The term gram-positive in relation to bacteria refers to the ability for the bacterial cell to uptake a gram stain into the cell wall. A gram-positive bacteria can take up the gram stain due to the large peptidoglycan cell wall, which absorbs the...
Klebsiella pneumoniae describes a bacterium in the genus Klebsiella and the species pneumoniae. Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common types of bacteria that doctors encounter in patient infections, notes the website...
Candida is a type of yeast that, as an opportunistic pathogen, has the potential to cause infection in the human body under certain circumstances. Although candida is most often associated with vaginal yeast infections in women, it also commonly...
Staphylococcus aureus is easily the most important species of the staphylococci. It is found in the environment and is frequently seen as normal flora bacteria in people, and according to Elmer Koneman, M.D., 20 to 40 percent of adults have S....
The term â??aerobic bacteriaâ? is assigned to organisms strictly requiring oxygen in order to survive; these type of aerobes are also referred to as obligate aerobes. Conversely, anaerobic bacteria do not require oxygen, cannot...
Clostridium is known as a type of opportunistic pathogen, meaning it won't cause an infection unless the host's immunity is compromised. In those cases, clostridium can cause food poisoning, gangrene and botulism. Clostridia organisms are normally...
Torula yeast, otherwise known as candida utilis, is a lesser known variation of yeast that may be causing your allergic reactions. Although torula yeast isn't a new discovery, it's recently being added to foods due to its many useful qualities. An...
Enterococcus faecalis, or E. faecalis, normally inhabit your gastrointestinal tract. However, as opportunistic pathogens, E. faecalis can cause serious problems. Laboratory studies suggest E. faecalis are fastidious, requiring very specific...
Pathogenic bacteria cause disease in humans. Many different types of bacteria prove harmful to humans, causing infections that range from mild to potentially life threatening. In most cases, pathogenic bacteria can invade different areas of the...
Interigo is a medical term for a rash that occurs in skin folds. The condition is more common in people who are overweight or diabetic, and in women with large pendulous breasts, but anyone can develop interigo. Rashes beneath the breasts are said...
Without bacteria, people simply could not survive. They help with food digestion and maintain the natural flora of bacteria in the gut. Some bacteria, while beneficial, can become virulent depending on the immunity of the individual person. These...
Many types of bacteria can inhabit or infect the human body. Those that live harmlessly in or on the body are colonizers. Bacteria that cause disease are pathogens. Certain bacteria may be colonizers, but can cause disease under specific...
Enterobacter cloacae is the most common Enterobacter species that can cause diseases in humans. This bacteria is widely distributed in water, sewage and soil, and in the feces of healthy persons. They are opportunistic pathogens and cause...
Bacteria reside in great numbers in many places, both inside and on the surface of the human body. In many cases, like in the gut, the presence of bacteria is beneficial. Bacteria in the mouth causes the formation of cavities, and can increase the...
Blood in the human body is typically sterile, containing no microorganisms of any kind. During infections, bacteria may invade the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, which makes the spread of infection to other parts of the body more...
Influenza is a seasonal virus, most common in the winter and early spring. While people often refer to seasonal colds as “the flu,” true influenza is a serious illness characterized by a high fever and other characteristic effects....
The skin of human beings naturally harbors many different types of bacteria that are potentially harmful and can cause skin infections. Typically, infection only occurs when the immune system is not functioning at full capacity. Bacteria that...
Infection with the Human Immunodeficiecy Virus (HIV) causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. This disease progresses over many years, weakening and ultimately destroying a patient's immune system. As an AIDS patient's...
Everyday, humans get exposed to millions of cells of bacteria. Some types of bacteria help to partially digest food, other types reside on the skin as part of the natural flora. The same bacteria that is beneficial in one situation can cause...
Fungal infections occur when one or more fungi species invade your tissues. According to the Lab Tests Online website, there are more than 50,000 species of fungi, although fewer than 200 might cause illness in humans, and only 20 to 25 species...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, primarily weakens the immune response by depleting disease fighting blood cells called CD4+. According to MayoClinic.com, HIV makes a person more susceptible to certain types of cancers and to infections...
Every day the sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation of three different types: short-wave UV-C, medium-wave UV-B and long-wave UV-A . The ozone that surrounds the earth absorbs all of the UV-C radiation, and a large portion of the UV-B radiation....
Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacterial infections and save lives. According to MedlinePlus, antibiotics kill bacteria or prevent bacteria from reproducing and spreading throughout the body. Newer generations of antibiotics are less toxic...
Leaky gut syndrome occurs when poor diet, prolonged use of antibiotics and other stressors cause the lining of your intestine to become overly permeable. As a result, small food particles that have not been fully digested can leak into your...
Doctors and natural healers alike may recommend probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that promote intestinal health by inhibiting the growth of pathogens, to treat a variety of conditions, including diarrhea in children. Lactobacillus...
In 2006 there were 56,300 new cases of HIV infection in the United States, according to the "5-Minute Clinical Consult" textbook. Advanced HIV infection, AIDS, took the lives of 14,627 people in 2006. HIV infection worldwide affects 32.2 million...
Catuaba is the common name for several different species of Amazonian trees with bark used as an aphrodisiac. Erythroxylum catuaba is the actual catuaba tree, but Trichilia catigua is another common source of herbal preparations called catuaba...
When conventional treatment provides no answers, the introduction of a yeast- and sugar-free diet often delivers impressive results. This was the conclusion of Dr William Crook, a physician and the author of "The Yeast Connection," who found that...
According to the Mayo Clinic, 39.5 million people in the world are infected with HIV. Because the disorder damages the immune system's ability to defend against disease-causing pathogens, AIDS patients can suffer from opportunistic infections that...
