Bacteria are tiny living organisms that are found just about anywhere around us.  They live in the soil, float in the air, swim in puddles, hide on your toothbrush, and even live on us and inside of us.  Many bacteria are harmless, some even help us by competing against their disease-causing cousins for food.  However, other bacteria can make us sick and our bodies are constantly fighting battles against them in order to stay healty.  When our defences are overwhelmed by these pesky critters we can develop anything from a sore throat to life-threating disease.

Bacteria Shapes & Appearance

Cocci in a cluster (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus)

Cocci in a chain (i.e., Streptococcus pyogenes)

Diplococci, a pair of cocci (i.e., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae)

Bacillus, rod-shaped (i.e., Escherichia coli)

Club-shaped (i.e., Clostridium tetani)

Comma-shaped (i.e., Vibrio cholerae)

Spirochetes (i.e., Borrelia burgdorferi, Treponema pallidum)

Pleomorphic, many shapes

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