What are actinomycetes? Is it bacteria? If not, then what s the difference between it and bacteria?

Actinomycetes are a large group of prokaryotes that fall somewhere between filamentous fungi and bacteria. It gets its name because of the radial nature of its growth. Actinomycetes are widely distributed in nature, especially in soil.

Most of the antimicrobials widely used in medicine, agriculture and industry are the fermentation products of actinomycetes. - Aquatic Microbiology

ActinomyceteA group of prokaryotes. Most have well-developed branched hyphae. The hyphae are slender, nearly as wide as rod-shaped bacteria, about microns.

It can be divided into: vegetative hyphae, also known as matrix hyphae, whose main function is to absorb nutrients, and some can produce different pigments, which is an important basis for the identification of strains; Aerial hyphae, superimposed on vegetative hyphae, are also known as secondary hyphae. Spore filaments that produce spores are differentiated on aerial hyphae, and the shape and arrangement of spore filaments vary from species to species.

Mature spore filaments produce clusters of conidia. The surface structure, shape and color of the spores are relatively stable under certain conditions, which is an important basis for the identification of strains. It reproduces in the form of asexual spores and thallus breaks.

The vast majority are heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. Some species can decompose complex organic matter such as cellulose at high temperatures. It is widely distributed in nature, and the vast majority of them are saprophytic and a few are parasitic.

A wide variety of antibiotics are produced, and it is estimated that 2 3 of the more than 4000 antibiotics that have been discovered are produced by actinomycetes. It has a very close relationship with human beings. The important genera are:

Streptomyces spp., Small Monospora spp., Nocardia spp., etc.

Actinomycetes are a type of bacteria.

Actinomycetes are a group of gram-positive bacteria with a high (g+c)mol% content (>55%). Actinomycetes get their name from the fact that the colonies are actinomycetes. It is a group of prokaryotes that is widely distributed in nature and reproduces mainly by spores, followed by break-reproduction.

Like general bacteria, most of them are saprophytic and a few are parasitic.

Actinomycetes are widely distributed in nature, mainly in the form of spores or hyphae in soil, air and water, especially in low water content, rich in organic matter, neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Actinomycetes are only a morphological classification and belong to the phylum Actinomycetes in the bacterial kingdom. The earthy smell peculiar to the soil is mainly caused by the metabolites of actinomycetes.

Classification status

Actinomycetes morphologically differentiate into hyphae and spores and are similar to fungi in culture characteristics. However, the results of modern molecular biology have shown that actinomycetes belong to a class of bacteria with branched mycelium, and the Gram stain is positive.

The main basis is as follows:

Prokaryotic microorganisms: nucleus without nuclear membrane, nucleolus and true chromosomes; Lack of organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm; Ribosomes for 70s;

The cell structure and chemical composition are similar: the cell has a cell wall, the main component is peptidoglycan, and contains DPA; The diameter of actinomycete hyphae is basically the same as that of bacteria;

The pH range of the optimal growth is basically the same as that of bacteria, and it is generally slightly alkaline;

are susceptible to lysozyme and antibiotics, but not to antifungal drugs;

The mode of reproduction is asexual reproduction, and the genetic characteristics are similar to those of bacteria.

Actinomycetes are only a morphological classification, and actinomycetes belong to the phylum Actinomycetes in the bacterial kingdom.

Actinomycetes are prokaryotic organisms.

The middle class can form branched hyphae.

and a special group of conidia, which grow in the form of hyphae, mainly reproduce by spores, and get their name because the colonies are radial.

The main difference between it and ordinary bacteria is morphology.

Actinomycete cells are similar in structure to bacteria in that they both have a cell wall.

Basic structures such as cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleoid, etc.

Like general bacteria, most of them are saprophytic and a few are parasitic.

Actinomycets is a class of microorganisms between bacteria and fungi, mostly saprophytes, which are very widely distributed in nature, mainly in soil, air and water.

Actinomycetes have a cell wall that is similar in chemical composition to bacteria and does not have a nuclear membrane. The thallus is filamentous and similar to a fungus, and the thickness of the hyphae is similar to that of the common bacillus, generally no more than 1 m in diameter. The hyphae branch and can be broken into rods.

Actinomycetes are a class of prokaryotes, Gram-positive, similar in cell structure and chemical composition: cells have a cell wall, the main component is peptidoglycan, and they are sensitive to antibiotics, and these characteristics are the same or similar to bacteria, so actinomycetes are also classified in the bacterial kingdom.

However, actinomycetes are similar to fungi in culture characteristics, can form mycohye and conidia, grow in the form of hyphae, mainly reproduce with spores, and the hyphae are divided into intrabasal hyphae (vegetative hyphae) and aerial hyphae, on which the spore-forming hyphae can be differentiated, which are similar to fungi and have obvious differences from bacteria.

Therefore, actinomycetes are divided into a separate phylum in the bacterial kingdom, called the bacterial kingdom and actinomycetes.

Actinomycetes are sometimes referred to as "filamentous bacteria".

Schematic diagram of the structure and morphology of actinomycetes.

Actinomycetes belong to the category of bacteria.

But they're only the size of a virus.

It belongs to the lowest level of prokaryotes.