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Chapter 11: Problem 8

Describe how mycoplasmas are different from mycobacteria.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Mycoplasmas are different from mycobacteria primarily in their cell wall: mycoplasmas lack a cell wall, which allows them to change shape, while mycobacteria have a thick, waxy cell wall that makes them resistant to various disinfectants.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Characteristics of Mycoplasmas

Mycoplasmas are unique bacteria in that they lack a cell wall around their cell membrane. This unique property allows them to take on various shapes, making them pleomorphic. This lack of a cell wall also makes them resistant to many common antibiotics which target cell wall synthesis.
02

Identify Characteristics of Mycobacteria

Mycobacteria on the other hand, have a very thick, waxy cell wall, which is rich in mycolic acid. This property makes them acid-fast and resistant to many disinfectants and antibiotics. Mycobacteria are rod-shaped (bacilli) and they cause diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy.
03

Compare and Contrast

When comparing and contrasting the two, the main differences lie in their cell wall. Mycoplasmas lack a cell wall, allowing them to take various shapes and making them resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Mycobacteria however, have a thick, waxy cell wall which makes them acid-fast and resistant to disinfectants as well as to some antibiotics.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Bacterial Cell Wall
The bacterial cell wall plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape and integrity of bacteria. It acts as a protective layer surrounding the cell membrane. Most bacteria possess a cell wall made predominantly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like structure providing rigidity.
  • Mycoplasmas: Unlike typical bacteria, mycoplasmas do not have a cell wall. This absence allows them to have flexible, fluid shapes (pleomorphic) and grants them resistance to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Since they lack this critical structure, they are not limited to a fixed form and are not easily targeted by certain antibiotics, like penicillin.
  • Mycobacteria: Mycobacteria have a very thick, waxy cell wall made up of complex lipids such as mycolic acid. This composition gives them their characteristic texture and adds a layer of protection against many antibiotics and disinfectants. The cell wall's waxy nature contributes to the unique trait of being acid-fast, allowing mycobacteria to retain specific stains even in the presence of acidic decolorizing solutions.
Pleomorphic Bacteria
Pleomorphic bacteria are those that can adopt various shapes during their life cycle. This trait is often due to the absence or variation in a bacterial cell wall.
  • Mycoplasmas are a classic example of pleomorphic bacteria. Due to their lack of a traditional cell wall, they are not confined to a single shape or form. This adaptability in shape allows them to easily switch forms and better survive changing environmental conditions.
  • This characteristic makes them highly versatile, enabling them to evade immune responses and resist certain environmental stresses. It also presents challenges in identifying and targeting these bacteria, as they do not fit into the simple categories of rounded (cocci), rod-shaped (bacilli), or spiral (spirillum) bacteria.

Pleomorphic properties make unique demands on microscope identification and complicate the use of antibiotics that typically target cell walls. Understanding these properties offers insights into how some bacteria evade treatments and adapt to new environments.
Acid-Fast Bacteria
Acid-fast bacteria have a distinctive cell wall structure that allows them to resist certain chemical stains and decolorizations. This trait is often used as a key diagnostic feature in microbiology.
  • Mycobacteria are the most well-known category of acid-fast bacteria due to their thick cell wall rich in mycolic acids. These fatty acids confer resilience and a unique characteristic that allows them to remain stained despite the presence of acid, which would typically wash away the dye from non-acid-fast bacteria.
  • Acid-fast staining is an important diagnostic tool, particularly for detecting diseases like tuberculosis. The presence of acid-fast bacteria in a patient鈥檚 sputum, for instance, is a critical indicator of an active mycobacterial infection.

The ability of mycobacteria to resist acidic decolorization is not just a staining artifact; it reflects their ability to survive harsh conditions, contributing to their pathogenic nature. These bacteria's resilience poses challenges in both clinical diagnosis and treatment, demanding specialized approaches to manage infections.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Iron oxide (rust) forms when iron is exposed to oxygen, particularly in the presence of water. Nevertheless, iron pipes typically corrode more quickly when they are buried in moist anaerobic soil than when they are buried in soil containing oxygen. Explain why this is the case.

Compare and contrast methanogens and methane oxidizers.

Louis Pasteur said, "The role of the infinitely small in nature is infinitely large." Explain what he meant by using examples of the roles of microorganisms in health, industry, and the environment.

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A microbiology student described "deeply branching bacteria" as having a branched filamentous growth habit akin to Streptomyces. Do you agree with this description? Why or why not?
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