Capsule

There are innumerable living organisms within every living organism, some of them being single-celled organisms. Like every human and animal, which are multicellular organisms, single-celled organisms also need protection. The bacteria is such an organism that requires protection for survival as it will not be able to survive on any surface or environment given its fragile build. The capsule layer lies around the outermost layer of bacteria and protects it from foreign elements that might cause harm to the bacteria. The uses of the capsule will be discussed further. 

Capsule in Biology and its Uses 

The capsule layer is found in several types of bacteria and is called a bacterial capsule, and its uses are several. The capsule necessitates the secretion of some substance around the bacteria that protects it from being ingested by white blood cells called phagocytosis. In anatomical terms, the capsule is a layer that surrounds a bone at the joints and incorporates tendons to provide stability and ease the pressure that the joints are subjected to. 

Mechanism of the Capsule and its meaning 

The capsule around the bacteria is a polysaccharide layer that prevents the bacteria from getting washed off or getting attacked by other cells, such as phagocytosis, which eventually causes many kinds of diseases to the host as it is difficult to be killed by the immune system because of the slime layer around it. The majority of bacterial capsules are made of polysaccharides, a form of simple sugar. At the same time, the rest of the bacteria species have D-glutamic acid as its components, such as the Bacillus Anthracis, a Gram-positive bacteria that causes diseases mostly in animals and humans, the latter being a little uncommon. The outermost layer of the extracellular polysaccharides can enclose many bacteria within it. It has several functions, one of which is it splits the sucrose, i.e., the sugar present in food and uses a molecule of the sugar to build a capsule around it, while the several bacteria within it use the rest of the sugar to be used as energy and produce lactic acid which erodes the enamel of the tooth as a result. 

Other bacteria, such as the Zoogloea genus, produce a type of cellulose fibre that helps it stay afloat on liquid substances to stay exposed to air, which is important for the survival of this type of bacteria. Like the unique characteristic of the Zoogloea genus, many other bacteria have special abilities that help them glide through any surface, such as solid surfaces and liquid mediums. 

In Gram-negative bacteria, the capsule is formed on the lipopolysaccharide, unlike the gram-positive bacteria wherein the capsule is formed outside the cell and is the first to interact with the host in terms of location by being exposed to the environment and thus, is critical for evading defence reactions from the host. 

How It Works

When the secretion of the capsule gets dispersed into its surrounding area, it is called a slime layer and often, together with the capsule, is termed glycocalyx as it also forms a separate layer around the outermost membrane of a bacteria. Still, the difference between capsule and glycocalyx is the capsule is tightly attached to the outermost layer while the glycocalyx is comparatively looser. One of the purposes of this lipid layer is that it helps distinguish between its cell and other cells and invading cells or organisms and acts as adhesion between similar cells. 

Let us study the uses of capsules in a detailed manner

• A capsule is the outermost layer of a cell or an organ that prevents foreign elements from harming it and ensures its survival in different surfaces and environments. The capsule is the first to interact with the host’s outer environment. It plays an important part in evading the attack of the host’s defensive cells such as macrophages, eukaryotic cells, and viruses and preventing getting ingested. 
• The capsule secretes a viscous layer called the slime layer, a protective layer that forms around the cell. This slippery layer acts as a barrier between the cell and other destructive cells and defensive cells of the host that attack it to prevent diseases. Due to the slippery texture of the slime layer, it is believed that the attacking cells keep away from it. 
• Capsules are hydrophilic, and because of this, it helps the cell retain water and helps with dehydration by preventing water loss. Because of this characteristic, it also protects the bacteria from harsh substances such as detergents and soaps.  
• The slippery substance called the slime layer produced by the capsule helps the cell bind with a similar cell for embryonic development.
• It helps provide nutrition to the bacteria when the energy production is low. 

Conclusion

In biology, the meaning of capsule is defined as the outermost layer of an organ for protection, or in terms of microbiology, an outermost membrane of a bacteria that protects it from foreign elements. To summarise it all, we can say that a capsule is a protective layer that cocoons the cell or membrane and has several other uses. In the case of a bacterial capsule, it plays an important role in protecting the bacteria and helping it survive in harsh environments and protecting it from other invasive cells like viruses or other cells like eukaryotic cells and the defensive system of the host.