Classification of bacteria
July 29, 2017 Gaurab Karki
Classification of bacteria
A. on the basis of mode of nutrition
B. on the basis of optimum temperature requirement for growth
C. on the basis of optimal pH for growth
D. on the basis of salt concentration
E. on the basis of gaseous requirement
F. on the basis of morphology
G. on the basis of gram staining
H. on the basis of flagella
I. on the basis of spore
A] Classification of bacteria on the basis of mode of nutrition
1. Phototrops:
Those bacteria which gain energy from light
Phototrops are further divided into two groups on the basis of source of electron.
Photolithotrops: these bacteria gain energy from light and uses reduced inorganic compounds such as
H2S as electron source. Eg. Chromatium okenii
Photoorganotrops: these bacteria gain energy from light and uses organic compounds such as succinate
as electron source.
2. Chemotrops:
Those bacteria gain energy from chemical compounds
They cannot carry out photosynthesis
Chemotrops are further divided into two groups on the basis of source of electron.
Chemolithotrops: they gain energy from oxidation of chemical compound and reduces inorganic
compounds such as NH3 as electron source. Eg. Nitrosomonas
Chemoorganotrops: they gain energy from chemical compounds and uses organic compound such as
glucose and amino acids as source of electron. eg. Pseudomonas pseudoflava
3. Autotrops:
Those bacteria which uses carbondioxide as sole source of carbon to prepare its own food.
Autotrops are divide into two types on the basis of energy utilized to assimilate carbondioxide. Ie.
Photoautotrops and chemoautotrops
Photoautotrops: they utilized light to assimilate CO2. They are further divided into two group on the
basis of electron sources. Ie. Photolithotropic autotrops and Photoorganotropic autotrops
Chemoautotrops: they utilize chemical energy for assimilation of CO2
4. Heterotrops:
Those bacteria which uses organic compound as carbon source
They lack the ability to fix CO2
Most of the human pathogenic bacteria are heterotropic in nature
Some heterotrops are simple, because they have simple nutritional requirement. However there are
some bacteria that require special nutrients for their growth; known as fastidious heterotrops.
B] Classification of bacteria on the basis of optimum temperature of growth
1. Psychrophiles:
Bacteria that can grow at 0°C or below but the optimum temperature of growth is 15 °C or below and
maximum temperature is 20°C are called psychrophiles
Psychrophiles have polyunsaturated fattyacids in their cell membrane which gives fluid nature to the cell
membrane even at lower temperature.
Examples: Vibrio psychroerythrus, vibrio marinus, Polaromonas vaculata, Psychroflexus
2. Psychrotrops (facultative psychrophiles):
Those bacteria that can grow even at 0°C but optimum temperature for growth is (20-30)°C
3. Mesophiles:
Those bacteria that can grow best between (25-40)C but optimum temperature for growth is 37C
Most of the human pathogens are mesophilic in nature
Examples: E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Staphulococci
4. Thermophiles:
Those bacteria that can best grow above 45C.
Thermophiles capable of growing in mesophilic range are called facultative thermophiles.
True thermophiles are called as Stenothermophiles, they are obligate thermophiles,
Thermophils contains saturated fattyacids in their cell membrane so their cell membrane does not
become too fluid even at higher temperature.
Examples: Streptococcus thermophiles, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Thermus aquaticus,
5. Hypethermophiles:
Those bacteria that have optimum temperature of growth above 80C.
Mostly Archeobacteria are hyperthermophiles.
Monolayer cell membrane of Archeobacteria is more resistant to heat and they adopt to grow in higher
remperature.
Examples: Thermodesulfobacterium, Aquifex, Pyrolobus fumari, Thermotoga
C] Classification of bacteria on the basis of optimum pH of growth
1. Acidophiles:
Those bacteria that grow best at acidic pH
The cytoplasm of these bacteria are acidic in nature.
Some acidopiles