Bacterial capsule
The bacterial capsule is a large structure common to many bacteria.[1] It is a polysaccharide layer that lies outside the cell envelope, and is thus deemed part of the outer envelope of a bacterial cell. It is a well-organized layer, not easily washed off, and it can be the cause of various diseases.[2][3]
The capsule—which can be found in both gram negative and gram-positive bacteria—is different from the second lipid membrane – bacterial outer membrane, which contains lipopolysaccharides and lipoproteins and is found only in gram-negative bacteria. When the amorphous viscid secretion (that makes up the capsule) diffuses into the surrounding medium and remains as a loose undemarcated secretion, it is known as a slime layer. Capsule and slime layer are sometimes summarized under the term glycocalyx.
- ^ Peterson JW (1996). Bacterial Pathogenesis. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. ISBN 9780963117212. PMID 21413346. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ Gao S, Lewis GD, Ashokkumar M, Hemar Y (January 2014). "Inactivation of microorganisms by low-frequency high-power ultrasound: 1. Effect of growth phase and capsule properties of the bacteria". Ultrasonics Sonochemistry. 21 (1): 446–53. Bibcode:2014UltS...21..446G. doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2013.06.006. PMID 23835398. S2CID 24149924.
- ^ Hathaway LJ, Grandgirard D, Valente LG, Täuber MG, Leib SL (March 2016). "Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule determines disease severity in experimental pneumococcal meningitis". Open Biology. 6 (3): 150269. doi:10.1098/rsob.150269. PMC 4821241. PMID 27009189.