce sexually by
conjugation.
 Kingdom Fungi:
• Moulds
Hyphae – long thread-like cells.
• When hyphae arrange in a group, a
mould is called a mycelium.
• Mostly reproduce asexually
• Stalk-like structure called a
sporangium releases a spore into
the air.
• When spore lands in favourable
condition, they divide by mitosis.
• Can reproduce sexually
• Two hyphae fuse and form a
thick-walled spore called a
zygospore.
• Sporangium forms from the This mould “shoots” its
spores with a higher
zygospore, spores are produced
acceleration than a bullet!
and released. (Start at 5:50)
 Microscopic Animal:
• Tardigrades
Also known as water bears or moss piglets.
• Water dwelling
• 8-legged
• Found everywhere: mountaintops, deep sea,
rain forest, Antarctic.
• Can survive temperatures from -272ºC to 150ºC.
• Can go without food or water for more than 30 years.
• Can suspend their metabolism by going into a state of cryptobiosis.
• First known animal to survive in space.
 Viruses
• Studied in microbiology, but are not alive.
• Do not take in nutrients or use energy
• Cannot make proteins.
• Cannot move or multiply on their own
• Depend on host cell to multiply.
• Referred to as “particles”
• Contain 3 Structures
• Always have an outer capsid made of proteins – contain spikes which help
them attach to host cells.
• Always have inner genetic material, either DNA or RNA
• Sometimes contain an envelope – extra layer on the outside.
• Extremely small!