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Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Gram Positivebacilli
Description
L. acidophilus is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium found in the human gut and vaginal tract. It is a probiotic that helps maintain healthy gut flora, aids in digestion, and may help prevent infections.
Membrane Composition
Key Properties
Peptidoglycan:20-35 nm (thick)
Lipopolysaccharide:Absent
Teichoic Acid:Present
Outer Membrane:Absent
Membrane Components
- •Plasma membrane
- •Thick peptidoglycan layer
- •Teichoic acids
- •Surface proteins
Understanding Gram Classification
Gram-positive bacteria retain the crystal violet stain due to their thick peptidoglycan layer (20-80 nm). This thick layer traps the dye-iodine complex during the gram staining process.
The cell wall structure consists of a cytoplasmic membrane surrounded by a thick peptidoglycan layer containing teichoic acids. There is no outer membrane, making the cell wall more permeable to certain antibiotics like penicillin.