For the most part, it serves to maintain cell integrity of the organism by withstanding turgor pressure. Located outside the cytoplasmic membrane of most bacteria, the peptidoglycan is one of the main components of the bacterial cell wall. The cell-wall of Gram positive bacteria consists of a number of important components that include: Listeria monocytogenes).Ĭharacteristics of Gram Positive Bacteria * Some of Gram positive bacilli use flagella for movement (e.g. In human beings, these organisms are responsible for a number of diseasesįor instance, Bacillus anthracis has been shown to cause anthrax in human beings (rare in human beings but common in animals). Clostridia), others like Listeria do not. While some of the species are characterized by their ability to produce spores (e.g. Gram positive bacilli - include such bacteria as Clostridia, Bacillus, and Listeria among others. Whereas Staphylococcus aureus can cause such pyogenic infections as septic arthritis, Streptococcus pyogenes are responsible for such infections as cellulitis, tonsillitis, and rheumatic fever.Ĭompared to some of the bacilli bacteria, bacteria are non-motile (lack motility organs such as flagella) and do not form spores. Streptococcus pyogenes) - are cocci bacteria (spherical) responsible for a number of diseases in human beings Staphylococcus aureus) and Streptococcus bacteria (e.g. Some examples of Gram positive bacteria include: However, a few species have a Gram negative cell wall structure.Īs compared to Gram negative bacteria, this group of bacteria is characterized by their ability to retain the primary stain (Crystal violet) during Gram staining (giving a positive result). Gram positive bacteria are a group of organisms that fall under the phylum Firmicutes. Some bacteria move using a tail-like structure known as flagella.Vary in shape and can, therefore, be classified based on their distinct shapes (Bacilli, Cocci, Spirilli).Being prokaryotes, they lack membrane-bound organelles.Can reproduce asexually ( binary fission) and asexually ( transduction and conjugation etc) - They can also form spores.Some of the main functions of bacteria (in general) include: * Bacteria are neither plants nor animals. * While bacteria can cause disease, they are also useful in medicine, food and other industries. * Bacteria are thought to have been the first living organisms on earth. Zoamastogopera found in the digestive system of termites) or as parasitic organisms that can cause harm and disease in their hosts.

In these environments, bacteria may exist as free-living organisms (making their own food or feeding on dead organic matter etc), in symbiosis with other organisms (e.g. As such, they can be found in different types of environments (ranging from aquatic to the hot rocks of the Mojave Desert). * While Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria are of clinical significance, not all bacteria in these groups are harmful/cause disease.īacteria are single-celled prokaryotes ubiquitous in nature. The difference between the two groups is as a result of a number of chemical/surface structures that include:

Gram positive vs gram negative shape