Some Fundamentals of

MICROBIOLOGY

Basic to the design of a biological

treatment process or to the selection of
the type of process to be used is an
understanding of the form,structure, and
biochemical activities of the important
microorganisms (m.o.).
We will discuss the cytology and
physiology of the m.o. commonly
encountered in wastewater treatment.

BASIC CONCEPTS
In the past, m.o. were
commonly grouped
into 2 kingdoms:
plants and animals.
Because of taxonomic
difficulties, recent

group them into 3

kingdoms: protista,
plants, and animals.
Summary data on
the characteristics of
the mo in each
kingdom are presented

Table 1. The 3 kingdoms of

microorganisms

Kingdom
Animal
Plant

Protista:
Highera

Representative members
Rotifers
Crustaceans
Mosses
Ferns
Seed plants

Characterization
Multicellular,
with tissue
differentiation

Algae
Protozoa
Unicellular or
Fungi
multicellular,
Slime molds
without tissue
differentiation
Lowerb
Blue-green algae
Bacteria
a
Contain true nucleus (eucaryotic cells)
b
Contain no nuclear membrane (procaryotic cells)

Although the most

significant differences
among them are
shown in the table, the
3 kingdoms are similar
in that the cell is the
basic unit of life for
each, regardless of the

CELL STRUCTURE
In general, most living cells are quite
similar. As shown in Figure 1, they
have a cell wall, which may be either a
rigid or a flexible membrane. If they
are motile, they usually possess
flagella or some hairlike appendages.
The interior of the cell contains a
colloidal
suspension
of
proteins,
carbohydrates and other complex
organic
compounds,
called
the
cytoplasm.

The cytoplasmic area contains

ribonucleic acid (RNA), whose
major role is in the synthesis of
proteins. Also within the cell wall
is the area of the nucleus, which
is rich in deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA). DNA contains all the
information necessary for the
reproduction of all the cell
components
and
may
be

In some cells, the DNA is

enclosed by a membrane and
the nucleus is clearly defined
(eucaryotic cells). In other
cells, the nucleus is poorly
defined (procaryotic cells).
As shown in Table 1, bacteria
and
blue-green
algae
are
examples of procaryotic cells.

Figure 1. Generalized schematic of

bacterial cell

Energy and carbon

sources

To continue to produce and function

properly, an organism must have a
source of energy and carbon for the
synthesis of new cellular material.
Inorganic elements, such as nitrogen
and phosphorous, and other trace
elements, such as S, K, Ca, and Mg,
are also vital to cell synthesis.

Two of the most common sources

of cell carbon for m.o. are carbon
dioxide and organic matter.
Autotrophic if an organism
derives its cell carbon from
carbon dioxide.
Heterotrophic
organic carbon.

if

it

uses

Energy is also needed in the

synthesis of new cellular material.
For autotrophic organisms, the
energy can be supplied by the sun,
as in photosynthesis, or by an
inorganic oxidation-reduction
reaction.
if the energy is supplied by the
sun, the organism is called
autotrophic photosynthetic.

If the energy is supplied by an

inorganic
oxidation-reduction
reaction, it is called autotrophic
chemosynthetic.
For heterotrophic organisms, the
energy needed for cell synthesis is
supplied
by
the
oxidation
or
fermentation of organic matter. A
classification of m.o. by sources of
energy and cell carbon is presented in
Table 2.

Table 2. General classification of

m.o. by
sources of energy and
carbon
Classification
Energy source
Carbon source
Autotrophic:
Photosynthetic

Light

CO2

Chemosynthetic

Inorganic oxidationreduction reaction

CO2

Heterotrophic:

Organic oxidationreduction reaction

Organic carbon

Aerobic and anaerobic

metabolism
Organisms can also be classed according to
their ability to use oxygen.
Aerobic organisms can exist only when
there is a supply of molecular oxygen.
Anaerobic organisms can exist only in
an environment that is devoid of oxygen.
Facultative organisms have the ability
to survive with or without oxygen.