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THE HUMAN MICROBIOME: Background

Learning about the human microbiome involves knowing about different kinds of microbes. This page is dedicated to making sure that you know about the types of microorganisms that can be found on the body. 

 

Use the table of contents to navigate this page:

 

Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
fungi
Videos

Types of Microbes

What is a Microbe?

A microbe is a microorganism, more specifically a bacterium.

Bacteria:

Bacteria is a single celled organism that comes in many different shapes.

The different types are as follows:

Coccus

  • Round and spherical shaped

  • Can be arranged in a cluster, chain or pair

    • Diplococci: pairs

    • Staphlococci: cluster

    • Streptococci: chain

    • Tetrad: cluster of 4

    • Sarcina: cube

Bacillus

  • Rod shaped (cylinders)

  • Can be arranged in different forms:

    • Coccobacillus: combination with coccus

    • Diplobacilli: pairs

    • Palisades: V-shape attachment

    • Streptobacilli: chain

Spiral Shaped

  • Vibrio: bent rod

  • Spirillum: rigid spiral shape

  • Spirochete: long, thin and flexible corkscrew-shape

Below the 4 phyla of bacteria:

 

Actinobacteria:

  • Gram positive

  • Some can cause infection

  • Huge role in gut flora

Proteobacteria:

  • Gram negative

  • Wide variety of pathogens

Firmicutes:

  • Most gram positive

  • Some can cause infection

  • Linked to obesity; gut flora

Bacteroidetes:

  • Gram negative

  • Linked to obesity

Archaea:

Archaea used to be considered bacteria, but it is found that they have some differences. For example, they have a different cell wall structure than bacteria, causing some drugs that kill bacteria to not kill archaea. [16]

The 3 main types are as follows:

Crenarchaeota:

They are able to live in extreme acidity and temperatures

Euryarchaeota:

They produce methane and thrive off of salt

Korarchaeota:

Not much is known about this type.

Protista:

Unlike Bacteria, Protista are eukaryotic, meaning they have a nucleus around their DNA.  [17]

The 4 main types are as follows:

Wet Molds/Oomycota:

  • Found in wet areas (moist soil)

  • Can be considered fungi

  • Feed off of decaying tissue (logs, etc.)

Slime Molds:

  • Jelly-like mass

  • During food shortage or other times in destress, they form together in one mass

Protozoa:

  • Means 'first animals'

  • Mainly feed on bacteria

  • Engulf food through cell membranes

Algae:

  • Major role in aquatic food

  • Makes up 75% of oxygen

Information: http://www.microbeworld.org/types-of-microbes/protista

Fungi:

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms. They are not considered plants because they do not make thier food via photosynthesis. Instead, they act as decomposers. A major fungi that we use is yeast. They can grow via spores and carried off my the wind.  [17]

Informational Videos:

The video to the left is about the structure of bacteria. [18]

The video to the left is an overview of archaea, bacteria and protists. [19]

The video to the left is an overview of fungi. [20]

Information: http://www.microbeworld.org/types-of-microbes/archaea

Information: http://www.livestrong.com/article/117677-five-different-types-bacteria/

                https://www.boundless.com/microbiology/textbooks/boundless-microbiology-textbook/diseases-15/microbial-diseases-of-the-skin-168/microbiota-of-the-skin-832-7349/

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