Bacteria and Germs In Our Environment

What are bacteria and germs? Ubiquitous-They are everywhere. Ubiquitous-They are everywhere. Reproduce very quickly Reproduce very quickly –Fastest is approximately 15 min/generation –Evolve very fast Antibiotic resistance Antibiotic resistance

Anti-biotics Bacteria cells multiply rapidly Bacteria cells multiply rapidly They grow immunity to anti-biotics They grow immunity to anti-biotics –Weak bacteria die –Strong bacteria survive and multiply If the medicine isn’t finished the bacteria cells will be able to ignore the medicine you take If the medicine isn’t finished the bacteria cells will be able to ignore the medicine you take –Very bad – anti-biotic resistance Anti-biotic soaps Anti-biotic soaps –Not good to use all the time due to anti-biotic resistance

Different kinds of bacteria and germs Important ecological roles. Important ecological roles. –Decomposers – heterotrophic (can’t make own food) bacteria –Symbionts – live with or in other organisms Intestinal “flora” – help us digest our food Intestinal “flora” – help us digest our food –Pathogens – microbes that cause disease Botulism – improperly canned foods Botulism – improperly canned foods E. coli – improperly cooked beef E. coli – improperly cooked beef Salmonella – improperly cooked chicken Salmonella – improperly cooked chicken

Bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa Consider organisms in the photograph to the left. These are bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human pathogen that is a particular problem in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. A thousand of the these would fit on the period at the end of this sentence.

A white blood cell engulfing disease-causing bacteria

Bacillus Bacterium

Anthrax Bacteria

E. coli

Salmonella