consider these prokaryotic organisms to be disease
causing parasites. While it is true that bacteria are
responsible for a large number of human diseases,
they also make it possible for certain elements such
as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen to be returned to the
atmosphere.
Life as we know it would not exist without bacteria to
decompose waste and dead organisms. These
bacteria ensure that the cycle of chemical exchange
between organisms and their environment is
continuous.
The decision as to whether bacteria are friend or foe
becomes more difficult when both the positive and
negative aspects of the relationship between
humans and bacteria are considered. Let's discuss
three types of symbiotic relationships:
commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.
Commensalism is a relationship that is beneficial to
the bacteria which live off of the host, but does not
help or harm the host. Most of the bacteria that
reside within the bodies of humans are
commensalistic.
In a mutualistic relationship, both the bacteria
and the host benefit. For example, there are several
kinds of bacteria which live inside the mouth, nose,
throat, and intestines of humans and animals. These
bacteria receive a place to live and feed while
keeping other harmful microbes from taking up
residence.
A parasitic relationship is one in which the
bacteria benefit while the host is harmed. Pathogenic
parasites, which cause disease, do so by resisting the
host's defenses and growing at the expense of the
host. These bacteria produce poisonous substances
called endotoxins and exotoxins which are
responsible for the symptoms that occur with an
illness.
When all of the facts are considered, bacteria are
more helpful than harmful. Humans have exploited
bacteria for a wide variety of uses, such as: making
cheese and butter, decomposing waste in sewage
plants, and developing antibiotics. Bacteria have
been able to survive without us, but we could never
live without them.
Follow On Twitter: @microbophiles
#Microbophiles
0 comments:
Post a Comment