Live bacteria for the intestines: the name. The Importance of Bacteria in Human Life

The smallest and invisible to the naked eye inhabitants of our planet are microscopic bacteria, fungi and viruses. There are a lot of them, the number is estimated in billions. Their role in nature and human life is different, the evaluation varies from positive through neutral to negative. Let us examine which representatives of bacteria have learned to live in close contact with human organisms, and what significance they have.

Bacteria - living organisms

These most ancient on our planet inhabitants are single-celled organisms of microscopic size. It is known that the approximate time of their appearance is 3.5 billion years ago. For a long time, apart from them, there were no more living beings on Earth. Only then did the rapid process of evolution begin, and life began to blossom in all its diversity.

Mankind learned a lot of interesting things about bacteria only in the 17th century, thanks to the works of Antonio Van Leuvenguq. It was this naturalist who first invented the magnifying device through which these tiny creatures could be seen.

In the course of time, a great theoretical material was accumulated, confirmed by practical research. People became available information about how the microbes look, what kind of structure they have, the significance of bacteria in human life has been determined.

Features of the structure

So, it became clear that bacteria are prokaryotic organisms, that is, they do not contain a formed nucleus in their cells. In addition, they are characterized by a number of the following features in the phenotype and internal structure:

1. The shape of the body can be different: globular (cocci), rod-like (bacilli), in the form of grapes (staphylococci), vibrios, spirillae and others.
2. They can exist singly, but often create whole colonies.
3. Coloring in most cases do not have, however some forms can be beautiful magenta or green. Most often, it is the colonies that are colored by the release of special pigments into the surrounding space.
4. The genetic material inside the cell is represented by a DNA molecule, which is distributed at the center of the structure.
5. Movement in space is carried out due to flagella, gas vacuoles or mucus capsule covering the body.
6. Outside, the body is covered with a cell wall and a capsule, under which all organelles of the cell are located.
7. Structural parts of the cell are similar to those found in animals and plant structures. Carbohydrate or lipid droplets of inclusions that perform the energy function are especially important.
8. Instead of a nucleus, a nucleoid is present in the cell, consisting of a strand of DNA.

In fact, living bacteria have a rather interesting structure. The lifestyle of these microorganisms also aroused the burning curiosity of scientists around the world. Thanks to their works, mankind has access to new information, which is undoubtedly of great importance for science as a whole and its individual branches. The scope of this article does not allow us to discuss all these points in more detail. Therefore, we will focus only on a general idea of these organisms and pay special attention to their role and significance in our lives.

Lifestyle of bacteria

Due to the incredible unpretentiousness to the habitat, the bacteria managed to settle all over the globe. For them, neither cold nor too high temperatures, nor acidity or basicity, salinity of the soil are barriers. Bacteria, photos of which can be found in the article, populate:

• Water;
• air;
• Soil;
• Hot springs;
• Deserts;
• Snow and ice;
• Anoxic habitats.

Obviously, the spread of these creatures is ubiquitous. It is difficult to find at least one object in any environment on which bacteria would not be found. Even the purest spring water contains them in a rather large amount.

The life of bacteria is reduced to fundamental processes: nutrition, reproduction, movement in search of food, experiencing unfavorable conditions. Like all single-celled, they have no other purposes of existence.

By the way of nutrition, that is, energy absorption, they are all divided into:

• Autotrophs;
• Heterotrophs.

The first group includes different bacteria. The photo can be seen below. In general, such groups can be distinguished among them.

1. Photosynthetic - they themselves accumulate the energy of the sun in the process of photosynthesis.
2. Chemosynthetic - oxidize inorganic compounds (sulfur, nitrogen, iron) and process them into organic.
3. Methane, or methylotrophs - use the energy of oxidation of carbon-containing substances to ensure life.

Heterotrophic species consume ready organic substances. To produce them, microorganisms use different methods. Thus, we can distinguish three groups of bacteria-heterotrophs:

• Saprophytes - decompose dead remains of plants and animals;
• Symbionts - enter into mutually beneficial cohabitation with the owner;
• Parasites - harmful and destroying the health of the host forms.

Also, the life of bacteria has one more feature - spore formation. In a period of extremely unfavorable conditions, the cell is able to stop all processes of vital activity inside itself and as if to fall asleep, covered with a dense shell. This state is called a dispute. So the body can live for decades, staying in anticipation of suitable environmental conditions. Disputes are extremely resistant to freezing and heat treatment, even long-term effects.

Meaning for man

The fact that the organisms under consideration - our constant companions throughout life - has not been clarified immediately. I.Mechnikov played an important role in establishing this fact. It was he who conducted a number of multiple studies that prove the immense importance of bacteria in human life.

It turns out that our skin, the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, the inner part of the gastrointestinal tract, the pelvic organs - all these structures are densely populated by various forms of microorganisms. They help us fight infections, digest food, cleanse ourselves from within. In return, they receive good living conditions and food. That is, living bacteria inside a person live with him in close symbiosis.

If the natural state of the intestinal microflora, skin, stomach and other organs is disturbed, then people develop multiple diseases, often occurring in very severe form. That is why scientists, doctors and microbiologists have created probiotics. These are strains of living bacteria of a certain type that can serve to replenish and restore the natural microflora of the body.

This value is not limited to prokaryotes. Man uses them in agriculture, food industry, space industry, science and technology, biosynthesis and molecular biology and many other areas.

Live bacteria for the intestines: the name

If we talk about the specific types of data of microorganisms that inhabit a person from within, then the most "rich" place - the intestine - should first be designated. It is this organ, consisting of several departments and reaching a length (in an adult person) of up to 12 m, is an excellent home for a wide variety of prokaryotes.

There are two main types, consisting of several families and many species and strains, which not only inhabit the body, but are vital for every person. This is a living bacterium for the intestines, whose genus name is pronounced in Russian as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Each of these species plays an important role in the metabolic processes of the intestine. Therefore, consider them in more detail.

Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus: characteristic and significance

Live bacteria for the intestines, whose genus name sounds like lactobacillus, are the natural inhabitants of the intestinal microflora under the condition of its normal state. They have a positive effect on the general condition of this body, because:

• Activate the work of many important enzymes and proteins involved in immune processes;
• Act as antagonists to pathogenic microbes, relieving the body of intoxication;
• Accelerate the healing (regenerative) processes in the mucous membranes, and so on.

These bacteria are used in the production of sour-milk products. That is, their strains are part of different kinds of starter cultures, of which:

• Live yoghurts;
• kefir;
• Yogurt;
• Cocktails and other products.

There are many species of this kind of prokaryotes. Therefore, a table will be presented below. Bacteria of this taxon, which live inside the intestine, will be included in the list of representatives along with their name.

Lactobacilli reuteri

It is known about them only in the XX century. However, studies by scientists from different countries have shown that these microorganisms are part of the gastrointestinal tract of all mammalian animals. In humans, a significant part of the microflora also consists of strains of this species.

Lactobacilli reuteri are live bacteria for the intestine, which was given the name by a German microbiologist, who first isolated and identified their generic belonging to lactobacilli. Their significance is the same as that of all the intestinal inhabitants considered above.

Bulgarian yogurt as a source of "Lactobacillus bulgaricus"

This organism was discovered by the famous immunologist II Mechnikov. It was he who first drew attention to the usefulness of products created on the basis of the vital activity of this bacterium.

What is the use?

1. Improved bowel function.
2. Strengthening of immunity.
3. Development of useful microelements and amino acids.
4. Soft laxative effect.
5. Cleansing from pathogenic bacilli.

Bifidobacteria: characteristic and significance

To this genus are living bacteria, the names of which are as follows:

• Angulatum;
• Animalis;
• Asteroidus;
• Bifidum;
• Longum;
• Magnum;
• Subtil and others.

A total of about 35 species of organisms. The vast majority of intestinal bacteria constitute about 80-90% of the total mass of the inhabitants. The value is as follows:

1. Maintaining homeostasis.
2. Strengthening and formation of immunity.
3. The production of vitamins and enzymes.
4. Restoration of normal microflora.
5. Active participation in metabolism.

Bifidobacterium animalis

Include two subspecies and several strains of microorganisms rod-shaped, slightly curved. They take an active part in the normalization of the intestine, therefore they are actively used in the production of various probiotics and medicines, as well as food products.

Bifidobacterium bifidum antagonist

The main action is based on antagonistic properties. These organisms are able to inhibit pathogenic microbes and restore the body in normal mode. Also contribute to strengthening immunity, as they produce vitamins, enzymes and protein molecules capable of phagocytosis of foreign bodies.

The role of bacteria in nature

It is certainly important and multifaceted. However, it is possible to distinguish the main processes in nature, which at all do not do without the organisms under consideration:

1. Cycle of substances. Including elements (nitrogen, carbon, sulfur, iron).
2. Soil formation.
3. Decomposition of organic residues.

Thus, bacteria in nature play a very significant role, being in close interaction with all other living beings.