Bacteria

Bacteria, Occurrence, Structure and Ecological Importance
Bacteria Definition
“Bacteria are unicellular organisms belonging to the prokaryotic group where the organisms
lack a few organelles and a true nucleus”
Occurrence
Bacteria are omnipresent. They are found in all environments, where organic matter is
present. They are found in air, water, soil and also in or on the bodies of plants and animals.
Some of the bacteria live as commensals (eg. Escherichia coli in the human intestine) and
some live as symbionts (eg. Rhizobium) in the root nodules of leguminous plants. Several of
them cause diseases in plants, animals and human beings.
Size
Bacteria are very small, most being approximately 0.5 to 1 micron in diameter and about
3 to 5 microns in length.
Most bacteria may be placed into one of three groups based on their response to gaseous
oxygen. Aerobic bacteria thrive in the presence of oxygen and require it for their continued
growth and existence. Other bacteria are anaerobic, and cannot tolerate gaseous oxygen,
such as those bacteria which live in deep underwater sediments, or those which cause
bacterial food poisoning. The third group are the facultative anaerobes, which prefer
growing in the presence of oxygen, but can continue to grow without it.
Bacteria may also be classified both by the mode by which they obtain their energy.
Classified by the source of their energy, bacteria fall into two categories: heterotrophs and
autotrophs. Heterotrophs derive energy from breaking down complex organic compounds
that they must take in from the environment -- this includes saprobic bacteria found in
decaying material, as well as those that rely on fermentation or respiration.
The other group, the autotrophs, fix carbon dioxide to make their own food source; this may
be fueled by light energy (photoautotrophic), or by oxidation of nitrogen, sulfur, or other
elements (chemoautotrophic). While chemoautotrophs are uncommon, photoautotrophs are
common and quite diverse. They include the cyanobacteria, green sulfur bacteria, purple
sulfur bacteria, and purple nonsulfur bacteria. The sulfur bacteria are particularly interesting,
since they use hydrogen sulfide as hydrogen donor, instead of water like most other
photosynthetic organisms, including cyanobacteria.
Structure of Bacteria
Classification
classification of bacteria is mainly based on the following:
 Shape
 Composition of the cell wall
 Mode of respiration
 Mode of nutrition
Classification of bacteria based on Shape/ morphology

Type of Classification Examples
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Bacillus (Rod-shaped)
Spirilla or spirochete Spirillum volutans
(Spiral)
Streptococcus
Coccus (Sphere) pneumonia
Vibrio (Comma-shaped) Vibrio cholera
Classification of bacteria based on the Composition of the Cell Wall

Gram-positive bacteria
Peptidoglycan cell wall
Lipopolysaccharide cell wall Gram-negative bacteria
Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Nutrition

Cyanobacteria
Autotrophic Bacteria
Heterotrophic Bacteria All disease-causing bacteria
Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Respiration

Actinomyces
Anaerobic Bacteria
Aerobic Bacteria Mycobacterium
Reproduction in Bacteria
Bacteria follow an asexual mode of reproduction, called binary fission. A single bacterium
divides into two daughter cells. These are identical to the parent cell as well as to each other.
Replication of DNA within the parent bacterium marks the beginning of the fission.
Eventually, cell elongates to form two daughter cells.
The rate and timing of reproduction depend upon the conditions like temperature and
availability of nutrients. When there is a favourable condition, E.coli or Escherichia coli
produces about 2 million bacteria every 7 hours.
Bacterial reproduction is strictly asexual, but it can undergo sexual reproduction in very rare
cases.
Genetic recombination in bacteria has the potential to occur through conjugation,

transformation, or transduction. In such cases, the bacteria may become resistant to
antibiotics since there is variation in the genetic material (as opposed to asexual reproduction
where the same genetic material is present in generations)
Useful Bacteria
Not all bacteria are harmful to humans. There are some bacteria which are beneficial in
different ways. Listed below are few benefits of bacteria:
1. Convert milk into curd – Lactobacillus or lactic acid bacteria

2. Ferment food products – Streptococcus and Bacillus
3. Help in digestion and improving the body’s immunity system – Actinobacteria,
Proteobacteria
4. Production of antibiotics, which is used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial
infections – Soil bacteria
Harmful Bacteria
There are bacteria that can cause a multitude of illnesses. They are responsible for many of
the infectious diseases like pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, syphilis, tooth decay. Their
effects can be rectified by taking antibiotics and prescribed medication.
However, precaution is much more effective. Most of these disease-causing bacteria can be
eliminated by sterilizing or disinfecting exposed surfaces, instruments, tools and other
utilities. These methods include- application of heat, disinfectants, UV radiations,
pasteurization, boiling, etc.

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Bacteria, Occurrence, Structure and Ecological Importance

Classification of bacteria based on Shape/ morphology

Vibrio (Comma-shaped) Vibrio cholera

Classification of bacteria based on the Composition of the Cell Wall

Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Nutrition

Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Respiration

Genetic recombination in bacteria has the potential to occur through conjugation,

1. Convert milk into curd – Lactobacillus or lactic acid bacteria

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