It depends on what kind of bacteria.
Here's a link:
http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/path/00001438.htm
2007-02-25 13:16:54
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answer #1
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answered by LabGrrl 7
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Most bacteria have a cell wall, composed of peptidoglycan, a complex polysaccharide. Peptidoglycan is composed of two regularly alternating sugars, called N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM), which are structurally similiar to glucose. Nag and Nam are covalently linked in long chains in which NAG alternates with NAM. These chains are the glycan portion of peptidolgycan. Chains of NAG and NAM are attached to other chains by crossbridges of four amino acids (tetrapeptides). These crossbridges are the peptido portion of the peptidoglycan. Depending on the bacterium, these tetrapeptide bridges are either covalently bonded to one anoter or are held together by short connecting chains of amino acids. Peptidoglycan covers the entire surface of the cell wall.
The two basic types of bacterial cell walls are Gram Positve cell walls and Gram Negative cell walls, and bacterial cells are described as being either "Gram Positive" or "Gram Negative" depending on the kind of wall they have.
Gram positive cells have thick layers of peptigoglycan that also contain unique polysaccharide called teichoic acids. Teichoic acids are covalently linked to lipids, forming lipoteichoic acids that anchor the peptidoglycan to the cell membrane. Acid fast bacteria have waxy lipids in their cell wall.
Gram negative cells have thin layers of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharide, phospholipids, and proteins.
**During an infection with Gram Negative bacteria, Lipid A can accumulate in the blood, causing shock, fever, and blood clotting.
These bacteria reproduce asexually and live singly or in pairs, chains or clusters of almost every habitat containing sufficient moisture.
2007-02-25 21:28:35
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answer #2
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answered by Toothie 2
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