Classification of

Microorganisms
 Taxonomy
 Is the science of defining groups of
biological organisms on the basis of
shared characteristics and giving names
to the groups.
 It is the practice and science or technique
of classification of things or principle of
classification
 Arrangement, describing, finding,
Organization, classification and naming
organisms according to specific criteria
 Formal system originated by Carl von
Linné (1701-1778)
Types of Microorganisms

 Eukaryotic Organisms (Fungi,

Protozoans, Algae)
 Prokaryotic Organisms (Bacteria,
Archaea)
 Viruses
Classification and Nomenclature
 Taxonomy
 DKPCOFGS
 Domain -Bacteria
 Kingdom
 Phylum (pl: Phyla) - Proteobacteria
 Class (pl: Classes) -Gammaproteobacteria
 Order (pl: orders) -Enterobacteriales
 Family (pl: Families)-Enterobacteriaceae
 Genus (pl: Genera) - Escherichia
 Specie (pl: Species) - coli
 Species and strains
 Species
 collection of bacterial cells which share an overall similar
pattern of traits in contrast to other bacteria whose pattern
differs significantly
 Strain or variety
 culture derived from a single parent that differs in structure
or metabolism from other cultures of that species (biovars,
morphovars)
 Type
 subspecies that can show differences in antigenic makeup
(serotype or serovar), susceptibility to bacterial viruses
(phage type) and in pathogenicity (pathotype)
Naming Micoorganisms
 Binomial (scientific) nomenclature
 Gives each microbe 2 names:
 Genus - noun, always capitalized
 species - adjective, lowercase
 Both italicized or underlined
 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
 Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis)
 Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Principles of Classification
and Nomenclature
 Nomenclature
 Scientific name (Systematic Name)
Binomial System of Nomenclature
Genus name + species name
italicized or underlined
genus name is capitalized and may be
abbreviated
species name is never abbreviated.
eg: Bacillus subtilis
B. subtilis
Principles of Classification
and Nomenclature
 Nomenclature (cont.)
 Common or descriptive names
(trivial names)
eg: tubercle bacillus
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
meningococcus
(Neiserria meningitidis)
Group A streptococcus
(Streptococcus pyogenes)
Domains
 Eubacteria
 true bacteria, peptidoglycan
 Archaea
 odd bacteria that live in extreme
environments, high salt, heat, etc. (usually
called extremophiles)
 The above two are under the domain
prokaryotes
 Eukarya
 have a nucleus & organelles (humans,
animals, plants)
Evolution - living things
change gradually over millions
of years
 Changes favoring survival are retained and less
beneficial changes are lost
 All new species originate from preexisting
species
 Closely related organism have similar features
because they evolved from common ancestral
forms
 Evolution usually progresses toward greater
complexity
Insert figure 1.15
Woese-Fox System
Methods of Identification of
Procaryote
1. Microscopic morphology
2. Macroscopic morphology – colony
appearance
3. Physiological / biochemical characteristics
4. Chemical analysis
5. Serological analysis
6. Genetic and molecular analysis
• G + C base composition
• DNA analysis using genetic probes
• Nucleic acid sequencing and RNA analysis
Classification Systems
 Phylogenetic Classification System: Groups
reflect genetic similarity and evolutionary
relatedness
 Phenetic Classification System: Groups do
not necessarily reflect genetic similarity or
evolutionary relatedness. Instead, groups
are based on convenient or observable
characteristics.
 Two domains: Archaea and Bacteria
 five major subgroups with 25 different phyla
Major Taxonomic Groups of
Prokaryotes
1. Domain Archaea
 primitive, adapted to extreme habitats and
modes of nutrition
2. Domain Bacteria

 Phylum Proteobacteria – Gram-negative cell

walls
 Phylum Firmicutes – mainly Gram-positive
with low G + C content
 Phylum Actinobacteria – Gram-positive with
high G + C content
 Bacteria
 Are pathogenic prokaryotes
 Are non pathogenic prokaryotes
 All photoautotrophic prokaryotes
 Unicellular, reproduces by binary fission
 Have: No (or few) internal membranes
 Many processes that are associated with
organelles in eukaryotes (eg. respiration,
photosynthesis) are mediated by
specialized regions of the plasma
membrane in prokaryotes
Bacteria……cont’d

 There is no membrane-bound nucleus in

prokaryotes. Instead the DNA is located
within a specialized region of the cytoplasm
of the cell called the nucleoid region. There is
no nuclear membrane surrounding the
nucleoid.

 Majorly The Bacteria

The terms “prokaryotic cell” and “bacterial
cell” often are used interchangeably
Archaea

 Constitute third Domain Archaea

 Prokaryotes with wall that are not peptidoglycan wall.
 Contain unique genetic sequences in their rRNA
 Have unique membrane lipids and cell wall construction
 Live in the most extreme habitats in nature,
extremophiles
 Adapted to heat, salt, acid pH, pressure and
atmosphere
 Includes: methane producers, hyperthermophiles,
extreme halophiles, and sulfur reducers
Eukaryote
Eukaryotic Cells
 Complex Internal Membrane System
 Compartmentalization
 Membrane-Enclosed Organelle
 DNA is enclosed in a membrane-bound
nucleus
 Animal & Plant cells,Eukaryotic
Microorganisms
Eukaryotic Organisms
 Eukaryotic Kingdoms
 Kingdom Protista
(Protozoa and Algae)
 Kingdom Fungi
 Kingdom Plantae
 Kingdom Animalia
Eukaryotes

 Protista
 Fungi
 Plantae
 Animalia
 Fungal Classification
 Eukaryotes, Unicellular or multicellular
 Reproduces sexually or asexually
 Sexual reproduction
 Spores are formed following fusion of male and
female strains and formation of sexual structure
 Sexual spores and spore-forming structures
are one basis for classification
 Zygospores
 Ascospores
 Basidiospores
 Fungal Classification
 Subkingdom Amastigomycota
 Terrestrial inhabitants including those of
medical importance:

1. Zygomycota – zygospores; sporangiospores and

some conidia
2. Ascomycota – ascospores; conidia
3. Basidiomycota – basidiospores; conidia
4. Deuteromycota – majority are yeasts and molds;
no sexual spores known; conidia
Protozoan Classification
 Difficult because of diversity
 Unicellular, could have varieties of shapes
 Eukaryotes, could be free living or parasitic
 Simple grouping is based on method of motility,
reproduction, and life cycle
1. Mastigophora – primarily flagellar motility, some flagellar
and amoeboid; sexual reproduction; cyst and trophozoite
2. Sarcodina – primarily ameba; asexual by fission; most
are free-living
3. Ciliophora – cilia; trophozoites and cysts; most are free-
living, harmless
4. Apicomplexa – motility is absent except male gametes;
sexual and asexual reproduction; complex life cycle – all
parasitic
Algae

 Photosynthetic, autotrophic eukaryotes

 Could be unicellular(Diatoms)or multicellular
(giant kelps)
 Have varieties of shapes and colours
 Reproduces asexually and sexually
 Present in soil, fresh water and could be in
association with plants
 E.g include red algae, bluegreen algae
Viral Classification
 Viruses do not fit domain system as they are acellular
usually only classified by Family and Genus and
referred to by common name e.g. HIV (human
immuno-deficiency virus)
 Genus = Lentivirus
 Family = Retroviridae
 Viral species is defined as a population of viruses with
similar characteristics (including morphology, genes
and enzymes) that occupy a particular ecological niche
 Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites: they
evolved to infect cells and usually infect one type of cell
that best supports the viral replication thus viruses tend
to be very specific about their niche:
 e.g. HIV: infects only human T helper cells
Viruses
 Viruses are obligate intracelluar submicroscopic
organism that possess nucleic acid (RNA/DNA).
When found extracellullar, exists as protein coat or
capsid.
 They are submicroscopic infectious agents that
replicates inside the living cells of other organism
 Structure of a “Virus Particle”
 Noncellular Biological Entity
 Contains either DNA or RNA (not both)
 Nucleic Acid is surrounded or coated by a
protein shell (capsid)
 Some viruses possess a membrane-like
envelope surrounding the particle
Viruses
 Viral Replication
 No independent metabolism or replication
 Replicate only inside an infected host cell
 Do not replicate via a process of cell division
 Replicate via a process of:
 Attachment and Penetration
 Disassembly (uncoating)
 Synthesis of Viral Protein and Nucleic Acid
 Reassembly of new viral particles
 Release of new viral particles