I. Introduction: Prokaryotic Uniqueness and Diversity

II. Cell Envelope Macromolecules

• A. Peptidoglycan: structure and biosynthesis
• B. Lipopolysaccharides
• C. Lipooligosaccharides
• D. Capsular polysaccharides

III. Cell Division

• A. Cell polarity
• B. Chromosome partitioning (MukB myosin)
• C. Fts proteins and septum formation
• D. Programmed cell death

IV. Protein Secretion

• A. Type I (ABC; MFP; OMF)
• B. Type II (Sec vs SRP & FtsY)
• C. Type III (Hrp and pathogenesis)
• D. Type IV (conjugation)

V. Bacterial Sex

• A. Plasmid control
• B. Pheromone signaling
• C. Cell adhesion
• D. DNA transfer

VI. Intercellular Communication

• A. Chemotaxis
• B. Homoserine lactone signaling in Gram-negative bacteria
• C. Peptide pheromone signaling in Gram-positive bacteria
• D. Clonal development and pattern formation

VII. Energetics and Transport

• A. Outer membrane porins
• B. TonB-dependent energy transduction
• C. Bacterial electron transfer
• D. Na+ circuits

VIII. Energetics and Light

• A. Bacteriorhodopsin
• B. Light harvesting complexes
• C. Reaction centers
• D. Bacterial photosynthesis

IX. Symbiosis and Parasitism

• A. Bioluminescence and fish light organs
• B. Nitrogen fixation and plant nodulation
• C. Bacterial parasitism (Bdellovibrio)
• D. Master-slave relationships (Agrobacterium)

X. Biological Warfare, Pathogenesis and Bacterial Toxins

• A. Colicins
• B. Pathogenic strategies
• C. a-hemolysins and aerolysins
• D. B. thuringiensis insect toxins

XI. Practical Uses of Bacteria

• A. Antibiotic production
• B. Bioremediation
• C. Cellulose degradation (cellulosomes)
• D. Proteasomes (ClpP & ATP-dependent proteolysis)

XII. Bacterial Differentiation

• A. Bacillus
• B. Streptomyces
• C. Myxobacteria
• D. Cyanobacteria

XIII. Overview, Conclusions and Perspectives