TABLE 2-2.

Comparison of Bacteria and Fungi

Characteristics	Bacteria	Fungi
Cell volume (/µL)	0.6–5.0	Yeast: 20–50; molds: greater than yeast
Nucleus	No membrane	Membrane
Mitochondria	No	Yes
Endoplasmic reticulum	No	Yes
Sterol in cytoplasmic membrane	No (except for mycoplasma)	Yes
Cell wall components	Muramic acids and teichoic acids; no chitin, glucans or mannans	Chitin, glucans and mannans; no muramic acids or teichoic acids
Metabolism	Autotropic or heterotropic	Heterotropic
Sensitivity to polyenes	No	Yes

Adapted from Kobayashi G.S.: Fungi. In: Davis B.D., Dulbecco R., Elsen H.N., Ginsberg H.S., ed. Microbiology, 4th ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1990:737–765.