MICRO-ORGANISM

CLASSIFICATION

Classification in any field of science means

the orderly arrangement of units under
study into groups of larger units.
Micro-organisms can be classified in different
categories from different view points. The
early schemes based only on
morphological characteristics which are
followed by many even to day.
But as the science of microbiology
developed, other kinds of characteristics
also become increasing important for
classification.

CLASSIFICATION OF MICROBES
All living organisms are classified into one of the
five kingdoms of life.; Monera .
Protista.
Fungi .
Plantae .
Animal.

Micro organisms are a varied group of several distinct

classes of living beings classified the Kingdome of
protista.
Based on difference in cellular organization &
biochemistry, protista has been divided into two groups; Prokaryotes incipient nucleus & lack nuclear
membrane, nucleoplasm & nucleolus.
Eukaryotes posses a well developed nucleus with
nuclear membrane nucleoplasm & nucleolus.

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF BODY &

NUCLEAR ORGANIZATION
On the basis of their body organization micro organisms
can be categories;
Microbes beyond cellular organization.-such microbes
are completely lacking in any cell structure in their body
organization e.g. viruses.
Microbes with cellular organization.-such microbes have
their body made up of cells e.g. bacteria ,micro fungi.

ON THE BASIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Bacteria can be classified according to their morphological

characteristics like their size & structure; cell
arrangement; occurrence of special structures &
developmental forms; staining reaction & motility &
flagellar arrangement.
o According To Shape of Bacteria; Coccai oval shape or spherical shape.
Bacilli- rod shaped cells.
Virus- comma-shaped, curved rods.
spirilla- rigid spiral forms.
Spirochaetes- flexuous spiral forms.

According To Their Size;

HIGHER BACTERIA- they are branching filamentous
bacteria.
LOWER BACTERIA-they are single, small, prokaryotic.
o According To Their Flagella;
On the basis of arrangement & distribution of flagella,
bacteria can be grouped as;
Monotrichous-bacteria with single polar flagellum.
Amphitrichous-bacteria with single polar flagella or tuft
of flagella at both poles.
Lopotrichous-bacteria with tuft of flagella at one pole.
Peritrichous-bacteria with flagella distributed all round
the cell.
o

a. According to their staining reaction

There are two most widely used differential stain to
different bacteria or bacterial structures;
a) GRAM STAIN:I.
Gram positive bacteria; after a gram stain the bacteria
which appear violet are called gram positive
bacteria.e.g. stphylococcus aureus.
II. Gram negative bacteria; after a gram stain the bacteria
which appear pink or red are called gram negative
baceteria e.g.E.coli.

oACID FAST OR ZIEHL-NEELSEN STAIN

I.

II.

o.
.
.

acid fast organism; after the Z-N stain bacteria appesr

pink in color are called acid fast bacteria e.g.
mycobacterium group.
Non acid fast organisms; after the Z-N stain bacteria
which appear blue in color are called non acid fast
bacteria.
BASED ON BIOCHEMICAL REACTION
Aeriobic and facultative aerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria.

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF NUTRITIONAL

REQUIRMENT

On the basis of their mode of nutrition, micro-organisms

can be classified into four categories;
Photoautotrophs.-are those use light energy to
manufacture their food.
Chemoautotrophs.-are those use that use chemical energy
to manufacture their food.
Photoheterotrophs.-are those use light energy in
absorption their food from external environment.
Chemohetrotrophs.-are those use chemical energy in
absorption their food from external environment.

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF OXYGEN

REQUIRMENT

On the basis of oxygen requirement microbes can be

classified as under;
a. Obligate / true aerobes.-grow in the presence of oxygen
only.
b. Obligate/true anaerobes.-grow in the absence of
oxygen only.
c. Facultative aerobes.-grow even in absence of oxygen.
d. Facultative anaerobes.- grow even in presence of
oxygen.

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF TEMPERATURE

REQUIREMENT.