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Immune System
BACTERIA
What is Bacteria?
Bacteria is a single cell organism that does not contain a nucleus or membrane bound organelles. These microbes are living organisms due to their uni-cellular composition, ability to metabolize, and rapid reproduction. Bacteria contains chromosomal DNA and extrachromosomal DNA in plasmids called episomes. These plasmids differ in size, genes, and functions which allow for variations in bacteria. Genes contain transposable elements which allow for one part of the a chromosome to "jump" to another part or difference chromosome. Bacteria is about 1/100th the size of a human cell.
How do Bacteria replicate:
Bacteria replicates through the transfer of DNA from one cell to antoher cell in three different ways:
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Conjugation, which is like sexual mating through an F-pilus, transfers DNA from an F+ to an F- bacteria
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Transduction transfers part of a chromosome from one bacteria to another bacteria through the use of a phage
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Transformation is the use of external mediums to introduce DNA into a bacterium such as salt solutions and environmental factors of freezing and heating the bacteria.
Conjugation
Transduction
Transformation
How does bacteria affect the immune system?
Bacteria is known for causing diseases by infiltrating and attacking the immune system, but there are actually more beneficial bacteria in and on our body than there are harmful bacteria. These helpful bacteria are known as commensal bacteria which aid the immune system such as in digestion. Harmful bacterial prescence in the immune system will first ivade the body, attempt to reproduce, and then attack healthy living cells. It is the immune system's job to detect the foreign bacterial DNA and eliminate the imposing threat. Through the use of antibiotics, many bacterial infections can be cured as the antibiotics attack the bacteria either halting further growth of the bacterial cell or interferring with the cell wall thus killing the bacteria.
How to prevent from infection
Bacterial infections can pass through contaminated food or water, through the air, contact with an infected person/ animal, or transmittion of the bacteria to different parts of the body where it will cause illness. Ways to prevent infection is to wash your hands and sanitize common areas as germs accure and gather in these areas over time.
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