Handout 2 – Normal Microbiota

continuous population of microorganisms that are found everywhere

involves chemical warfare, to keep microorganisms at a low number

microorganism will benefit and prosper from living in or on the host, the host is not always advantaged or disadvantaged by this

both the host organism and the microorganism benefits from the interaction

only the microorganism benefits at the cost of the host organism which is usually harmed to some degree by the interaction

produced by sweat glands and is rich in fatty acids, salts, and proteins, these materials serve as nutrients for many microorganisms

accumulation of materials that serve to form a sebum plug in the pore

staphylococcus spp that grows over most of the area of the skin but especially in and around the nares, can cause acne, dermatitis, athletes foot, and ringworm

can be found colonizing the oral cavity and can even lower the pH of the mouth causing tooth decay

system in which microorganisms are inhaled and trapped in mucus and the cilia of the ciliated cells will sweep the mucus in an upward direction to the pharynx where the mucus is then swallowed

both cause disease but their numbers are normally kept low by microbial competition and action of a healthy immune system

bacteria that is associated with colonization of the stomach and is closely associated with ulcers and chronic gastritis

largest family of bacteria living in the intestinal tract

"lactic acid bacteria", colonize the vagina and lower the pH to acidic levels but disruption can cause staph and fungi (yeast) to grow in and around the vagina

condition in which bacteria that's reduced or eliminated gives other organisms an advantage and can cause them to overgrow

serve to fix atmospheric nitrogen for use by plants and in the long run, other organisms to include humans

process wherein artificial manipulation of microorganism is used to remove or neutralize pollutants and re-establish normal microbiotic populations