Classification of Bacteria

Submitted By:
MISBAH
Roll No:
BS-Botany
Semester: 5th
Topic:
CLASSIFICATION
OF BACTERIA
Submitted to:
MAM ROBEENA
CLASSIFICATION OF BACTERIA
Classification on the basis of Gram Stain

and Bacterial Cell Wall
 Of all the different classification systems, the Gram stain has
withstood the test of time. Discovered by H.C. Gram in 1884 it remains
an important and useful technique to this day.
 It allows a large proportion of clinically important bacteria to be

classified as either Gram positive or negative based on their
morphology and differential staining properties.
 Slides are sequentially stained with crystal violet, iodine, then

destained with alcohol and counter-stained with safranin. Gram positive
bacteria stain blue-purple and Gram negative bacteria stain red.
 The difference between the two groups is believed to be due to a

much larger peptidoglycan (cell wall) in Gram positives. As a result
the iodine and crystal violet precipitate in the thickened cell wall and
are not eluted by alcohol in contrast with the Gram negatives where the
crystal violet is readily eluted from the bacteria.
 As a result bacteria can be distinguished based on their morphology

and staining properties.
 Some bacteria such as mycobacteria are not reliably stained due to

the large lipid content of the peptidoglycan. Alternative staining
techniques (Kinyoun or acid fast stain) are therefore used that take
advantage of the resistance to destaining after lengthier initial staining.
Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of
Shape
In the year 1872 scientist Cohn classified bacteria to 4 major

types depending on their shapes are as follows:
A) COCCI:
These types of bacteria are unicellular, spherical or elliptical
shape. Either they may remain as a single cell or may aggregate
together for various configurations. They are as follows:
 Monococcus:–
They are also called micrococcus and represented by single,
discrete round Example: Micrococcus flavus.
 Diplococcus:–
The cell of the Diplococcus divides ones in a particular plane
and after division, the cells remain attached to each other.
Example: Diplococcus pneumonia.
 Streptococcus: –
Here The Cells Divide Repeatedly In One Plane To Form
Chain Of Cells. Example: – Streptococcus Pyogenes.
 Tetracoccus: –
This consists of four round cells, which defied in two planes at
a right angles to one another. Example: – Gaffkya tetragena.
Staphylococcus: – here the cells divided into three planes
forming a structured like bunches of grapes giving and
irregular configuration. Example: – Staphylococcus aureus.
 Sarcina: -
In this case the cells divide in three planes but they form a
cube like configuration consisting of eight or sixteen cells but
they have a regular shape. Example: –Sarcina lutea.
B) BACILLI: –
These are rod shaped or cylindrical bacteria which either remain
singly or in pairs. Example: –Bacillus cereus.
C) VIBRO: –
The vibro are the curved, comma shaped bacteria and
represented by a single genus. Example: – Vibro cholerae.
D) SPIRILLA: –
These type of bacteria are spiral or spring like with multiple
curvature and terminal flagella. Example: –Spirillum volutans.
Others
Actinomycetes are branching filamentous bacteria, so called because of a
fancied resemblance to the radiating rays of the sun when seen in tissue
lesions (from actis meaning ray and mykes meaning fungus).
Mycoplasmas are bacteria that are cell wall deficient and hence do not
possess a stable morphology. They occur as round or oval bodies and as
interlacing filaments.
Mode of Nutrition
1. PHOTOTROPHS:
 Those bacteria which gain energy from light.
 Phototrops are further divided into two groups on the basis
of source of electron.
 Photolithotrophs:
these bacteria gain energy from light and uses reduced
inorganic compounds such as H2S as electron source.
Eg. Chromatium okenii.
 Photoorganotrophs:
these bacteria gain energy from light and uses organic
compounds such as succinate as electron source.
2. CHEMOTROPHS:
 Those bacteria gain energy from chemical compounds.
 They cannot carry out photosynthesis.
 Chemotrops are further divided into two groups on the basis
of source of electron.
 Chemolithotrophs:
They gain energy from oxidation of chemical compound and
reduces inorganic compounds such as NH3 as electron
source. Eg. Nitrosomonas.
 Chemoorganotrophs: they gain energy from chemical

compounds and uses organic compound such as glucose and
amino acids as source of electron. eg. Pseudomonas
pseudoflava.
3. AUTOTROPHS:
 Those bacteria which uses carbondioxide as sole source of
carbon to prepare its own food.
 Autotrophs are divided into two types on the basis of energy
utilized to assimilate carbondioxide. ie. Photoautotrophs and
chemoautotrophs.
 Photoautotrophs: they utilized light to assimilate CO2.
They are further divided into two group on the basis of
electron sources. Ie. Photolithotropic
autotrophs and Photoorganotropic autotrophs
 Chemoautotrophs: They utilize chemical energy for
assimilation of CO2.
4. HETEROTROPHS:
 Those bacteria which uses organic compound as carbon
source.
 They lack the ability to fix CO2.
 Most of the human pathogenic bacteria are heterotropic in
nature.
 Some heterotrops are simple, because they have simple
nutritional requirement. However there are some bacteria that
require special nutrients for their growth; known as fastidious
heterotrophs.

Temperature Requirement
Bacteria can be classified into the following major types on the basis of their
temperatures response as indicated below:
1.PSYCHROPHILES:
 Bacteria that can grow at 0°C or below but the optimum temperature
of growth is 15 °C or below and maximum temperature is 20°C are
called psychrophiles
 Psychrophiles have polyunsaturated fatty acids in their cell
membrane which gives fluid nature to the cell membrane even at lower
temperature.
 Examples: Vibrio psychroerythrus, vibrio marinus, Polaromonas
vaculata, Psychroflexus.

2. PSYCHROTROPS (FACULTATIVE PSYCHROPHILES):
 Those bacteria that can grow even at 0°C but optimum temperature
for growth is (20-30)°C
3. Mesophiles:
 Those bacteria that can grow best between (25-40) o C but optimum
temperature for growth is 37C
 Most of the human pathogens are mesophilic in nature.
 Examples: E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Staphylococci.
4. THERMOPHILES:
 Those bacteria that can best grow above 45C.
 Thermophiles capable of growing in mesophilic range are called
facultative thermophiles.
 True thermophiles are called as Stenothermophiles, they are obligate
thermophiles,
 Thermophils contains saturated fattyacids in their cell membrane so
their cell membrane does not become too fluid even at higher
temperature.
 Examples: Streptococcus thermophiles, Bacillus stearothermophilus,
Thermus aquaticus.
5. HYPETHERMOPHILES:
 Those bacteria that have optimum temperature of growth above 80C.
 Mostly Archeobacteria are hyperthermophiles.
 Monolayer cell membrane of Archeobacteria is more resistant to heat
and they adopt to grow in higher remperature.
 Examples: Thermodesulfobacterium, Aquifex, Pyrolobus fumari,
Thermotoga.

Oxygen Requirement
Obligate Aerobes:
 Require oxygen to live.
 Example: Pseudomonas, common nosocomial pathogen.

Facultative Anaerobes:
 Can use oxygen, but can grow in its absence.
 They have complex set of enzymes.
 Examples: E. coli, Staphylococcus, yeasts, and many intestinal
bacteria.
Obligate Anaerobes:
 Cannot use oxygen and are harmed by the presence of toxic forms of
oxygen.
 Examples: Clostridium bacteria that cause tetanus and botulism.
AEROTOLERANT ANAEROBES:
 Cannot use oxygen, but tolerate its presence.
 Can break down toxic forms of oxygen.
 Example: Lactobacillus carries out fermentation regardless of oxygen
presence.
Microaerophiles:
 Require oxygen, but at low concentrations.
 Sensitive to toxic forms of oxygen.
 Example: Campylobacter.
Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of pH

of Growth
1. ACIDOPHILES:
 These bacteria grow best at an acidic pH.
 The cytoplasm of these bacteria are acidic in nature.
 Some acidopiles are thermophilic in nature, such bacteria are called
Thermoacidophiles.
 Examples: Thiobacillus thioxidans, Thiobacillus, ferroxidans,
Thermoplasma, Sulfolobus
2. ALKALIPHILES:
 These bacteria grow best at an alkaline pH.
 Example: Vibrio cholerae optimum ph of growth is 8.2.
3. NEUTROPHILES:
 These bacteria grow best at neutral pH (6.5-7.5).
 Most of the bacteria grow at neutral pH.
 Example: E. coli

Osmotic Pressure Requirement
HALOPHILES:
 Require moderate to large salt concentrations.
 Cell membrane of halophilic bacteria is made up of glycoprotein with
high content of negatively charged glutamic acid and aspartic acids. So
high concentration of Na+ ion concentration is required to shield the –ve
charge.
 Ocean water contains 3.5% salt. Most such bacteria are present in the
oceans.
 Archeobacteria, Halobacterium, Halococcus.
Extreme or Obligate Halophiles:

 Require a very high salt concentrations (20 to 30%).
 Bacteria in Dead Sea, brine vats.
Facultative Halophiles:
 Do not require high salt concentrations for growth, but tolerate upto
2% salt or more.
Number of Flagella
On the basis of flagella the bacteria can be classified as:
1. Atrichos: –
These bacteria has no flagella. Example: Corynebacterium diptherae.
2. Monotrichous: – One flagellum is attached to one end of the bacteria

cell. Example: – Vibro cholerae.
3. Lophotrichous: – Bunch of flagella is attached to one end of the

bacteria cell. Example: Pseudomonas.
4. Amphitrichous: – Bunch of flagella arising from both end of the

bacteria cell. Example: Rhodospirillum rubrum.
5. Peritrichous : – The flagella are evenly distributed surrounding the

entire bacterial cell. Example: Bacillus.
Classification of Bacteria on the basis of

Spore Formation
1. Spore forming bacteria:
 Those bacteria that produce spore during unfavorable condition.
 These are further divided into two groups:
i) Endospore forming bacteria: Spore is produced within the bacterial
cell.
Examples. Bacillus, Clostridium, Sporosarcina etc
ii) Exospore forming bacteria: Spore is produced outside the cell.
Example. Methylosinus
2. Non sporing bacteria:
 Those bacteria which do not produce spores.
Eg. E. coli, Salmonella

Classification of Bacteria

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Classification on the basis of Gram Stain

 It allows a large proportion of clinically important bacteria to be

 Slides are sequentially stained with crystal violet, iodine, then

 The difference between the two groups is believed to be due to a

 As a result bacteria can be distinguished based on their morphology

 Some bacteria such as mycobacteria are not reliably stained due to

In the year 1872 scientist Cohn classified bacteria to 4 major

 Chemoorganotrophs: they gain energy from chemical

Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of

Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of

Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of pH

Classification of Bacteria on the Basis of

Extreme or Obligate Halophiles:

2. Monotrichous: – One flagellum is attached to one end of the bacteria

3. Lophotrichous: – Bunch of flagella is attached to one end of the

4. Amphitrichous: – Bunch of flagella arising from both end of the

5. Peritrichous : – The flagella are evenly distributed surrounding the

Classification of Bacteria on the basis of

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