Are one-celled microscopic organisms

that rank among the most widespread of

living things. Some are small that a single
grain of soil may contain over 100 million
of them.

Most bacteria do not cause diseases.

In order to live, all bacteria must have a
food supply, as well as suitable
temperature, moisture, and darkness.
 Some bacteria digest non-living
food materials such as milk and meat.
These are called saprophytes.

If the food supply is a living plant or

animal, the microorganism is called a
parasite.
The plant or animal that the parasite
feeds on is called a host.
Toxin bacteria- produce a
certain food poison called
botulism. These bacteria live in
the soil. Once they enter the
body through a wound, they can
cause tetanus or lockjaw. Other
bacteria cause pneumonia.
 Resident bacteria- live in the human
mouth, intestines, and skin. These help protect
us from harmful bacteria. Lactobacilli, found
in the gastro-intestinal tract, produce lactic
acid from simple carbohydrates.

Coliform bacilli, found in the intestines,

helps break down carbohydrates and combat
disease-causing bacteria.

Resident bacteria cause infections when they

move from their original resident to another,
Example: when the bacteria in the mouth moved
to the ear, these cause ear infection.
Are organisms that are considered intermediate,
that is, somewhere between a virus and a
bacterium. Most of them grow in the intestinal
tracts of insects, which carry them to their human
hosts.

Rickettsia requires living cells in order to grow and

multiply. Blood sucking insects, such as lice, mites,
and ticks carry rickettsia to humans. Typhus fever,
a rocky mountain spotted fever, is a disease
caused by these organisms.
Are small, simple life-like forms from one-half
to 100 the size of a bacteria. These
organisms are the human body’s worst
enemies. All viruses are parasites. There are
viruses that invade animals and viruses that
attack specific types of cells.

Smallpox, chicken pox, shingles, and warts

are infections caused by viruses that attack
the skin tissues.
Are simple organisms that cannot make their own food. Many live
on dead animals, insects, and leaves. Fungi are therefore
saprophytes. They prefer dark and damp environments.

Two of the most common fungi are yeast and mushrooms.