Prokaryotic Cell Structure: The Acid-Fast Cell Wall

Learning Objectives for "Prokaryotic Cell Structure: The Acid-Fast Cell Wall"

After completing this section you should be able to perform the following objectives.

1. State what color acid-fast bacteria stain after the acid-fast stain procedure and briefly describe why.

2.* Describe the composition of an acid-fast cell wall and indicate the beneficial function to the bacteriums of peptidoglycan, arabinogalactin, mycolic acid, and porins.

3. State what is thought to cause most of the damage in the lungs during tuberculosis.

Highlighted Bacterium

1. Read the description of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and match the bacterium with the description of the organism and the infection it causes.

Think-Pair-Share Questions

Mycobacterium tuberculosisis a very slow growing bacterium with a generation time often measured in days to weeks. It is also resistant to the vast majority of antibiotics that are commonly effective against other bacteria and treatment is typically with a combination of drugs for up to 9 months

Based on what we just learned, explain what might account for these two characteristics.

2. Look at the following transmission electron micrograph and gram stain of the same bacterium.

Transmission electron micrograph:

Gram stain

1. Is this organism Gram-positive, Gram-negative, or acid-fast?

How can you tell? State all reasons.

2. What would be the major PAMP associated with this bacterium?

(*) or (**) = possible discussion question

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