Lecture 3 - Exopolysaccharides and Membrane Proteins Flashcards
The structure of the cell wall is important to the integrity of the cell. One way to kill bacteria is to:
attack the cell wall, since without it bacteria CANNOT survive
Gram Negative Summary
2 membranes, inner and outer
Peptidoglycan layer is in between the 2
Space between the 2 membranes (IM & OM) is the periplasmic space
Gram Negative bacteria stain PINK/RED in gram stain
Gram Positive Summary
Have a thick layer of peptidoglycan and no outer membrane.
Will stain purple in a gram stain
Most useful antibiotics target the _______ specifically ___________ of the _______
Most useful antibiotics target the MEMBRANE specifically PEPTIDOGLYCAN of the CELL WALL.
Some antibiotics are useful against gram positive bacteria but not gram negative bacteria. Why?
Because the gram negative bacteria have an outer membrane that the drugs cannot penetrate. Other drugs have to be designed to go through the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria.
The CAPSULE is
also called exopolysaccharide capsule or glycocalyx (not good names since not always composed of sugar, sometimes amino acids) USE CAPSULE!
Outside the cell wall,
secreted by the cell,
very defined
the EPS
EPS = extracellular polymeric substance
also called the slime layer or exopolysaccharide (not good names because it is sometimes composed of sugar but NOT always - also proteins or extracellular DNA.)
EPS is not well defined and you cannot see it very well.
It is a matrix that bacterial cells produce that forms a cocoon that shelters and allows bacteria to form a biofilm.
How is capsule stained such that it is visible under microscopy?
The bacteria have a ghostly shade around them which is the capsule. It lies outside of the cell wall and is secreted by the cell, very define, unlike the EPS.
The stains used generally bind to charged particles, but the capsule is NOT charged therefore we cannot stain the capsule specifically. Instead, we use a counter stain to stain everything but the capsule which is why it appears as a ghostly white outline.
What is the main difference between capsule and EPS?
The capsule does NOT detach
What is a biofilm
Biofilms allow cells to attach to a surface. Plaque is a biofilm. Cells attach to a surface (like enamel, epithelial cells, tongue) with a slime layer that allows them to stick, otherwise they would be washed away. In the oral cavity it is ALWAYS a biofilm.
Are tge CAPSULE and EPS necessary for bacterial cell survival?
NOT all Bacteria have capsules or EPS
Both the capsule and EPS are NOT required for the bacteria to grow.
If you mutate bacteria so they cannot produce the capsule, it will grow just as well in a laboratory setting. This is NOT the case with the CELL WALL - bacteria cannot grow without a cell wall!
ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED FOR GROWTH, THE CAPSULE IS VITAL IN SURVIVAL. CAPSULES AND SLIME LAYERS ARE HELPFUL IN THAT THEY ARE:
- physical barriers
- chemical barriers
- protect against dessication
- protect from phagocytosis
What are the Functions of the EPS and Capule?
- PHYSICAL BARRIERS
compounds from the environment can’t penetrate capsules and slime layers well - CHEMICAL BARRIERS
some chemicals can’t penetrate the EPS or just get stuck in it - PROTECTION AGAINST DESICCATION
the cell can survive much longer because the capsule and slime layer create a moist microenvironment - PROTECTION FROM PHAGOCYTOSIS
if protected with capsule, cells of immune system can’t really see the bacteria.
The Capsule can be seen as a __________
VIRULENCE FACTOR
What is a virulence factor?
Virulence factors are properties that help the bacteria to cause infection, specifically helping in one or more of the following:
1. colonization
getting into the body through the skin, respiratory tract, etc
- survival
needs to be able to survive in new environment - establishment/multiplication
avoid being detected by the immune system or grow faster than it can be killed - nutrient obtainment
bacteria needs toxins or enzymes that allow it to harm tissues to get nutrients (Ex: breaking down RBC’s)
Why can cells of the immune system not detect bacteria if capsule is present?
Immune cells usually look for the LPS, which will be concealed by a capsule. the bacterial cells outside of the body will grow well without a capsule, but inside the body the capsule is needed or the immune system will see it and attack it.
What is immunoevasion and what aids with it?
Avoiding of the host’s immune response
The capsule aids with immunoevasion.
Viruses are the most abundant organisms on the planet. Viruses gain entry into the body via a surface receptor on the bacteria. What happens if bacteria is covered by a capsule?
The virus won’t see the receptor and can’t penetrate the cell. If bacteria were covered by EPS, virus would have to go through it which would be difficult.
What can disrupt the cell membrane?
Toxins and detergents
What can protect disruption of the cell membrane from toxins and detergents?
Matrix - EPS - endopolymeric substance OR
Capsule provide some protection against both!
Functions of the EPS
true for just EPS not usually for capsule.
- Nutrient source: the matrix can be a food source since it is composed of proteins and sugars.
Example: S. mutans which causes caries, produces a sugar matrix.
Biolfilm is a gel that is very sticky/slimy and it can attach to a surface of other bacteria, creating an aggregation of cells which is more difficult for the immune system to handle.
What bacteria is said to cause caries?
Streptococcus mutans
What is the structure of biofilm?
The EPS forms a biofilm:
Biolfilm is a gel that is very sticky/slimy and it can attach to a surface of other bacteria, creating an aggregation of cells which is more difficult for the immune system to handle.
What is Streptococcus pneumoniae?
Gram Positive Bacteria
Causes upper respirator infections (pneumonia)
Form a slime layer
If colonies from fresh clinical isolates are smooth colonies, what does this indicate?
Presence of a capsule around the bacteria