Department of Microbiology & Immunology MIMM 323 Microbial Physiology and Genetics J.W. Coulton, Ph.D., Professor

Assigned reading Lengeler et al. (1999) Chapter 1, p Bacteriology………..

Clostridium difficile Canadian Medical Association Journal July 6; August 31,

Microbial Physiology Conflicting character of micro-organisms Cause disease –Destroy useful products Foods Computer chips Jet fuel –Alter ecosystems Kill/control detrimental micro-organisms

Microbial Physiology Conflicting character of micro-organisms Food production Solve problems –Environment: bioremediation –Agriculture: GMF –Medicine: recombinant vaccines Exploit potential of beneficial m-o

3 Questions How do micro-organisms find / transport nutrients? How do micro-organisms convert nutrients into cellular components? How do micro-ogranisms respond to changes in type / availability of nutrients?

Bacterial cell architecture Major structural and functional components of micro-organisms Light microscopy of bacteria –Rod shape –Coccus shape –Spiral shape

Staining Gram stain Differentiate groups of bacteria –Gram positive –Gram negative

Nomenclature Rods: Escherichia coli, Bacteriodes fragilis, Bacillus subtilis Coccus: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Sarcina lutea Spiral: Aquaspirillum serpens, Treponema pallidum, Borrelia bergdorferi

Electron microscopy Different surface organizations: –Thick, undifferentiated –Multilaminated –Exotic decorations: RS or S layers external to Gram-negative or Gram-positive cells –capsule