Bacteriaare single-celled prokaryote organisms, which means they comprise one single biological cell with no nucleus.
They exist in pairs, chains, or clusters.
There are roughly 30,000 different species of bacteria.
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Some can harm human health, while others can be helpful.
Those that are helpful maintain overall health in the body.
The most well-known good bacteria isfound within the gut.
Bacteria are classified into different groups depending on their shape.
There are five distinct bacterial shapes: spherical, rod, spiral, comma, and corkscrew.
This means they will seek the best environments and food sources to thrive.
Some species of bacteria help to maintain overall health, while others are harmful and can cause illness.
Helpful Bacteria
There are many helpful strains of bacteria.
Some help in human health, while others help to ensure the overall function of various ecosystems.
They are referred to as pathogenic because they cause disease or illness.
Some examples of pathogenic bacteria include:
How Do Harmful Bacteria Cause Damage?
What Does Bacterial Mean?
These infections can spread through the air, contaminated food or water, insect bites, and sexual activity.
The pop in of antibiotic used depends on the bacterium causing the infection.
There are various structures within a bacterial cell, all of which play a role in the cells survival.
They include:
Bacteria can feed and get what they need to survive in a few different ways.
These bacteria thrive in food, soil, or water.
Autotrophic bacteria create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
They prefer water habitats, such as lakes, rivers, or oceans.
They can also survive in soil.
When bacteria have glucose to use as energy, they can reproduce during a process known as binary fission.
Essentially, bacteria replicate themselves repeatedly to thrive.
The good bacteria help to keep the harmful bacteria from getting out of control.
That means ensuring that youre getting enoughfiber, which is what gut bacteria feed on, and other nutrients.
In mild cases of bacterial invasion, people can experience various illnesses.
Both harmful and helpful bacteria are classified mainly by their shape.
Other characteristics include their habitat and what they eat to survive.
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