Balloon Bugs

Make your own balloon bacterium

What are bacteria?

• Bacteria are living organisms.

• They are so small you need a microscope to see them.

• They come in different shapes and sizes.

• They can be found everywhere!

How big are bacteria?

• Bacteria are tiny! Millions can fit on a single pin head.

Images: Genome Research Limited

What shape are bacteria?

There are three main shapes of bacteria:

Spirals (Spirochetes

) e.g. Campylobacter

sp.

Rods (Bacilli)

e.g. Citrobacter sp.

Balls (Cocci)

e.g. Staphylococcus sp.

Images: Sharon Peacock, Oxford University; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU

How do bacteria move?

• Some bacteria have special structures that help them move. These are called flagella.

Images: David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU

flagella

flagellum

Some bacteria can make us feel ill

Campylobacter jejuni

Causes food poisoning

Salmonella Typhimuriu

m

Causes food poisoning

Streptococcus

pneumoniae

Causes a sore throat and

pneumonia Images: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NID; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU

Are there “good” bacteria?

• Not all bacteria are harmful. There are some bacteria that are used in producing cheese and yogurt. This is called Lactobacillus.

Images: Genome Research Limited

Can you make a balloon bacterium?

Choose from the three bacteria below

Campylobacter jejuni

Salmonella Typhimuriu

m

Streptococcus

pneumoniae

Images: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NID; David Goulding, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; B Wren, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine