What drew me towards becoming a microbiologist was the world of the unseen organisms. There are millions and billions of these microscopic organisms about and within us. For a common man, there might not be significantly distinction between bacteria vs virus. Bacteria are unicellular microorganism that come in diverse shapes. There are distinct kinds of bacteria, beneficial bacteria as well as pathogenic bacteria. The advantageous bacteria to humans is valuable in numerous approaches. They help in fermentation of food and drinks, producing antibiotics, killing pests, even digestion of food. The pathogenic bacteria however are the main reason for diseases caused by bacteria. To be able to differentiate between the useful and dangerous bacteria, scientists have come up with a scientific classification of bacteria. Inside the following paragraph, we shall see the biological classification of bacteria flowchart, which will aid you learn all about the various bacteria.
Classification of Bacteria of Medical Importance
The classification of bacteria assists in identification of organisms according to groups. These groups include organisms that share frequent characteristics and traits from other organism in a different group. The classification of bacteria of medical significance has been carried out based on the ‘Gram reaction’ all these years. Gram reaction is actually a medical staining test that is named after Christian Gram who came up using the procedure in 1884. He discovered out that the organisms have the capability to retain the crystal violet iodine complex soon after treating them with organic solvents like alcohol and acetone.
The organisms that are gram positive retain the stain color and look purple or blue black under bright field microbiology. Those that can not retain the dye complex, have to be stained having a counter stain like carbol fuchsin and are called Gram-negative bacteria. Along with the Gram reaction, scientists also use the shape of bacteria to classify them. You will find distinct varieties of bacteria shapes like: cocci (round), bacilli (stick or rod shaped), or spiral shaped. The following table covers the biological classification of bacteria based on their shape.
Scientific Classification of Bacteria Based on Bergy’s Manual
The Bergy’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology is like the Holy Testament for us microbiologist. This manual may be the guiding light for microbiologist to identify bacterial species and understanding their characteristics. This manual for 1st published by David Hendricks Bergy in 1923 and helped in classification of bacteria based on their structure and functional characteristics. The following table contains the classification of bacteria by shape and function according to the Bergy’s Manual.
Kingdom Procaryotae
Division II -BacteriaMedically Important Bacterial GroupClassification of Bacteria by Shape and FunctionPart 1 Phototrophic bacteria These are aquatic bacteria that will generate carbohydrates from CO2 with the aid of photosynthetic pigments.Component two Gliding bacteriaThese are rods that could move by gliding in a layer of slime. These bacteria have many form complex fruiting bodies.Component 3 Sheathed bacteriaThese are rods that are surrounded by a sheath of iron or manganese oxides. Some of these rods have flagella for movement.Part 4 Budding and/or appendaged bacteriaThis is diverse group of rods that may reproduce by forming buds or appendages. It is possible to read about how do bacteria reproduce find out about their propagation.Part five SpirochetesThese are slender, helically-coiled bacteria that move by rotation or flexion of the cell.Component 6 Spiral and curved bacteriaThese are helically-curved rods that can move with a cork-screw-like motion.Part 7 Gram-negative aerobic rods and cocciThese are rods and spheres which are aerobic Gram negative bacteria.Component 8 Gram-negative facultatively anaerobic rods These are rods which are Gram negative and can survive in the absence of oxygenPart 9 Gram-negative anaerobic rodsThese are rods which can be strictly anaerobic Gram-negative organisms.Part 10 Gram-negative cocci and – coccobacilli These are spheres that are Gram negative bacteria.Part 11 Gram-negative anaerobic cocciThese are spheres that are strictly anaerobic Gram-negative organisms. Part 12Chemolithotrophic bacteria These bacteria use nitrogen, sulfur, and iron compounds for their energy and structural components.Part 13Methane-producing bacteria. These are rods and spheres that obtain energy from carbohy?drates forming methane as an end item.Part 14Gram-positive cocciThese are spheres facultative Gram positive organismsPart 15Endospore-forming rods and cocciThese are rods and spheres that may form endospores in the course of their life cycles.Component 16Gram-positive as porogenous rods??The rod shaped bacteria that do not form spores and that give a Gram positive porogenous rods.Component 17Actinomycetes and related organismsThis a extremely large group of aerobic and anaerobic rods.Component 18The rickettsiasThese are little rod-shaped bacteria which might be transmitted by arthropods. They can multiply only within a host cell that also includes chlamydiae.Part 19The mycoplasmasThese are quite tiny, multi-shaped bacteria that lack a a accurate cell wall
Classification of Bacteria Flowchart
The classification of bacteria is incomplete for a microbiologist till he/she cannot place each and every single bacteria in their specific groups. The following is actually a classification of bacteria flowchart that contains names of most of the bacterial species under the specific groups according to their Gram reaction and specific group.
Classification of Bacteria of Medical Significance that give Gram Positive Reaction
This classification was carried out in 1984 and places the cocci, endospore-forming and nonsporing rods, mycobacteria, nonfilamentous actinomycetes under this group.
Classification of Bacteria of Medical Significance that give Gram Negative Reaction
This classification was carried out in 1986 and placed spirochetes, spiral and curved, aerobic bacteria and facultatively aerobic rods, obligate anaerobic bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic cocci, sulfate and sulfur-reducing, rickettsias, clamydias, mycoplasmas in this group.
The Kingdome Procaryotae is divided into four divisions: Gracilicutes, Firmicutes, Tenericutes, Mendosicutes (Archeabacteria). It is possible to read about characteristics of archaebacteria in detail. Let us directly go into the classification of bacteria flow chart and enlist the various bacteria and their groups.
ActinomycetesNocardioform ActinomycetesActinobispora
Actinokineospora
Actinopolyspora
Amycolata
Amycolatopsis
Faenia(Micropolyspora)
Gordona
Intrasporangium
Jonesia
Kibdelosporangium
Nocardia
Nocardioides
Oerskovia
Promicromonospora
Pseudoamycolata
Pseudonocardia
Rhodococcus
Saccharomonospora
Saccharopolyspora
Terrabacter
TsukamurellaActinomycetes With Multilocar SporangiaDermatophilus
Frankia
GeodermatophilusActinoplanetesActinoplanes
Ampullariella
Catelbatospora
Dactylosporangium
Micromonospora
PilimeliaStreptomyces and Related GeneraIntrasporangium
Kineosporia
Sporichthya
Streptomyces
StreptoverticilliumMaduromycetesActinomadura
Microbispora
Microtetraspora
Planobispora
Planomonospora
Spirillospora
StreptosporangiumThermomonospora and Related GeneraActinosynnema
Nocardiopsis
Streptoalloteichus
ThermomonosporaThermoactinomycetesThermoactinomycesOther Actinomycete GeneraGlycomyces
Kibdelosporangium
Kitasatosporia
SaccarothrixArchaeobacteriaThe MethanogensCell Walls With PseudomureinMethanobacterialesMethanobacteriaceaeMethanobacterium
MethanobrevibacterMethanothermaceae MethanothermusCell Walls With out PseudomureinMethanococcalesMethanococcaceaeMethanococcusMethanosarcinaceaeMethanolacinia
Methanococcoides
Methanolobus
MethanothrixMethanomicrobialesMethanomicrobiaceaeMethanomicrobium
Methanogenium
MethanospirillumMethanoplanaceaeMethanoplanusOther GeneraMethanocorpusculum
Methanoculleus
Methanohalobium
Methanohalophilus
Methanosarcina
MethanosphaeraArchaeal Sulfate ReducersArchaeoglobalesArchaeoglobaceaeArchaeoglobusExtremely Halophilic, Aerobic ArchaeobacteriaHalobacterialesHalobacteriaceaeHaloarcula
Halobacterium
Halococcus
Haloferax
Natronobacterium
NatronococcusCell Wall-Less ArchaeobacteriaThermoplasmaExtremely Thermophilic and Hyperthermophilic So – MetabolizersCocci, Optimum Growth Below pH4Desulfurolobus MetallosphaeraSulfolobalesSulfolobaceaeAcidianus
SulfolobusRods That Use H2 as Energy SourcePyrobaculumThermoprotealesThermoproteaceae Thermofilum
ThermoproteusCocci or Disc-Shaped That Oxidize H2SHyperthermus
Staphylothermus
ThermodiscusDesulfurococcaceaeDesulfurococcus
PyrodictiumThermococcalesThermococcaceaeThermococcus
PyrococcusSpirochetesSpirochaetalesSpirochaetaceaeBorrelia
Cristispira
Spirochaeta
TreponemaLeptospiraceaeLeptospiraOther: Hindgut Spirochetes of Termites and Cryptocercus punctulatus (wood-eating cockroach)Gram Positive CocciAerobic, Catalase-Positive GeneraDeinobacter
Deinococcus
Marinococcus
Micrococcus
Planococcus
Saccharococcus
Staphylococcus
StomatococcusAerotolerant, Catalase-Negative GeneraAerococcus Enterococcus
Gemella
Lactococcus
Leuconostoc
Melissococcus
Pediococcus
Streptococcus (Pyogenic Hemolytic Streptococci, Oral Streptococci,Enterococci, Lactic Acid Streptococci, Anaerobic Streptococci)
Trichococcus
VagococcusAnaerobic, Catalase-Negative GeneraCoprococcus
Peptococcus
Peptostreptococcus
Ruminococcus
SarcinaEndospore-Forming Gram-Positive Rods and CocciAmphibacillus
Bacillus
Clostridium
Desulfotomaculum (also dissimilatory sulfate reducer)
Sporolactobacillus
Sporosarcina
Sulfidobacillus
SyntrophosporaRegular, Nonsporing Gram-Positive RodsBrochothrix
Carnobacterium
Caryophanon
Erysipelothrix
Kurthia
Lactobacillus
Listeria
RenibacteriumIrregular, Nonsporing Gram-Positive RodsAcetobacterium
Acetogenium
Actinomyces
Aeromicrobium
Agromyces
Arachnia
Arcanobacterium
Arthrobacter
Aureobacterium
Bifidobacterium
Brachybacterium
Brevibacterium
Butyrivibrio (has thin, gram-positive walls, but stains as negative)
Caseobacter
Cellulomonas
Clavibacter
Coriobacterium
Corynebacterium
Curtobacterium
Dermabacter
Eubacterium
Exigouibacterium
Falcivibrio
Gardnerella (has thin, gram-positive walls but stains as negative)
Jonesia
Lachnospira (has thin, gram-positive walls but stains as negative)
Microbacterium
Mobiluncus
Pimelobacter
Propionibacterium
Rarobacter
Rothia
Rubrobacter
Sphaerobacter
Terrabacter
ThermoanaerobacterAerobic/Microaerophilic, Motile, Helical/Vibrioid Gram-Negative BacteriaAlteromonas
Aquaspirillum
Azospirillum
Bdellovibrio
Campylobacter
Cellvibrio
Halovibrio
Helicobacter
Herbaspirillum
Marinomonas
Micavibrio
Oceanospirillum
Spirillum
Sporospirillum
VampirovibrioNonmotile (or rarely), Gram-Negative Curved BacteriaSpirosomaceae
Flectobacillus
Runella
Spirosoma
Other Genera
Ancyclobacter
Brachyarcus
Cyclobacterium
Meniscus
Microcyclus
PelosigmaGram-Negative Aerobic Rods and CocciPseudomonadaceaeFrateuria
Pseudomonas
Xanthomonas
ZoogleaAzotobacteriaceaeAzomonas
AzotobacterRhizobiaceaeAgrobacterium
Bradyrhizobium
Phyllobacterium
RhizobiumMethylococcaceaeMethylococcus
MethylomonasAcetobacteraceaeAcetobacter
GluconobacterHalobacteriaceaeHalobacterium
HalococcusLegionellaceaeLegionellaNeisseriaceaeAcinetobacterKingella
Moraxella
NeisseriaOther GeneraAcidiphilium
Acidomonas
Acidothermus
Afipia
Agromonas
Alcaligenes
Alteromonas
Aminobacter
Aquaspirillum
Azorhizobium
Beijerinckia
Bordetella
Brucella
Chromohalobacter
Chryseomonas
Comoamonas
Cupriavidas
Deleya
Derxia
Ensifer
Erythrobacter
Flavimonas
Flavobacterium
Francisella
Halomonas
Hydrogenophaga
Janthinobacterium
Lampropedia
Marinobacter
Marinomonas
Mesophilobacter
Methylobacillus
Methylobacterium
Methylophaga
Methylophilus
Methylovorus
Morococcus
Oceanospirillum
Oligella
Paracoccus
Phenylobacterium
Psychrobacter
Rhizobacter
Roseobacter
Rugamonas
Serpens
Sinorhizobium
Sphingobacterium
Thermoleophilum
Thermomicrobium
Thermus
Variovorax
Volcaniella
Weeksella
Xanthobacter
Xylella
Xylophilus
ZoogloeaFacultatively Anaerobic Gram-Negative RodsEnterobacteriaceaeArsenophonus
Budvicia
Buttiauxella
Cedecea
Citrobacter
Edwardsiella
Enterobacter
Erwinia
Escherichia
Ewingella
Hafnia
Klebsiella
Kluyvera
Leclercia
Leminorella
Moellerella
Morganella
Obesumbacterium
Pantoea
Pragia
Proteus
Providencia
Rahnella
Salmonella
Serratia
Shigella
Tatumella
Xenorhabdus
Yersinia
YokenellaVibrionaceaeAeromonas
Enhydrobacter
Photobacterium
Plesiomonas
VibrioPasturellaceaeActinobacillus
Haemophilus
PasteurellaOther GeneraCalymmatobacterium
Cardiobacterium
Cedecea
Eikenella
Gardnerella (has thin, gram-positive walls but stains as negative)
Kluyvera
Obesumbacterium
Rahnella
Streptobacillus
Tatumella
Xenorhabdus Chromobacterium
ZymomonasGram-Negative Anaerobic, Straight, Curved, and Helical RodsBacteroidaceaeAcetivibrio
Acetoanaerobium
Acetofilamentum
Acetogenium
Acetomicrobium
Acetothermus
Acidaminobacter
Anaerobiospirillum
Anaerorhabdus
Anaerovibrio
Bacteroides
Butyrivibrio (has thin, gram-positive walls but stains as negative)
Centipeda
Fervidobacterium
Fibrobacter
Fusobacterium
Haloanaerobium
Halobacteroides
Ilyobacter
Lachnospira (has thin, gram-positive walls but stains as negative)
Leptotrichia
Malonomonas
Megamonas
Mitsuokella
Oxalobacter
Pectinatus
Pelobacter
Porphyromonas
Prevotella
Propionigenium
Propionispira
Rikenella
Roseburia
Ruminobacter
Sebaldella
Selenomonas
Sporomusa
Succinimonas
Succinivibrio
Syntrophobacter
Syntrophosmonas
Thermobacteroides
Thermospipho
Thermotoga
Tissierella
Wolinella
ZymophilusDissimulatory Sulfate- or Sulfur-Reducing BacteriaDesulfobacter
Desulfobacterium
Desulfobulbus
Desulfococcus
Desulfomicrobium
Desulfomonas
Desulfomonile
Desulfonema
Desulfosarcina
Desulfotomaculum (also endospore-forming)
Desulfovibrio
Desulfurella
Desulfuromonas
ThermodesulfobacteriumAnaerobic
Gram-Negaitve CocciVeillonellaceaeAcidaminococcus
Megasphaera
Syntrophococcus VeillonellaRickettsias and ChlamydiasRickettsialesRickettsiaceaeCowdria
Coxiella
Ehrlichia
Neorickettsia
Rickettsia
Rickettsiella
Rochalimaea
WolbachiaBartonellaceaeBartonella
GrahamellaAnaplasmataceaeAegyptianella
Anaplasma
Eperythrozoon
HaemobartonellaChlamydialesChlamydiaceaeChlamydiaMycoplasmasMycoplasmataceaeMycoplasma
UreaplasmaAcholeplasmataceaeAcholeplasmaSpiroplasmataceaeSpiroplasmaOther GeneraAnaeroplasma
Asteroleplasma
ThermoplasmaEndosymbiontsEndosymbionts of ProtozoaCaedibacter
Holospora
Lyticum
Pseudocaedibacter
TectibacterEndosymbionts of Insects (blood sucking, plant sap-sucking, cellulose and stored grain feeders, and insects feeding on complex diets)BlattabacteriumEndosymbionts of Fungi and Invertebrates other than Arthropods (Fungi, Sponges, Coelenterates, Helminthes, Annelids, Marine worms and mollusks)
Endosymbionts of Protozoa, ciliates, flagellates, and amoebasCaedibacter
Holospora
Lyticum
Pseudocaedibacter
TectibacterMycobacteriaMycobacteriaceaeMycobacteriumNocardioformsIntrasporangium
Micropolyspora
Nocardia
Nocardioides
Oerskovia
Promicromonospora
Pseudonocardia
Rhodococcus
SaccharopolysporaAnoxygenic Phototrophic BacteriaAmoebobacter
Chromatium
Lamprobacter
Lamprocystis
Thiocapsa
Thiocystis
Thiodictyon
Thiopedia
ThiospirillumPurple Sulfur Bacteria: External Sulfur GranulesEctothiorhodospiraceaeEctothiorhodopsin
EctothiorhodospiraPurple Nonsulfur BacteriaRhodobacter
Rhodyclus
Rhodomicrobium
Rhodopila
Rhodopseudomonas
RhodospirillumGreen Nonsulfur BacteriaHeliobacillus
HeliobacteriumGreen Sulfur BacteriaAnacalochloris
Chlorobium
Chloroherpeton
Pelodictyon
ProsthecochlorisMulticellular Filamentous Green BacteriaChloroflexus
Chloronema
Heliothrix
OscillochlorisAnaerobic Chemotrophic BacteriaErythrobacterOxygenic Phototrophic BacteriaCyanobacteriaChroococcalesChamaespiphon
Cyanothece
Gloeobacter
Gloeocapsa
Gloethece
Microcystis
Myxobaktron
Synechococcus
SynechocystisPleurocapsalesChroococcidiopsis
Dermocarpa
Dermocarpella
Myxosarcina
Pleurocapsa
XenococcusOscillatorialesArthrospira
Crinalium
Lyngbya
Microcoleus
Oscillatoria
Pseudanabaena
Spirulina
Starria
TrichodesmiumNostocalesNostocaceaeAnabaena
Aphanizomenon
Cylindrospermum
Nodularia
NostocScytonemataceaeScytonemaRivulariaceaeCalothrixStigonematalesChlorogloeopsis
Fischerella
Geitleria
StigonemaProchloralesProchloraceaeProchloronProchlorothrixAerobic Chemolithotrophic Bacteria and Associated OrganismsNitrifying BacteriaNitrobacteraceae Nitrate-oxidizing bacteriaNitrobacter
Nitrococcus
Nitrospina
NitrospiraAmmonia-oxidizing bacteriaNitrosococcus
Nitrosolobus
Nitrosomonas
Nitrosospira
NitrosovibrioColorless sulfur-oxidizing bacteriaAcidiphilium
Macromonas
Thermothrix
Thiobacillus
Thiobacterium
Thiodendron
Thiomicrospira
Thiosphaera
Thiospira
ThiovulumObligate Chemolithotrophic Hydrogen BacteriaHydrogenobacterIron- and Manganese-oxidizing and/or -Depositing BacteriaSiderocapsaceaeAquaspirillum
Bilophococcus
Gallionella (both iron-oxidizing and appendaged)
Leptospirillum
Metallogenium
Naumaniella
Ochrobium
Siderocapsa
Siderococcus
SulfobacillusBudding and/or Appendaged BacteriaAppendaged Bacteria are indicatated by *Prosthecate BacteriaAncalomicrobium
Asticcacaulus*
Caulobacter*
Dichotomicrobium*
Filomicrobium*
Hirschia
Hyphomicrobium*
Hyphomonas*
Labrys
Pedomicrobium
Prosthecobacter*
Prosthecomicrobium
Stella
Verrucomicrobium*
PlanctomycetalesGemmata
PirelullaNon prosthecate Budding BacteriaAngulomicrobium
Blastobacter
Ensifer
Gemmiger
Isosphaera
PlanctomycesNonbudding BacteriaAsticcacaulis
Caulobacter
Gallionella
Nevskia
ProsthecobacterMorphologically Unusual Budding Bacteria (involved in iron and manganese deposition)Caulococcus
Kuznezovia
Metallogenium
Seliberia
ThiodendronSheathed BacteriaClonothrix
Crenothrix
Haliscominobacter
Leptothrix
Lieskeela
Phragmidiothrix
SphaerotilusNonphotosynthetic, Nonfruiting Gliding BacteriaSingle-celled, Rod-shaped Gliding BacteriaCytophagalesCytophagaceaeCapnocytophaga
Chitinophaga
Cytophaga
Flexibacter
Flexithrix
Microscilla
Sporocytophaga
ThermonemaLysobacteralesLysobacteriaceae LysobacterFlattened, Filamentous Gliding BacteriaSimonsiellaceaeAlysiella
SimonsiellaSulfur-Oxidizing Gliding BacteriaBeggiatoalesBeggiatoaceaeAchromatium
Beggiatoa
Thioploca
Thiospirillopsis
ThiothrixThe PelonemasPelonemataceaeAchroonemaDesmanthus
Pelonema
PeloplocaOther GeneraAgitococcus
Desulfonema
Herpetosiphon
Isosphaera
Leucothrix
Saprospira
Toxothrix
VitreoscillaGliding, Fruiting BacteriaArchangiaceaeArchangiumCystobacteraceaeCystobacter
Melittangium
StigmatellaMyxococcales MyxococcaceaeMyxococcusPolyangiaceaeChondromyces
Nannocystis
PolyangiumOther GeneraAngiococcus
Corallococcus
Haploangium
SorangiumThis was some details related to the biological classification of bacteria. You may find there are many reference journals at the same time as books which will supply you with further details related to scientific classification of bacteria. Hope the above paragraphs have helped solved some of your queries and doubts related to bacterial classification.