Essays on Endospore

Chapter 4: Prokaryotic Cells and microorganisms

This chapter looks at the morphology, and pathogenic mechanisms of prokaryotic cells and microorganisms respectively. It discusses in detail the structural components, functions of the different organelles of prokaryotic cells as well as feeding and survival mechanisms of prokaryotic microorganisms.

Prokaryotic cells have a specialized cellular structure. Prokaryotes are unicellular and their cells have no cellular organelles, that is, a membrane does not surround their nucleus. These cells contain intricate phospholipids, sterols, and sphingolipids. They are typically 1-5µm in diameter .

Their outer surface is covered by glycocalyx, which is a gel like cellular envelope that provides prokaryotic cells with protection against ...

Significant characteristics of a disease

Virulence is a term that describes “the capacity of a microbe to cause disease after infection”. It is a multifaceted phenomenon is dependent on the “context and nature of the interaction between the host and the microbe.” The number of fatalities that occur as a result of infection by a given pathogen is used as a measure of the virulence. Based on this parameter, the Ebola virus would therefore be considered to be highly virulent as compared to small pox. Give that research has provided better understanding of pathogens thus led to the development of potent forms of therapy; some of the pathogens ...

Introduction

Anthrax is an infectious disease that is primarily caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis (spore-forming bacterium). The spores of B. antracis is often associated with gastrointestinal anthrax and inhalation cutaneous. The spores are highly ineffective in most environmental conditions. Inhalation anthrax is considered as a great threat since it is caused by inhalation of anthrax spores and is associated with high fatality rate. However, the rate of person-to-person rate is rarely observed. (Sternbach G. 2003) In the wild, anthrax is commonly observed (naturally found). The disease is also observed unvaccinated domestic animals. The disease is common among U.S workers ...

Introduction

Bacillus Subtilis are the organisms that are aerobic, Gram Positive, spore-forming belonging to the Bacillus genus. The organisms are together with other species that are closely related play a crucial role in disease, food poisoning as well as food spoilage. Lack of methods that are standardized for the identification of the organisms whether coming from the food or environment has made the tests to be difficult. Use of morphological as well as physiological tests have offered the best ways to identify organisms in the laboratory although there are inconsistent and lack of reliance in these methods. Identification of an ...