Protozoa vs Bacteria | Their Basic Differences in Detail

Protozoa vs Bacteria

Protozoa and bacteria are both unicellular organisms that live independently.

They share many similarities, such as food habits, reproduction, habitat, parasitic behavior, and the ability to cause diseases.

However, there are also significant differences between them, which justifies their distinct categorization.

20 Protozoa vs Bacteria Differences

Sl.NoFeatureProtozoaBacteria
1Both aerobic and anaerobic forms are present.

Most bacteria are Aerobic, but few anaerobic ones exist like the clostridium.
Protozoa are less than 50μm in size and relatively larger.

Smallest one range between 1 to 10 μm long. While the biggest has a size of 150 μm.
Comparatively, bacteria are smaller, around 0.5–5.0μm.

But rarely around 750μm to 20mm. (Ex; Thiomargarita Magnifica Bacteria)
2ShapesNon-shaped, slipper, oval, round-shaped.Spherical, filament, chain, corkscrew.
3Cell typeEukaryotic cell with a distinct nucleus.A prokaryotic cell without a nucleus.
4Cell wallLacks cell wall around the plasma membraneHas a thick cell wall as a protective cover around the plasma membrane
5Cell flexibilityThe cell shape is flexible.Cell shape is rigid and does not change except when it converts to a spore.
6MitochondriaMitochondria presentAbsent.
7Spore StageSpore formation is absentForms spore to tide over harsh conditions.
8ToxinsProtozoa do not produce toxins.Bacteria produce both endo and exotoxins to destroy other cells.
9MovementAll protozoans are movable. Pseudopodia, Cilia, or flagella are responsible for their movements.Many bacteria are motile but some are non-motile.
Motile bacteria can do so due to flagella.
10Climate requirementsThey are present in all habitats but are not tolerant of harsh conditions.They require normal conditions but can live in extreme cold, heat, and Acidic and alkaline pH.
11Respiration Only Aerobic forms are present.Protozoans rely on organic matter, while some, like euglena, opt for photosynthesis.
12Food habitsDrugs easily kill them and have less resistance.Bacteria are autotrophs, heterotrophs, chemotrophs, saprophytes, commensals, and parasites.
13ReproductionProtozoans reproduce asexually by binary fission and sexually by conjugationBacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission. But sexually
14Scientific ApplicationsProtozoa comparatively are less useful for scientific and technological benefits.Bacteria find wide usage and are explored for rDNA, biotechnology, and medical uses.
15Drug effectsThey are easily killed by drugs and have less resistance.Bacteria like tuberculosis and Pseudomonas are less affected by drugs. In general, bacteria can develop resistance to most antibiotics.
16Stress resistantResistantHighly resistant
(can tolerate heat, cold, drought, and other adverse conditions).
17Taxonomical positionAs per taxonomy, they are eukaryotes and hence are in higher order than bacteria.They are prokaryotes and are assigned the lowest position in the taxonomy chart.
18PredationProtozoa eat bacteriaBacteria try to resist protozoa predation.
19Disease ExamplesAmebiasis, Malaria.Syphilis, Tuberculosis.
20ExamplesAmeoba, Paramecium, EuglenaSalmonella, Pseudomonas, E-Coli.

The above points on bacteria vs. protozoa indicate the specific properties of bacteria, which make them more robust and omnipresent.

Mitochondria produce energy in the form of ATO through oxidative phosphorylation, while in bacteria, the inner cell membrane produces ATP as it has protein complexes.

The protons are pumped into the space between the cell membrane and cell wall, where they are used by ATP synthase to produce ATP.

Spore formation

Bacteria transform into spores when conditions are unfavorable and emerge from the spore when conditions are favorable.

Therefore, spores are protective stages of bacteria and are difficult to destroy.

Climate requirements

Bacteria can survive in severely cold and hot conditions, unlike protozoa. For example, the bacterium Thermus aquaticus can grow at a temperature of 70-75℃.

In contrast, Planococcus halocryophilus bacteria live at temperatures of -15℃.

Food habits

From the above, it appears that their food habits are similar, like being either autotrophs or heterotrophs. But, some bacteria are also chemotrophs, meaning they derive energy by oxidation of inorganic materials like iron, sulfur, or magnesium.

Their reproduction is also similar as they both have binary fission for asexual reproduction and conjugation for sexual reproduction. But bacteria show more options like transduction and transformations.

For human use, bacteria are used for biotechnology, fermentation, and in the food industry. But, protozoa find less use comparatively.

As prokaryotic cells, the DNA and RNA synthesis also varies slightly in bacteria, making them an easy target for antibiotics.

References

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0122270703015506
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/ismej20138
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/srep12837
  • https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/amebiasis/general-info.html
  • https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/default.htm

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