What Are Microbes?

By: Cristina Lopez

Is this a microbe?

Microbe • A microbe is any living thing that spends its life at a

size visible sometimes only with a microscope. It is too tiny to be seen with the naked eye. Microbes are the oldest form of life on Earth. Some types have existed for billions of years. They may live as individuals or cluster together in communities. Microbes live in the water you drink, the food you eat, and the air you breathe. Right now, billions of microbes are swimming in your belly and mouth, and crawling on your skin! Don't worry, over 95% of microbes are good for you. Microbes include bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa. These single-cell organisms are invisible to the eye, but they can be seen with microscopes.

Using the definitionWhat is a Microbe?

Where do Microbes live?

GOOD or BAD Microbes?• Bacillus thuringiensis - a common soil bacterium that is a natural

pest-killer in gardens and on crops. Arbuscular mycorrhizas - fungus living in the soil that helps crops take up nutrients from the soil. Saccharomyces cerevisiae - baker's yeast that makes bread rise. Escherichia coli - one of many kinds of microbes that live in your digestive system to help you digest your food every day. Streptomyces - bacteria in soil that makes an antibiotic used to treat infections. Pseudomonas putida - one of many microbes that clean wastes from sewage water at water treatment plants. Lactobacillus acidophilus - one of the bacteria that turn milk into yogurt.

Can Cause trep throat, chickenpox and the common cold.

BAD Microbes

Bacteria Colds

Prevention Cause

Not Washing your hands

Going to the bathroom

Washing your hands

Not drinking after someone

Lactic acid bacteria

Yogurt

Milk

Cheese

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast

Bread beer

Wine

Microorganisms and the Production of Food for Humans

Interesting factoid about micro organisms

• One cannot catch cold at the North Pole in winter. Neither can one contract the flu, nor most of the ailments transmitted viruses and germs. The winter temperature is so low in this part of the world that none of the standard disease causing Micro-organisms can survive.

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