In the study of microorganisms, several methods are employed to classify and identify different species. One key approach involves examining the DNA base composition, specifically the percentage of guanine and cytosine, to determine relatedness.
Techniques that apply the principle of nucleic acid
hybridization:
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
Ribotyping and Ribosomal RNA Sequencing
DNA Chips
Southern Blotting
Phylogenetic Tree
Tree constructed based on molecular
attribute
Evolutionary relationships among
group of species
Numerical taxonomy
Based on association coefficient
0.0 (no matches)
1.0 (100% match)
80% similarity – same species
65% similarity – same genus
Final result expressed in simple matching
coefficient (SSM) or Jaccard coefficient (SJ)
All characters having same degree of importance
Organisms sorted into groups of mutual similarity
based on large number of observable properties
Computer assisted taxonomy
Different ways to describe strains
within a species
Serovars: distinctive antigenic properties
Morphovars: differ morphologically
Biovars: strains characterize by
biochemical or physiological differences
Process of naming a NEW bacteria
1. Run extensive scienJfic tests to
verify the bacteria
2. New bacteria – give a name
3. DescripJon is published in
Interna.onal Journal of
Systema.c Bacteriology
4. Bacteria deposited in culture
collecJon bank
5. DescripJon of bacteria is
incorporated into a reference
called Bergey’s Manual
Definition of Taxonomy
The science of biological classification
Definition
identification
the practical side of taxonomy, the
process of determining that a particular isolate belongs
to a recognized taxon.
nomenclature
the branch of taxonomy concerned
with the assignment of names to taxonomic groups
according to the published rules.
classification
arrangement of organisms into groups or
based on mutual similarity or evolutionary relatedness.
Methods use to classify and identify microorganisms
after various analyses
Cladograms
• Show evolutionary relationships among
organisms
• Constructed based on rRNA sequences with
the aid of software
Dichotomous Keys
METHODS OF
CLASSIFYING AND IDENTIFYING
MICROORGANISMS
Nucleic Acid Hybridization
• Principle:
- When dsDNA is heated, complementary strands will separate
as the H bonds between bases break
- If ssDNA are cooled, complementary strands will reunite
• This technique can be used to determine extent of similarity
based on degree of reunion
• Nucleic acid hybridization = measures the ability of DNA
strands from one organism to hybridize with another
DNA Fingerprinting
• Use of restriction enzyme to produce banding pattern
• RE cuts specific base sequence
• The more similar the DNA fingerprints, the more closely related
the organisms are.
DNA Base Composition
• The base composition of a single species is a fixed property.
Thus can be used to reveal the degree of species relatedness.
• Expressed as the % of guanine plus cytosine (G+C)
• In DNA, G pair with C; A pair with T
• Two organisms that are closely related would have many
identical or similar genes will have similar amounts of various
bases in their DNA
• General guideline: Difference of more than 10% in their %GC,
the microorganism are probably not related (e.g. Bac. A 40% GC
and Bac. B 60% GC)
Fatty Acid Profiles
• Bacteria synthesize a wide variety of fatty acids
• These fatty acids are constant for a particular species
• Compare with fatty acid profiles of known organisms for
classification and identification of unknown
Phage typing
• Determine which phage a bacterium is susceptible to
• Bacteriophages cause lysis of bacteria that they infect
• Bacteriophages infect only particular species or even
strains
Serology
b. Western blotting
Serology
- Proteins from an unknown bacterium or virus are
separated by electrophoresis (proteins separated
according to molecular weights)
- Proteins are then transferred to a nitrocellulose filter by
blotting
- The filter is exposed to known antibodies, and washed
(if there is matching antigen and antibody, the antibody
will be retained)
- A second antibody which will bind to all antibodies, with
enzyme linked, is exposed to the filter, and washed
- Enzyme reaction occurred and signal can be observed
Serological techniques
a. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Fast and utilised a computer scanner to read result
- ELISA performed in microtiter plate
Slide agglutination test:
- Unknown bacteria placed on several slides
- A different known anJserum is placed on each sample
- Agglutination – positive reaction
Commercially available serum with specific antibody:
antiserum
Background: Bacteria (antigen) enter a host, antibody will be
produced by the host. The antibody will combine with the
antigen (bacteria) and this precipitates the antigen
Is the science that studies serum and immune responses that
are evident in serum
Biochemical Tests
Rapid Biochemical Test
a. StandardizaJon
b. Speed
c. Reproducibility
d. Miniaturization
e. Mechanization
Some of the common biochemical tests
- Phenol Red broth
- GelaJn Test
- Lipase Test
- Starch hydrolysis
- MoJlity test
- Catalase test
Tests to verify its metabolic acJvity
Differential Staining
Flagella staining
• Flagella are too thin
• Use a mordant and stain carbolfuchsin to coat the flagella
unJl they are thick enough to be seen
Endospore staining
• Schaeffer-Fulton endospore stain
• Endospore appear green within pink cells
Negative staining for capsules
• Use india ink to provide a contrasJng background, then
stain with simple stain (safranin)
• Capsules to not accept simple stain, thus appear as halos
surrounding bacterial cell
Acid-fast Stain
• Only stain bacteria with waxy material in their cell walls
e.g Mycobacterium
Gram Stain
• Classifies into Gram posiJve (purple/blue) or negative
(pink/red)
Phylogenetic/Phyletic classification
• Natural system
• Based on evolutionary relationships
• Direct comparison of genetic material and
gene products
Inspiration of Names
a. Shape
b. Where it is/was found
c. Nutrient it uses
d. Who discovered it?
e. What disease it causes?
Strain
identify by
a. A name or
b. Number or
c. Letter follows by specific epithet
E.g. E. coli strain O157:H7
subgroup of species with one or
more characteristics that distinguish
it from other subgroups of the same
species
General Rules
in
Nomenclature
6. First time à spell out (Escherichia
coli), thereafter à abbreviated (E.
coli)
7. Species name à never
abbreviated
8. Less simple genus abbreviation if
different genus start with same
alphabet.
e.g. Enterococcus faecalis (En. faecalis)
Escherichia coli (Es. coli)
1. Genus name always capitalized
(e.g. Escherichia)
2. Species name is never capitalised
(e.g. coli)
3. Species name is never used
without the genus name (e.g. coli
standing alone)
4. Genus name may be used without
species name (e.g. Escherichia)
5. Genus and species are always
italicized (or underlined)
Nomenclature
Genus name + specific epithet (species)
Example:
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens
Common rules for both names
- Both printed underlined or italicized
- Genus name is always capitalized
- Species name is lowercase