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A glycocalyx is a network of polysaccharides that project from cellular surfaces, e.g. those of bacteria. It serves to protect the bacterium or allows the bacterium to attach itself to inert surfaces (like teeth or rocks), eukaryotes (e.g. streptococcus pneumoniae attaches itself to lung cells), or other bacteria (their glycocalyxes can fuse to envelop the colony). Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Glycocalix is the envelope of the surface of an animal cell membrane. ... Polysaccharides (sometimes called glycans) are relatively complex carbohydrates. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... Kingdoms Eukaryotes are organisms with complex cells, in which the genetic material is organized into membrane-bound nuclei. ...

Its presence on inert materials (such as metal hardware implanted for fracture fixation or total joint replacement) make it difficult to eradicate deep infections as the bacteria will 'cling' on to the material via the glycocalyx. It is therefore often necessary to completely remove the hardware device in order to fully eradicate a wound infection.

The glycocalyx can be found just outside the cell wall of a bacterium. A distinct, gelatinous glycocalyx is called a capsule, while an irregular, diffuse layer is called a slime layer. Glycocalyx can help protect bacteria from phagocytes. It also helps in the formation of biofilms such as a coating on inert surfaces such as teeth or rocks. The word capsule (from the Latin capsula, a small box), has many similar meanings in English: In botany, a capsule is a type of dry fruit as in the poppy, iris, foxglove, etc. ... A phagocyte is a cell that ingests and destroys foreign matter such as microorganisms or debris via a process known as phagocytosis, in which these cells ingest and kill offending cells by a process analogous to cellular digestion, usually using lysosomes which carry potent enzymes that digests cell components such... Longest raised mat area is about half a meter long. ...

The glycocalyx is also the name given to a specific structure of a mature platelet. The glycocalyx is unique among the cellular components of the blood. It is similar to the bacterial glycocalyx above in that it is made up of glycoproteins and allows the platelet to adhere to surfaces such as collagen of damaged vessels. The glycocalyx appears as a fluffy coat to the outer membrane of platelets and contains many of the receptor proteins that allow adhesion. A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... A glycoprotein is a macromolecule composed of a protein and a carbohydrate (a sugar). ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Tropocollagen triple helix. ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Dew drops adhering to a spider web Water droplets adhering on a hibiscus petal Adhesion is the molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. ...

The glycocalyx is chemically unique in everyone but identical twins, and acts like an identification tag that enables the body to distinguish its own healthy cells from transplanted tissues, invading organisms and diseased cells. Human blood types and transfusion compatibility are determined by glycoproteins. A glycoprotein is a macromolecule composed of a protein and a carbohydrate (a sugar). ...

Functions

Drawing of a cell membrane A component of every biological cell, the cell membrane (or plasma membrane) is a thin and structured bilayer of phospholipid and protein molecules that envelopes the cell. ... The immune system is the system of specialized cells and organs that protect an organism from outside biological influences. ... In biology and ecology, an organism (in Greek organon = instrument) is a living complex adaptive system of organs that influence each other in such a way that they function as a more or less stable whole. ... The immune system is the system of specialized cells and organs that protect an organism from outside biological influences. ... Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. ... An organ transplant is the transplantation of an organ (or part of one) from one body to another, for the purpose of replacing the recipients damaged or failing organ with a working one from the donor. ... The signifier sperm can refer to: (mass noun, from Greek sperma = seed) a substance which consists of spermatozoa and which is a component of semen (mass noun) semen itself (informally, count noun with plural sperm or sperms) a single spermatozoon (= sperm cell) sperma ceti (Latin ceti, genitive of cetus = whale...

External links

• 23:Glycocalyx official website of the dancefloor metal pioneers. (see also)