bacteria: Media
life-form
Videos
Knowing the difference isn't just a technical distinction—it can save lives.
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
An overview of biofilm and bacterial potential.
Video: University College Cork, Ireland (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
A “robotic pipeline” used in bacterial genetics at University College Cork, Cork,...
Video: University College Cork, Ireland (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Bacterial DNA can pass from one cell to another through the processes of conjugation...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Learn about bacteria as agents of decomposition, food spoilage, and disease (pathogens).
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Bacterial colonies progress through phases of growth.
Video: Video © Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; still photos A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The role of bacteria in organic decomposition is part of the process of removing...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Naturally occurring bacteria in the barriers of the human body, such as the skin...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Bacteria have been found living in many extreme environments on Earth, including...
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Bacteria can metabolize many organic and inorganic substances. Purple sulfur bacteria...
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Learn about staining of bacteria (greenish yellow) and phagocytes (reddish pink)...
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Learn why antibiotics are important and how to prevent their overuse.
Video: © American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Learn about antibiotics.
Video: © Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Learn what causes bad breath and how to prevent it.
Video: © American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Learn how to effectively use antibiotics.
Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
A discussion about chronic infections, their relevance in cystic fibrosis, and why...
Video: University College Cork, Ireland (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Learn about the human immune response phagocytosis by watching time-lapse photography...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The cycle of infection results in the death of the host cell and the release of many...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Images
A scanning electron micrograph of gram-positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis...
Ray Butler, MS/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Bacterial cells differ from animal cells and plant cells in several ways. One fundamental...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Schematic drawing of the structure of a typical bacterial cell of the bacillus type.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The bacterium Streptococcus mutans is an example of a spherical (coccus)...
David M. Phillips/Visuals Unlimited
Gram-negative bacilli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, isolated from a lung abscess...
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Gram-positive cocci, Staphylococcus aureus, in a laboratory culture.
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
A portion of the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus coagulans showing the...
Visuals Unlimited/© T.J. Beveridge
The gram-negative bacterium Aquaspirillum serpens has a thin peptidoglycan...
Visuals Unlimited/© T.J. Beveridge
The capsular material surrounding these bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus)...
From W.H. Taylor and E. Juni, “Pathways for Biosynthesis of a Bacterial Capsular Polysaccharide,” Journal of Bacteriology (May 1961)
Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium found in the mouth, contributes to tooth...
© Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com
In the budding bacteria Hyphomonas polymorpha, the bud grows out of the...
Biological Photo Service
Generalized bacterial growth curve showing the phases in the growth of bacterial...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
A Bacillus subtilis bacterial colony entering the log phase of growth after...
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
A Bacillus subtilis bacterial colony showing signs of stationary growth...
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
After 96 hours at 37 °C (98.6 °F), a Bacillus subtilis bacterial colony...
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
(Right) The roots of an Austrian winter pea plant (Pisum sativum) with nodules...
(Left) Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; (right) photograph, © John Kaprielian, The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
© Ilexx/Dreamstime.com
The main function of complement proteins is to aid in the destruction of pathogens...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Macrophages, the principal phagocytic (cell-engulfing) components of the immune system,...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The tree of life according to the three-domain system of biological classification.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from urine.
A.W. Rakosy/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
The causative agent of tetanus, Clostridium tetani.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Image Number: 6372)
Columns of salt rising from the extremely saline waters of the Dead Sea. In this...
Peter Carmichael/ASPECT
The Calvin cycle is used by bacteria to synthesize organic compounds. The reaction...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Gram-negative Mycoplasma hominis and isolates of common opportunistic T-strain...
Dr. E. Arum; Dr. N. Jacobs/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Image ID: 11021)
Scanning electron micrograph of Streptococcus pyogenes, associated with...
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Four methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria (purple)...
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Structure of a typical bacterial cell, showing the cell wall, a plasmid, and other...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Phagocytic cells destroy viral and bacterial antigens by eating them, while B cells...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
There are multiple mechanisms by which bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics....
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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