Andrea Schweim M ICRO O RGANISMS

W HAT ARE MICROBES ?  Microbes are single-cell organisms so tiny that millions can fit into the eye of a needle.  Without microbes, we couldn’t eat or breathe.  They are so small that we only can see them with a microscope.  They can be bacteria, viruses, and fungi such as molds and yeasts. A NDREA S CHWEIM 2

W HERE DO MICROBES LIVE IN OUR BODIES ?  Microbes [my-crobes] are everywhere. There are more of them on a person's hand than there are people on the entire planet!  Microbes are in the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the food we eat—they're even inside us!  On the skin - especially the moist areas, such as the groin and between the toes  respiratory tract - particularly the nose  urinary tract  digestive tract - primarily the mouth and the colon A NDREA S CHWEIM 3

POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MICROORGANISMS  We couldn't digest food without them—animals couldn't, either.  Without microbes, plants couldn't grow.  Without microbes, garbage wouldn't decay.  There would be a lot less oxygen to breathe.  Microorganisms help with preserving food. A NDREA S CHWEIM 4

N EGATIVE E FFECTS OF M ICROORGANISMS Where do food poisoning microbes come from? Soils and manure Untreated water Skin, fur, hair, feathers, bowels, mucus and blood of animals, humans, birds and insects. How do microbes get into the kitchen? On raw meats On unwashed fruits and vegetables On people’s bodies, boxes and clothing On unwashed hands On animals and insects. How do “bad” microbes get in your body? Sneezing and coughing Not washing hands Sticking things in the mouth Rubbing eyes Sharing drink and food A NDREA S CHWEIM 5 Microbes found on a cutting board

M ICROBES MAKE F OOD A NDREA S CHWEIM 6 Microbes make food yogurtbread Soy sauce wine

F UN F ACTS  Microbes outnumber all other species and make up most living matter.  Microbes generate at least half the oxygen we breathe.  Most microbes do not cause disease.  Microbes thrive in an amazing diversity of habitats in extremes of heat, cold, radiation, pressure, salinity, acidity, and darkness, and often where no other life form could exist and where nutrients come only from inorganic matter. A NDREA S CHWEIM 7

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