Microbes: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Rachel Jones

Kailey Haydon

Period 2

THE GOOD

-Decomposition

     Bacteria from probiotics break down matter for digestion

-Gene therapy

-Food production-yeast, cheese, yogurt

-Fights bad bacteria

-Allows vaccination (with help from like the cow pox virus)

-Helps protect us from the inside

-Antibiotics

     Fungi is used in antibiotics which can help treat bacterial infections

-Help keep environment

     Bacteria is used to help clean oil spills

-Boost immune system

     They bind to cells to help divide and reproduce

-Detoxify

THE BAD

-Stomach ulcers

-Pat o’ gens

-Cold sores, warts, measles, a cold, and the flu

     Viruses that are contagious and antibiotics don’t help

-Fungus mushrooms

     Damages skin-itchy and scaly

-Infestation-parasites

-Damages organs

-mutate readily

-E-Coli from undercooked meat

-spoils food and water

-Salmonella and constipation

THE UGLY

BLACK DEATH

The plague disease is commonly found in populations of fleas carried by ground rodents, including marmots. The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people. An analysis of DNA from victims indicates that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia pestis bacterium, probably causing several forms of plague. The most commonly noted symptom was the appearance of blisters called buboes in the groin, the neck and armpits, which oozed pus and bled when opened.

MILDEW

There are many different kinds of mildew to reference. What gardeners often refer to as mildew is more precisely powdery mildew. It is caused by many different species of fungi. Another plant-associated type of mildew is downy mildew, caused by fungus-like organisms in the family Peronosporaceae. They are a particular problem with potato, grape, and tomato farmers.

LEPROSY

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to as long as 20 years.  Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain and thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries. Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present. The two main types of disease are based on the number of bacteria present: paucibacillary and multibacillary. The two types are differentiated by the number of poorly pigmented, numb skin patches present. The diagnosis is confirmed by finding acid-fast bacilli in a biopsy of the skin or from detecting the DNA by polymerase chain reaction. It occurs more commonly among those living in poverty and is believed to be transmitted by respiratory droplets.