3.2  Cells and their relationship to pathogens

Parasites, protists, fungi and bacteria are composed of cells – the basic unit from which the bodies of living organisms are constructed. Parasites and other animals (including humans) and plants are multicellular, i.e. their bodies consist of many cells. Pathogenic protists and bacteria are single-celled organisms. Fungi can exist in single-celled and multicellular forms, and some fungal cells can merge to form long filaments.

Bacterial cells are different in several respects from the cells of all other organisms. Figure 1a is a highly simplified diagram of an animal cell and Figure 1b represents a typical bacterium.

Figure 1  Simplified diagrams of (a) an animal cell; (b) a bacterium (not drawn to scale – a typical animal cell is about 10 times larger on average than a typical bacterium).

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Part (a) is a simplified 3D diagram of an animal cell. The cell is bounded by a thin, flexible cell membrane. Inside is the nucleus, which is also membrane-bound and contains the DNA. Also present are membrane-bound components called organelles, and many tiny structures called ribosomes. The fluid interior of the cell is called the cytosol. The ribosomes are either free in the cytosol or attached to the outside of membranous sacs. Part (b) is a simplified 3D diagram of a bacterium. A thick cell wall surrounds the cell membrane. There is no nucleus nor are there any interior membranes; the ‘naked’ DNA and all the ribosomes are free in the cytosol.

Figure 1  Simplified diagrams of (a) an animal cell; (b) a bacterium (not drawn to scale – a typical animal cell is about 10 times larger...

There are many similarities between animal and bacterial cells: for example, they both have a cell membrane, a complex structure that controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell. Around 70% of the internal contents of both cell types is a watery fluid called cytosol [sigh-toh-soll], in which many chemical reactions take place.

The cytosol of animal, plant, protist and fungal cells contains many different structures, collectively called organelles [or-gan-ellz]. The largest single organelle is the nucleus [nyook-lee-uss] enclosing the genetic material (DNA) that governs the functioning of the cell.

Next, we briefly explain how all living organisms, including bacteria, are distinguished from each other by unique scientific names.