Question

Why do we need bacteria in our bodies? What are gram-positive bacteria?

Answer 1

Bacteria in the human body:

1. Bacteria are free-living unicellular organisms that are present in every habitat.
2. The human body consists of millions of microorganisms that are beneficial to us and form the body flora.
3. Bacterial populations inhabit the skin and mucosal surfaces of the body.
4. They occur in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, bladder, vagina, nasal cavity, lungs, and oral cavity.
5. Bacteria help in metabolizing food particles and maintaining gut health.

Gram-positive bacteria:

1. These bacteria possess a thick peptidoglycan layer as the cell wall.
2. Peptidoglycan is a key structural polymer that prevents the cell from bursting due to turgor pressure and helps in maintaining the cell shape.
3. This layer is involved in maintaining the osmotic stability of the bacterial cells.
4. They contain a lipid membrane and lack an outer lipid membrane.
5. Examples of gram-positive bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.