Can bacteria be our friends?

Vocabulary/new concepts:

Number of beneficial bacteria (in CFU) – CFU (colony-forming unit). A unit used in microbiology to estimate the number of viable bacteria. Viability is defined as the ability to multiply by binary fission under controlled conditions.

Symbiosis – cohabitation of two or more organisms in which they may have unilateral or mutual benefit.

What do we know about bacteria? What is their impact on us and the environment?

Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms made up of prokaryotic cells. These are cells that have no nucleus where genetic information is stored. Bacteria are very diverse in form and not every type of bacteria has all the characteristics.

Source: https://bg.khanacademy.org/science/biology/structure-of-a-cell/prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells/a/prokaryotic-cells 

Bacteria are everywhere – in the soil, in the air, in living organisms, in decaying matter from dead plants and animals, and even in geysers where the temperature is about 93ᵒC.

The photo below is of a geyser with bacteria in Yellowstone Park, USA. The colours are due to different types of bacteria that live in the boiling water. The bright blue spot in the middle is water too hot for the bacteria.

 Source: https://bg.izzi.digital/DOS/35866/35935.html

Without bacteria, life on Earth would not be possible. They break down organic matter into inorganic matter and return it to the soil and water. In this way, they enrich the soil with mineral substances necessary for plants.

We often associate bacteria with negative connotations. The term “bacteria” is commonly linked to microbes, and many people believe they have a detrimental impact by causing various diseases and infections. Consequently, we frequently combat them using a range of antimicrobial products such as soaps, wipes, and disinfectants. However, many of the bacteria inhabiting our bodies are not harmful; in fact, they play a crucial role in supporting various bodily processes. The human gut, for instance, is home to billions of bacteria that form a protective barrier within our digestive system. While there are both beneficial and harmful organisms among them, maintaining a delicate balance is essential for these microorganisms to fulfil their protective function, which is fundamental to our overall health.

Mankind has developed a wide range of antibiotics, which are drugs designed to kill disease-causing bacteria. In our attempts to move away from disease-causing agents, we forget that we are also moving away from the beneficial organisms with which our bodies are in contact. Bacteria are not only a necessary part of our existence, but many of them are beneficial to our health.