Difference between Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria: A Complete Guide
When it comes to bacteria, there are two major categories: gram positive and gram negative. These categories are based on the cell wall structure and staining characteristics of the bacteria. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
Cell Wall Structure
The main difference between gram positive and gram negative bacteria is the composition of their cell walls. Gram positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, which makes them appear purple when stained with the gram stain. On the other hand, gram negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, along with an outer membrane that contains lipopolysaccharides. This makes them appear red or pink when stained with the gram stain.
Staining Characteristics
The gram stain is a common microbiological technique used to differentiate bacterial species based on their cell wall structure. When bacteria are stained with the gram stain, they can either be gram positive or gram negative. Gram positive bacteria retain the purple color of the crystal violet stain, while gram negative bacteria lose this color and take on the red or pink color of the counterstain.
Susceptibility to Antibiotics
Gram positive and gram negative bacteria have different susceptibility profiles when it comes to antibiotics. This is because the cell wall structure of gram negative bacteria is more complex and contains more resistance mechanisms than gram positive bacteria. Gram negative bacteria are generally more resistant to antibiotics than gram positive bacteria.
Disease Causing Ability
Both gram positive and gram negative bacteria can cause diseases in humans and animals. However, some bacteria are more commonly associated with certain diseases than others. For example, gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are commonly associated with skin and respiratory infections, while gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are commonly associated with foodborne illnesses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the differences between gram positive and gram negative bacteria is crucial for microbiologists and healthcare professionals. These differences explain why certain antibiotics work better against certain types of bacteria, and can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections. By using the gram stain, microbiologists can easily differentiate between gram positive and gram negative bacteria, and use this information to guide their research or provide better patient care.
Table difference between gram positive and gram negative bacteria slideshare
Sorry, as a language model AI, I cannot create slides or access to a particular source to extract information. However, I can provide you with the general code for creating an HTML table:
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| Bacteria Type | Gram Positive | Gram Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Wall | Thick Peptidoglycan | Thin Peptidoglycan and Outer Membrane |
| Stain Color | Purple | Pink |
| Sensitivity | Sensitive to Penicillin and other Antibiotics | Resistant to Penicillin and some Antibiotics |
| Examples | Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Clostridium | Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
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You can further customize the table by adding borders, background colors, and styles using CSS.