Scientific name (binomial nomenclature): is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages. The first part of the name identifies the genus to which the species belongs; the second part identifies the species within the genus. For example, humans belong to the genus Homo and within this genus to the species Homo sapiens.
Bacteria shape: Most bacteria are 0.2 um in diameter and 2-8 um in length. The three basic bacterial shapes are coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-shaped), and spiral (twisted). Cocci may be oval, elongated, or flattened on one side. Bacillus is a shape (rod shaped). Spiral bacteria have one or more twists.
Specialized structures:
Flagella are whip-like structures protruding from the bacterial cell wall and are responsible for bacterial motility (i.e. movement).
Pili are involved in the process of bacterial conjugation where they are called conjugation pili or "sex pili". Type IV pili (non-sex pili) also aid bacteria in gripping surfaces.
Capsules are structures that help protect bacteria from phagocytosis (being devoured by cells of the immune system).
Airborne Diseases: Airborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microbes small enough to be discharged from an infected person via coughing, sneezing, laughing and close personal contact or aerosolization of the microbe. The discharged microbes remain suspended in the air on dust particles, respiratory and water droplets. Illness is caused when the microbe is inhaled or contacts mucus membranes or when secretions remaining on a surface are touched.
Contact Diseases: Contact Diseases are transmitted when an infected person has direct bodily contact with an uninfected person and the microbe is passed from one to the other. Contact diseases can also be spread by indirect contact with an infected person’s environment or personal items.
Symptom: a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality.
Microbial toxins: toxins produced by micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi. Microbial toxins promote infection and disease by directly damaging host tissues and by disabling the immune system.
Antibiotic resistance: a form of drug resistance whereby some (or, less commonly, all) sub-populations of a microorganism, usually a bacterial species, are able to survive after exposure to one or more antibiotics.
Beneficial bacteria: Harmless and beneficial bacteria far outnumber harmful varieties. Thousands of bacterial species live commensally in humans, and many provide health benefits to humans. Because they are capable of producing so many enzymes necessary for the building up and breaking down of organic compounds, bacteria are employed extensively by humans.
Bacteria in industry: Bacteria are used in industry in a number of ways that generally exploit their natural metabolic capabilities. They are used in manufacture of foods and production of antibiotics, probiotics, drugs, vaccines, starter cultures, insecticides, enzymes, fuels and solvents.
Probiotic: micro-organisms that some have claimed provide health benefits when consumed.
Bacteria shape: Most bacteria are 0.2 um in diameter and 2-8 um in length. The three basic bacterial shapes are coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-shaped), and spiral (twisted). Cocci may be oval, elongated, or flattened on one side. Bacillus is a shape (rod shaped). Spiral bacteria have one or more twists.
Specialized structures:
Flagella are whip-like structures protruding from the bacterial cell wall and are responsible for bacterial motility (i.e. movement).
Pili are involved in the process of bacterial conjugation where they are called conjugation pili or "sex pili". Type IV pili (non-sex pili) also aid bacteria in gripping surfaces.
Capsules are structures that help protect bacteria from phagocytosis (being devoured by cells of the immune system).
Airborne Diseases: Airborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microbes small enough to be discharged from an infected person via coughing, sneezing, laughing and close personal contact or aerosolization of the microbe. The discharged microbes remain suspended in the air on dust particles, respiratory and water droplets. Illness is caused when the microbe is inhaled or contacts mucus membranes or when secretions remaining on a surface are touched.
Contact Diseases: Contact Diseases are transmitted when an infected person has direct bodily contact with an uninfected person and the microbe is passed from one to the other. Contact diseases can also be spread by indirect contact with an infected person’s environment or personal items.
Symptom: a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality.
Microbial toxins: toxins produced by micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi. Microbial toxins promote infection and disease by directly damaging host tissues and by disabling the immune system.
Antibiotic resistance: a form of drug resistance whereby some (or, less commonly, all) sub-populations of a microorganism, usually a bacterial species, are able to survive after exposure to one or more antibiotics.
Beneficial bacteria: Harmless and beneficial bacteria far outnumber harmful varieties. Thousands of bacterial species live commensally in humans, and many provide health benefits to humans. Because they are capable of producing so many enzymes necessary for the building up and breaking down of organic compounds, bacteria are employed extensively by humans.
Bacteria in industry: Bacteria are used in industry in a number of ways that generally exploit their natural metabolic capabilities. They are used in manufacture of foods and production of antibiotics, probiotics, drugs, vaccines, starter cultures, insecticides, enzymes, fuels and solvents.
Probiotic: micro-organisms that some have claimed provide health benefits when consumed.