BIOL 2900 Lecture 3: MICROBIOLOGY WEEK 3
19 Nov 2015
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Document Summary
Structure and function of bacteria: cell membrane: Glycocalyces sticky and gelatinous substance surrounds the cell and assists in the bacteria"s ability to attach to surfaces. Axial filaments: similar to flagellum, runs lengthwise along cell, moves snake like (spirochetes) syphilis, lime disease. Used by bacteria to adhere to one another or to hosts or to environment. Evenly distributed over entire surface used for attachment. May be a virulent factor (e. coli. , o157; e. coli involved with food or water poisoning enters the blood system causing sepsis) Pilli: long hallow tubes longer than fimbriae but shorter than flagella,, typically one or two per cell, joining two bacterial cells and mediating the transfer of dna from one cell to another (conjugation) Capsule and slick layers: capsule, slime layer. : a thick layer of a gel firmly attached to cell surface. In medicine, biofilms spreading along implanted tubes or wires can lead to severe infections in patients.
