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Chapter 4: Microbial Diversity, Part 1: Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes
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Chapter 4
Microbial Diversity
Part 1: Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes
Primary Objectives of the Chapter
Chapter 4 introduces students to acellular microbes (viruses, viroids, and prions) and procaryotic
microbes (bacteria and archaea). Photosynthetic bacteria and unique bacteria (e.g., rickettsias,
chlamydias, mycoplasmas, and especially large and especially small bacteria) are discussed in
this chapter. The information in Chapter 4 is considered essential in an introductory
microbiology course.
Recommended Reading
The following titles are available from the American Society for Microbiology
(http://www.asmpress.org):

Archea: Molecular and Cellular Biology. R. Cavicchioli. ISBN: 978-1-55581-391-8.
ASM Press, 2007.

Phages: Their Role in Bacterial Pathogenesis and Biotechnology. M.K. Waldor, et al.
ISBN: 978-1-55581-307-9. ASM Press, 2005.

Viruses and the Evolution of Life. L.P. Villarreal. ISBN: 978-1-55581-309-3. ASM Press,
2005.
Suggested Laboratory Exercises
1. Instructors could show videos or DVDs pertaining to any of the following topics: viruses,
viroids, prions, the Kingdom Procaryotae, the Domains Bacteria and Archaea, staining
procedures.
2. Students could examine bacterial colonies both macroscopically and by using a dissecting
microscope. Instructor could discuss colony morphology of bacteria (overall appearance,
elevation, margin, color, odor).
3. Students could make hanging-drop preparations of motile bacteria and observe motility.
4. Students could examine a Gram-stained mixture of Gram-positive cocci and yeasts, noting
differences in size and shape.
Chapter 4: Microbial Diversity, Part 1: Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes
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5. Students could prepare, fix, and Gram stain a smear of material collected by sterile swab from
their own oral cavity. They could draw or describe the morphology of the bacteria and epithelial
cells that they observe.
6. Students could prepare, fix, and Gram stain smears prepared from colonies of Gram-positive
cocci and Gram-negative bacilli.
7. Students could stain smears of spore-forming bacteria, using an endospore stain.
8. Students could perform a capsule-staining procedure, or observe prepared microscope slides of
encapsulated bacteria.
9. Students could examine prepared microscope slides depicting various shapes of bacteria and
various types of staining procedures. Prepared microscope slides can be obtained from various
biological supply companies, including Carolina (http://www.carolina.com) and Ward’s
(http://wardsci.com).
10. Laboratory Exercises entitled “Differential Stains” and “Bacterial ID” are available at
http://scienceprofonline.googlepages.com/virtualmicrobiologyclasslaboratory.
11. Check for applicable laboratory activity kits at the Carolina and Ward’s web sites.
12. Appropriate laboratory exercises are described in the various microbiology laboratory
manuals available from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com).
Applicable Audiovisual Aids
1. The following A-V materials are available from Films for the Humanities & Sciences
(http://www.films.com):
 “Alien Underworld: The Search for the Smallest Living Organism” (DVD; ISBN 978-14213-1902-5)
 “Bacteria” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-0410-2)
 “Bacterialand” (DVD; ISBN 978-1-4213-8995-0)
 “Danger: Virus!” (DVD; ISBN 978-1-4213-9025-3)
 “Humans and Bacteria” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-7954-4)
 “Microbe Invasion” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-8096-0)
 “Microorganisms” (DVD; ISBN 978-1-4213-1422-8)
 “The Age of Viruses” (DVD; ISBN 978-1-4213-4960-2)
 “The Emerging Viruses” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-7929-2)
 “Understanding Bacteria” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-4977-6)
 “Viruses” (DVD; ISBN 978-0-7365-7961-2)
Chapter 4: Microbial Diversity, Part 1: Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes
2. The following materials are available from Insight Media (http://www.insight-media.com):
 “Beating Bacteria: E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella” (DVD; BAP3417)
 “Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, and the Prokaryotic Domains” (DVD; BAP2781)
 “Humans and Bacteria” (DVD; BAP3117)
 “Understanding Viruses” (DVD; BAP3068)
3. Additional applicable A-V materials are available from Carolina and Ward’s.
Answers to the Chapter 4 Self-Assessment Exercises in the Text
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Answers to the Additional Chapter 4 Self-Assessment Exercises on
the Student CD-ROM
Matching Questions
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Chapter 4: Microbial Diversity, Part 1: Acellular and Procaryotic Microbes
True/False Questions
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True
False (They contain either DNA or RNA.)
False (Archaeon cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan.)
False (Temperate bacteriophages cause lysogeny.)
False (Yes they can.)
False (Viroids and prions are infectious agents that are smaller than viruses.)
True
False (Prions are infectious proteins; viroids are infectious RNA molecules.)
True
True
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