Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 190 views

    Actinomycetes

    Uploaded by

    Michael Agbaoye
    Actinomycetes are a heterogeneous group of filamentous bacteria that form branching hyphae similar to fungi. They have thin hyphae containing coiled DNA and a cell wall containing amino acids and amino sugars. Actinomycetes include the Actinomyces, found normally in the human mouth and gut but can cause infections if spread from there, and Nocardia, found in soil that can cause lung infections similar to tuberculosis. The streptomycetes are also actinomycetes found in soil important for plant decomposition, and are known for producing many antibiotics like streptomycin.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Actinomycetes

    Uploaded by

    Michael Agbaoye
    190 views1 page
    Actinomycetes are a heterogeneous group of filamentous bacteria that form branching hyphae similar to fungi. They have thin hyphae containing coiled DNA and a cell wall containing amino acids and amino sugars. Actinomycetes include the Actinomyces, found normally in the human mouth and gut but can cause infections if spread from there, and Nocardia, found in soil that can cause lung infections similar to tuberculosis. The streptomycetes are also actinomycetes found in soil important for plant decomposition, and are known for producing many antibiotics like streptomycin.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Actinomycetes are a heterogeneous group of filamentous bacteria that form branching hyphae similar to fungi. They have thin hyphae containing coiled DNA and a cell wall containing amino acids and amino sugars. Actinomycetes include the Actinomyces, found normally in the human mouth and gut but can cause infections if spread from there, and Nocardia, found in soil that can cause lung infections similar to tuberculosis. The streptomycetes are also actinomycetes found in soil important for plant decomposition, and are known for producing many antibiotics like streptomycin.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    190 views1 page

    Actinomycetes

    Uploaded by

    Michael Agbaoye
    Actinomycetes are a heterogeneous group of filamentous bacteria that form branching hyphae similar to fungi. They have thin hyphae containing coiled DNA and a cell wall containing amino acids and amino sugars. Actinomycetes include the Actinomyces, found normally in the human mouth and gut but can cause infections if spread from there, and Nocardia, found in soil that can cause lung infections similar to tuberculosis. The streptomycetes are also actinomycetes found in soil important for plant decomposition, and are known for producing many antibiotics like streptomycin.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    Actinomycetes

    A heterogeneous collection of bacteria that form branching filaments. The actinomycetes


    encompass two different groups of filamentous bacteria: the actinomycetes per se and the
    nocardia/streptomycete complex. Historically, the actinomycetes were called the ray
    fungi and were thought to be related to the true fungi, such as bread molds, because they
    formed mats (mycelia) of branching filaments (hyphae). However, unlike the true fungi,
    the actinomycetes have thin hyphae (0.5–1.5 micrometers in diameter) with genetic
    material coiled inside as free DNA. The cell wall of the hyphae is made up of a cross-
    linked polymer containing short chains of amino acids and long chains of amino sugars.
    In general, actinomycetes do not have membrane-bound cell organelles. Actinomycetes
    are susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics that are used to treat bacterial diseases, such
    as penicillin and tetracycline. See also Amino sugar; Antibiotic.

    Members of the genus Actinomyces are most often found in the mouth and
    gastrointestinal tract of humans and other animals. Actinomyces do not require oxygen for
    growth and are sometimes referred to as anaerobic bacteria. It is actually the requirement
    for elevated levels of carbon dioxide rather than the negative effect of oxygen that
    characterizes Actinomyces. When displaced from their normal sites within the mouth or
    gastrointestinal tract, Actinomyces may cause diseases in humans, such as lung abscesses,
    appendicitis, and lumpy jaw, which is also seen in cattle. Serious ulcers of the cornea of
    the eye have been caused by contact lens contaminated with saliva containing
    Actinomyces.

    The nocardia/streptomycete complex constitutes a continuous spectrum of organisms


    from those most like true bacteria to those that are superficially most like fungi. The
    nocardiae represent the transition, having members that resemble the bacteria that cause
    diphtheria (Corynebacterium) and tuberculosis (Mycobacterium). Members of the genus
    Nocardia require oxygen for growth, are found in soil and water, and have the ability to
    use a wide range of organic material as a source of energy. A few species of Nocardia
    cause disease in humans. Nocardiae inhaled from the soil may cause a disease of the
    lungs similar to tuberculosis. A few species produce clinically useful antibiotics. The
    streptomycetes have long branching filaments and two types of mycelia. The cell walls
    are typical bacterial cell walls and do not contain the fatty acids found in nocardiae and
    mycobacteria. Streptomycetes require oxygen for growth, are found in soil and water, and
    have the ability to utilize a wide range of organic materials as nutrients. The
    streptomycetes are particularly important in degradation of dead plant materials in soil;
    the aroma of fresh soil and newly dug potatoes is actually due to streptomycetes.
    Streptomycetes do not produce disease in humans or animals and are best known for
    producing many clinically useful antibiotics, including streptomycin, tetracycline, and
    cephalosporin. There are many other genera of actinomycetes, defined on the bases of
    morphology, chemical composition of cell walls, or unique roles in nature. See also
    Bacteria; Diphtheria; Medical bacteriology; Soil microbiology; Tuberculosis.

    You might also like