balloon bugs make your own balloon bacterium. what are bacteria? bacteria are living organisms. they...
TRANSCRIPT
Balloon Bugs
Make your own balloon bacterium
What are bacteria?
• Bacteria are living organisms.
• They are so small you need a microscope to see them.
• They come in different shapes and sizes.
• They can be found everywhere!
How big are bacteria?
• Bacteria are tiny! Millions can fit on a single pin head.
Images: Genome Research Limited
What shape are bacteria?
There are three main shapes of bacteria:
Spirals (Spirochetes
) e.g. Campylobacter
sp.
Rods (Bacilli)
e.g. Citrobacter sp.
Balls (Cocci)
e.g. Staphylococcus sp.
Images: Sharon Peacock, Oxford University; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU
How do bacteria move?
• Some bacteria have special structures that help them move. These are called flagella.
Images: David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU
flagella
flagellum
Some bacteria can make us feel ill
Campylobacter jejuni
Causes food poisoning
Salmonella Typhimuriu
m
Causes food poisoning
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
Causes a sore throat and
pneumonia Images: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NID; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU
Are there “good” bacteria?
• Not all bacteria are harmful. There are some bacteria that are used in producing cheese and yogurt. This is called Lactobacillus.
Images: Genome Research Limited
Can you make a balloon bacterium?
Choose from the three bacteria below
Campylobacter jejuni
Salmonella Typhimuriu
m
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
Images: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NID; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; B Wren, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine