Bacteria,

Viruses
&
Fungi
Science
By: Maya Ribeiro

Form 1S

Bacteria
1

Bacteria are single-celled micro-organisms that live on, in, and around most
living and nonliving things.
Bacteria can infect your body and destroy your cells. However, some bacteria are useful to us.

Bacteria can be used to make food like cheese and yoghurt

Bacteria can be used to make medicines.

Bacteria help us to digest our food.

Types of bacteria
Bacteria are identified using a method called Gram staining, whereby a stain is used to
differentiate different types of organisms. Bacteria with and without a cell wall are classified as
Gram-positive or Gram-negative, respectively.

1.

Coccus

Coccus Bacteria can cause impetigo (skin infection), scalded skin

syndrome and food poisoning, tonsillitis and strep throat.

2.

Bacillus

E. coli and Salmonella are the most commonly encountered

species of bacillus bacteria. This bacterium is responsible for
food poisoning, typhoid fever, lung disease anthrax, gangrene
and tetanus.

3.

Rickettsia
Rickettsia Bacteria is spread through the bite of infected fleas, ticks
and lice, which are known as vectors, or carriers. Rickettsia is
responsible for typhus, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever and
Rickettsialpox, a body rash.

4.

Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma bacteria are responsible for respiratory disease and pelvic

disease.

5.

Spirillum
Spirillum bacteria are responsible for the sexually-transmitted disease
syphilis and Lyme disease, which is transmitted by a tick bite.

Viruses
A virus is a tiny organism that causes an infection in the body. Viruses are made up of the genetic
material known as DNA or RNA, which the virus uses to replicate. In order for a virus to
survive, it must invade and attach itself to a living cell. It will then multiply and produce more
virus particles.
Examples of Viral Infections
1.

HIV human immunodeficiency virus infected lymph tissue

It

kills or damages the body's immune system cells.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. It is the most advanced stage of infection
with HIV.

2.

Herpes simplex virus invaded vacuole of human cell

Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth or

face. Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or
anal area.

3.

Polio virus RNA virus Picornaviridae Family

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It
invades the nervous system, and can cause total
paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus enters the body
through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine.
Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache,
vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs.

4.

Influenza A virus Human Infection

Influenza viruses are classified as type A, B, or C
based upon their protein composition. Type A
viruses are found in many kinds of animals,
including Ducks, Chickens, Pigs, Whales and
Humans.
Type B widely circulates in humans.

Type C has been found in humans, pigs, and dogs, and causes mild respiratory infections, but
does not spark epidemics.

Fungi
Fungi are a group of simple plants that have no chlorophyll (it cannot make its own food). There
are some species of fungi that are single celled organisms, and there are other kinds of fungi that
are multi-cellular organisms. Some kinds of fungi live on land and other types of fungi live in
water environments. They consist of unicellular yeasts, and multicellular molds and mushrooms.

Usefulness of Fungi
Fungi are valuable economically as a source of antibiotics, of vitamins, and of various
industrially important chemicals, such as alcohols, acetone, and enzymes, as well as for their role
in fermentation processes, as in the production of alcoholic beverages, vinegar, cheese, and bread
dough. They are extremely important in soil renewal, through the decomposition of organic
matter, a function unwelcome when it results in the rotting of clothing and other goods and the
spoilage of foods.

Types of Fungi
1.

Yeasts

2.

Molds

Yeasts are single cells

Molds consist of many

that divide to form

cells that grow as

branching threads

clusters.

called hyphae. It can

cause asthma. A term
mildew refers either to
certain kinds of mold
or to mold growth on
plants, walls, leather,
paper, cloths, etc.
Yeasts and Molds can cause allergic reactions.

3.

Mushrooms
6

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced

above ground on soil or on its food source. It typically consists from a stem, cap and gills
(lamellae).

Edible Mushrooms

Some characteristics of fungi:

a.

Parasitic fungi - fungi that lives off of other organisms. Athletes foot or ring worm are
common ailments caused by parasitic fungi.
Fungi like the lobster mushroom parasitize other
mushrooms.

b.

Decomposer fungi - fungi species that feed off of dead

and decaying matter.
The Honey Mushroom acts as a decomposer,
breaking down dead wood from trees. It also acts
a parasite, particularly attacking tree roots and
sometimes killing many trees.

as

Fungi in caves break down minerals in rock walls.

c.

Symbiosis fungi - fungi that lives with other organisms and

neither the fungi or the organism is hurt.

Symbiotic fungi living on tree roots.