Bacteria categories and classification

Bacteria categories and classification

1. Order of indentification: Category - Group - Genus - Species - Var. (variant)

2. Morphology

   • Cocci - (micro)coccus, diplococcus, staphylococcus, and streptococcus
   • Rods - bacillus, diplobacillu, streptobacilli, pallisades, coccobacillus
   • Others: vibrio (comma shaped), spirilla (spirals), spirochaetes (coiled).

3. Biotyping

   • Serotyping. Uses antibodies specific to the bacteria. Causes slide agglutination. Used for subspecies identification.
   • Phage typing. Uses the specificity of bacteriophages for bacteria.

4. Categories of bacteria

   • Category 1 - gram -ve eubacteria with cell walls. Divides into 16 groups.
   • Category 2 - gram +ve eubacteria with cell walls. Subdivides into 16 groups.
   • Category 3. - eubacteria without cell walls. "Fried egg" appearance on growth media.
   • Category 4. Archaebacteria.