BACTERIA
A) WHAT IS BACTERIA?
Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that are all around us. They come in many different types, with many different ways to be categorized. One common way is by their morphology or shape. The three basic shapes of bacteria are spherical, rod shaped and spiral. Spiral-shaped bacteria can further be categorized based on the amount of spiraling they show.
B) DIFFERENT KINDS OF BACTERIA AND THEIR GRAM-STAIN
BACILLUS
Gram-positive, rod-shaped (bacillus), bacteria and a member of the phylum Firmicutes. Bacillus species can be obligate aerobes (oxygen reliant), or facultative anaerobes (having the ability to be aerobic or anaerobic). They will test positive for the enzyme catalase when there has been oxygen used or present.
COCCI
Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) are a heterogeneous group of organisms defined by their morphological appearance and their inability to grow in the presence of oxygen; most clinical isolates are identified to species in the genus Peptostreptococcus.SPIRILLUM
Gram-negative bacteria (family Spirillaceae).There are two species, Spirillum volutans and Spirillum winogradskyi.The taxonomic position of Spirillum minus and Spirillum pulli is uncertain. Spirillum minus is associated with rat-bite fever, and Borrelia burgdorferi with Lyme disease
SPIROCHAETE
Spirochates (singular Spirochaete) are long helically coiled bacterium. They are not classified as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Spirochaetes are distinguished from other bacterial phyla by the location of their flagella, sometimes called axial filaments, which run lengthwise between the bacterial inner membrane and outer membrane in periplasmic space. These cause a twisting motion which allows the spirochaete to move about. When reproducing, a spirochaete will undergo asexual transverse binary fission.
VIBRIOS
Gram-negative bacteria possessing a curved rod shape (comma shape), several species of which can cause foodborne infection, usually associated with eating undercooked seafood. Typically found in saltwater, Vibrio spp. are facultative anaerobes that test positive for oxidase and do not form spores.
C) DISEASE CAUSED BY THESE BACTERIA
Cocci
These bacteria cause many different types of common diseases. Among the more common cocci are Staphylococcus aureus, which appears as a cluster of cocci. Staph aureus can often be found in the nose and on the skin without causing disease, but it is also responsible for causing conditions such as boils, pneumonia, meningitis and toxic shock syndrome. Streptococcus pyogenes occurs as a chain of cocci and causes diseases that originate in the throat or skin, including strep throat and scarlet fever. Neisseria meningitidis occurs in pairs of cocci. This bacteria causes bacterial meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, after entering the body through the nose or throat.
Bacillus
Escherichia coli is a rod-shaped bacteria that normally lives in your intestinal tract without causing disease. However, a few strains of E. coli do cause disease that's spread typically by eating or drinking contaminated food or water; a typical symptom is diarrhea. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, another rod-shaped bacterium, infects the respiratory tract and causes diphtheria. Diphtheria causes a thick coating on the back of the nose and throat, making it difficult to swallow or breathe, followed by swelling of the neck and potentially death. Bacillus anthracis is the bacteria that cause anthrax. This rod-shaped bacterium grows in long chains and can infect you through broken skin, ingestion or inhalation.
Vibrios
One such bacteria is Campylobacter jejuni, which causes diarrhea. Campylobacter jejuni is typically acquired in places where sanitation is poor or by eating raw or undercooked poultry. Helicobacter pylori is a similar-shaped bacteria found in your stomach. While some people infected with Helicobacter pylori have no symptoms, it is a common cause of stomach inflammation and ulcers.
Spirillum
Symptoms of spirillum bacteria include red or purple rash, muscle aches, chills, fever, and headache. In some cases swollen or painful joints can occur. Open sores where the bite occurred is inflamed and red in most cases. Blood antibody tests are used to diagnose the condition and spirillum bacteria is found in the skin, joint fluid, and in the lymph nodes. More serious complications from spirillum disease can occur and include inflamed tendons and partoid glands. The heart valves can become infected and absceses can occur in soft tissue or the brain. Endocarditis or an inflammation in the linings inside the heart chambers or valves is possible and can cause heart disease. Symptoms of these more serious conditions can also be seen in sings of fatigue, abnormal urine color, and swelling in the legs or feet.
Spirochaete
Two well-known spirochetes that cause disease in humans are Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi. Treponema pallidum causes the sexually transmitted disease syphilis. Infection typically begins as a single sore at the site of infection. Additional lesions or rashes can develop elsewhere on the body if left untreated. Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick and causes Lyme disease. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi causes a typical "bull's-eye" rash. If left untreated, it can affect your heart and nervous system and cause arthritis.
D) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRAM-POSITIVE AND GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA
GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA
Gram-positive bacteria are a class of bacteria that take up the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. The thick peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall that encases their cell membrane retains the stain, making definitive identification possible.
GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA
Gram-negative bacteria cannot retain the violet stain after the decolorization step; alcohol used in the decolorization process degrades the outer membrane of gram-negative cells making the cell wall more porous and incapable of retaining the crystal violet stain. Their peptidoglycan layer is much thinner and sandwiched between an inner cell membrane and a bacterial outer membrane, causing them to take up the counterstain (safranin or fuchsine) and appear red or pink.
WHAT I LEARNED...
I learned about Bacteria, it's structure and formation. I also learned about the different kinds of bacteria, the Bacillus, Coccus, Spirillim, Spirochaete, Vibrios and teir Gram-stain. Also the diseases can caused by the different kinds of bacteria. Also the difference between Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria.
WHAT I DID...
I search more information and findings about these bacteria through Internet and gain new knowledge and information.
I CAN APPLY MY LEARNING TO...
Be aware about the characteristics and risks that bacteria can cause. And also use this study as a guide in making Research/Investigatory Projects.
