The Good, the Bad, and the The Good, the Bad, and the UGLYUGLY

Helpful and Harmful BacteriaHelpful and Harmful Bacteria

Harmful Bacteria • some bacteria cause diseases

•Animals can pass diseases to humans

Communicable Disease – Disease passed from one organism to another

This can happen in several ways:•Air•Touching clothing, food, silverware, or toothbrush•Drinking water or eating food that contains bacteria

Streptococcus pyogenesStreptococcus pyogenes

MeningitisMeningitis

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• Infection of the spinal fluid and membranes surrounding the brain.

• Initially caused by Haemophilus influenzae B. Now, however, with the advent of the HiB vaccinne, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis cause most cases of Meningitis.

•Transmitted via direct contact with respiratory secretions of infected individuals.

•Symptoms include fever, headache, and stiff neck.

Escherichia ColiEscherichia Coli

Normally lives in your Normally lives in your intestines and helps you to intestines and helps you to digest the food you eat.digest the food you eat.

The “bad” E. coli are certain The “bad” E. coli are certain strains of bacteria that travel strains of bacteria that travel from the intestines into the from the intestines into the blood of organisms.blood of organisms.

Symptoms of Symptoms of E. coliE. coli infection infection include fever, vomiting, include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping.diarrhea, and cramping.

www.astrographics.com/cgi-bin/ase/ase.cgi?aff...

Propionibacterium acnes Propionibacterium acnes Present on most people’s Present on most people’s

skin and lives off of fatty skin and lives off of fatty acids in the sebaceous acids in the sebaceous glands.glands.

When a pore is blocked When a pore is blocked this anaerobic bacteria this anaerobic bacteria overgrows and secretes overgrows and secretes chemicals that break chemicals that break down the wall of the pore, down the wall of the pore, spilling bacteria such as spilling bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureus into the skin, and forming into the skin, and forming an acne lesion (folliculitis) an acne lesion (folliculitis)

SyphilisSyphilis

Sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria Sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria Treponema pallidumTreponema pallidum. Several levels of infection (primary, . Several levels of infection (primary, secondary, latent, tertiary). secondary, latent, tertiary).

Symptoms include a sore (chancre), rash, damage to vital Symptoms include a sore (chancre), rash, damage to vital organs, paralysis, dementia, blindness etc. organs, paralysis, dementia, blindness etc.

Can be treated with antibioticsCan be treated with antibiotics

www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgId=719...

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Human tooth with accumulation of bacterial plaque (smooth areas) and calcified tartar (rough areas).

Harmful Bacteria

Bacteria that cause cavities use the sugar present on the tooth’s surface for energy. In turn, the bacteria secretes acid that erodes the surface of the tooth.

Helpful Bacteria•Decomposers help recycle nutrients into the

soil for other organisms to grow

•Bacteria grow in the stomach of a cow to break down grass and hay

•Most are used to make antibiotics

•Streptomycin, bacitracin, tetracycline, and vancomycin

•Some bacteria help make chocolate and vitamins

•Used to break down the covering of cocoa beans during production of cocoa

•Used to make industrial chemicals

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E.coli on small intestines

Helpful Bacteria

•Used to treat sewage          

Organic waste is consumed by the bacteria, used as nutrients by the bacteria, and is no longer present to produce odors, sludge, pollution, or unsightly mess.

•foods like yogurt, cottage & Swiss cheese, sour cream, buttermilk are made from bacteria that grows in milk giving them taste and texture

Helpful Bacteria

Controlling Bacteria3 ways to control

bacteria:1) Canning- the process of sealing food in airtight cans or jars after killing bacteria

•endospores are killed during this process

2) Pasteurization- process of heating milk to kill harmful bacteria

3) Dehydration- removing water from food•Bacteria can’t grow when H2O is

removed •example: uncooked noodles & cold cereal

Controlling BacteriaAntiseptic vs. Disinfectants

Antiseptic- chemicals that kill bacteria on living things

•means – “against infection”

Examples: iodine, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, soap, mouthwash

Disinfectants- stronger chemicals that destroy bacteria on objects or nonliving things

The Bad Side of AntibioticsThe Bad Side of Antibiotics

Most do not know the Most do not know the difference between good difference between good and bad bacteria.and bad bacteria.

Non-discriminating action Non-discriminating action of antibiotics leads to a of antibiotics leads to a significant lowering of the significant lowering of the natural, good bacteria in natural, good bacteria in the human body. Can the human body. Can result in other health result in other health complications.complications.

What doesn’t kill them…..What doesn’t kill them…..

Antibiotic resistance – bacteria are not killed Antibiotic resistance – bacteria are not killed when exposed to antibiotics.when exposed to antibiotics. BIG problemBIG problem Improper use and abuse of antibiotics Improper use and abuse of antibiotics

Antibiotics should only be prescribed (when Antibiotics should only be prescribed (when needed) for bacterial infections, not viral needed) for bacterial infections, not viral infections.infections.

Video clip of antibiotic resistance evolving: Video clip of antibiotic resistance evolving: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.html