Diplococcus Arrangement Note cocci in pairs (arrows).

Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative cocci

Gastroenteritis is caused by a variety of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. In the USA, incidence rates for diarrhoea are 1-2.5 episodes per child per year, which annually leads to approximately 38 million cases, 2-3.7 million physician visits, 320,000 hospitalizations, and 325-425 deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 1 billion cases and at least 4 million deaths per year attributed to diarrheoa. Pathogenic food-borne microbes are isolated in only about 1 in 100,000 cases of gastroenteritis. Virus infections cause 30-40% of gastroenteritis cases in industrialized countries. Very few of the infectious agents responsible for these outbreaks are ever diagnosed. Estimated costs of food-borne diseases in the USA alone range from 4.8 to 23 billion US dollars per year. (Some of) the organisms responsible: Bacillus cereus:

Escherichia coli, faculative anaerobe (does not need Oxygen, but is not killed by its presence), a gram negative bacillus and yeast

Streptococcus pyogenes Note gram-positive (purple) cocci in chains (arrows).

Scanning Electron Micrograph of Streptococcus pneumoniae

- transmission electron micrograph of Streptococcus

Note cocci in squares of four (arrows). Tetrad Arrangement

Gram Stain of Staphylococcus aureus Note gram-positive (purple) cocci in clusters.

Staphylococcus aureus -Gram-positive coccus prokaryote (dividing); causes food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome and skin and wound infections, scarlet fever, and impetigo. Electron Micrograph of Staphylococcus aureus , a Staphylococcus

Single Rod (Bacillus)

Scanning Electron Micrograph of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Streptobacillus Arrangement Note bacilli in chains.

Spiral Forms

Spirillum Syphilis is caused by the bacteria T Spirillum Syphilis is caused by the bacteria T. pallidum, a spiral shaped organism

spirochete Lyme disease -is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick, and caused by the spirochete (spiral shaped bacteria) Borrelia burgdorferi.

CONJUGATION, the ability of bacterial cells to transfer DNA between cells that are in physical contact, as a form of DNA exchange

Binary Fission

Stonyfield FarmYogurt Six Live Active Cultures Probiotics--The proactive approach to good health. In addition to L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, Stonyfield Farm adds four more live active cultures to all our yogurts. Other major brands add only one or two more. These cultures, known as probiotics, are beneficial bacteria that naturally reside your in digestive tract and improve intestinal function, promote good digestive health, and lead your body's defenses against a number of ailments. Studies have shown that these probiotic cultures benefit your health in a variety of ways:

Enhancing digestion Improving nutrient absorption Fortifying the body's natural defenses Inhibiting disease-producing organisms Lactobacillus acidophilus L. acidophilus provides various health benefits in the gastrointestinal tract. Several studies indicate that L. acidophilus helps lower cholesterol by interfering with cholesterol re-absorption in the intestine. Bifidobacteria (Bifidus) Bifidus stimulates the immune system, helps prevent common digestive ailments and supports healthy growth and development of the digestive tract. Lactobacillus casei L. casei enhances positive bacterial balance in the intestine. It enhances the immune system by inhibiting growth of diarrhea-producing organisms, alleviates constipation, reduces hypertension, inhibits the growth of carcinogenic tumors, and suppresses disease-producing microorganisms. Lactobacillus reuteri Stonyfield Farm is the only U.S. yogurt brand to offer L. reuteri in its products. L. reuteri inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Listeria and the yeast Candida. It also has a prophylactic effect on both viral and bacterial diarrhea. Research shows that L. reuteri helps boost the body's immune system and enhances the body's resistance to gastrointestinal disease.

Legumes with nodules containing Rhizobium bacteria that provide nitrogen fixation