Cool Images: Bewitching Bacteria

Some bacteria benefit us as part of our microbiome—the vast collection of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies—while others can make us sick. Whether helpful or dangerous, bacteria can appear colorful and striking under a microscope. These photos provide just a small peek into the incredible diversity of these microbes. Credit: Liyang Xiong and Lev Tsimring, BioCircuits Institute, UCSD. This floral pattern emerged when a researcher grew two strains of bacteria—Acinetobacter baylyi (red) and Escherichia coli (green)—together for 2 days in a petri dish. A. baylyi are found in soil and typically don’t pose a threat to humans, although some strains can cause infections. E. coli normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most strains are harmless, but some can cause food poisoning or other illnesses. Credit: Tina Carvalho, University of Hawaii at Manoa. The little blue capsules in this image are a type of Vibrio bacteria. A species called Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, a gastrointestinal illness that affects approximately 2.9 million people each year. People typically contract cholera from drinking contaminated water. In industrialized countries like the United States, water treatment systems have virtually eliminated cholera. Credit: B. Joseph Hinnebusch, Elizabeth Fischer, and Austin Athman, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Here, bubonic plague bacteria (yell...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Cells Bacteria Cool Images Infectious Diseases Microbes Source Type: blogs