What are the advantages and disadvantages of bacteria

In the environment we live in, bacteria are everywhere around us at all times, and even in our bodies there are traces of bacteria everywhere. Due to the special properties of bacteria, humans and other animals cannot survive in a completely sterile environment. This is because the existence of bacteria has both advantages and disadvantages. Here is a brief introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of bacteria.

Bacteria can be both useful and harmful to the environment, humans and animals. Some bacteria become pathogens, causing tetanus, typhoid, pneumonia, syphilis, cholera and tuberculosis. In plants, the bacteria causes leaf spot, fire blight, and wilt. Modes of infection include contact, airborne transmission, food, water and carriers of bacteria. Pathogens can be treated with antibiotics, which are divided into bactericidal and bacteriostatic types.

Bacteria are often used together with yeast and other types of fungi to ferment foods. For example, in the traditional production process of vinegar, acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter) in the air are used to convert wine into vinegar. Other foods made using bacteria include cheese, kimchi, soy sauce, vinegar, wine, yogurt, etc. Bacteria can also secrete a variety of antibiotics, for example, streptomycin is secreted by Steptomyces.

The ability of bacteria to degrade a wide range of organic compounds is also often used to clean up pollution, known as bioremediation. For example, scientists used methanotrophs to break down trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene pollution in Georgia, USA.

Bacteria also have a great impact on human activities. For example, the production of cheese and yogurt, the manufacture of some antibiotics, and the treatment of wastewater are all related to bacteria. In the field of biotechnology, bacteria are also widely used.

Through the above introduction, I believe that friends have already understood the advantages and disadvantages of bacteria. This shows that bacteria are not entirely a bad thing. If all the bacteria in our body are eliminated, some functions in our body will become unbalanced. However, bacteria and viruses still pose a great threat to our health.