Bacteria show a wide variety of different metabolisms and can accordingly be classified into primary nutritional groups. The most common division is between heterotrophs, which depend on an organic source of carbon, and autotrophs, which are able to synthesize organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water. Autotrophs that obtain energy by oxidizing chemical compounds are called chemotrophs, and those that obtain their energy from light, via photosynthesis, are called phototrophs. There are many variations on this terminology such as chemoa ...

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Bacteria, Bacteria - History and taxonomy, Bacteria - Reproduction, Bacteria - Metabolism, Bacteria - Movement, Bacteria - Groups and identification, Bacteria - Benefits and dangers, Bacteria - Miscellaneous, Bacteria - Sources

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Bacteria, Bacteria - History and taxonomy, Bacteria - Metabolism, Bacteria - Movement, Bacteria - Groups and identification, Bacteria - Benefits and dangers, Bacteria - Miscellaneous, Bacteria - Sources

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The first bacteria were observed by Antony van Leeuwenhoek in 1683 using a single-lens microscope of his own design. The name bacterium was introduced much later, by Ehrenberg in 1828, derived from the Greek word βακτηριον meaning "small stick". Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) and Robert Koch (1843-1910) described the role of bacteria as conveyors and causes of disease or pathogens. ...

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Bacteria, Bacteria - History and taxonomy, Bacteria - Reproduction, Bacteria - Metabolism, Bacteria - Movement, Bacteria - Groups and identification, Bacteria - Benefits and dangers, Bacteria - Miscellaneous, Bacteria - Sources

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Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfo ...

Including:

Bacteria - History and taxonomy Bacteria - Metabolism Bacteria - Movement Bacteria - Groups and identification Bacteria - Benefits and dangers Bacteria - Miscellaneous Bacteria - Sources

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Bacteriostatic antibiotics hamper the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacteria protein production, interfering with bacteria DNA production interfering with bacteria cellular metabolism Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and reproduction of the bacteria, though do not kill it, while bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria. Bacteriostatic agents must work with the immune system to remove the microorganisms from the body. High concentrations of most bacteriostatic agents are also bactericidal, whereas low concentra ...

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Oxygen is a chemical element in the periodic table. It has the symbol O and atomic number 8. The element is very common, found not only on Earth but throughout the universe, usually covalently bonded with other elements. Unbound oxygen (usually called molecular oxygen, O2, a diatomic molecule) first appeared on Earth during the Paleoproterozoic era (between 2500 million years ago and 1600 million years ago) and as a product of the metabolic action of early anaerobes (archaea and bacteria). The presence of free oxygen ...

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Oxygen - Characteristics Oxygen - Applications Oxygen - History Oxygen - Occurrence Oxygen - Compounds Oxygen - Isotopes Oxygen - Precautions

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For human purposes, it's most important to understand that iron is not just an absolute requirement for life for humans but also most bacterial species, including bacteria that cause human diseases. And because plants and animals all use iron, iron can be found in a wide variety of food sources. Iron is essential because of its unique ability to serve as both an electron donor and acceptor. This property makes iron potentially toxic on its own, because iron can catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into free radicals, which in ...

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Human iron metabolism, Human iron metabolism - Importance of iron regulation, Human iron metabolism - Body iron stores, Human iron metabolism - How the body gets its iron, Human iron metabolism - Absorbing iron from the diet, Human iron metabolism - Reasons for iron deficiency, Human iron metabolism - The possibility of too much iron, Human iron metabolism - How cells get their iron from the body, Human iron metabolism - Regulation of circulating iron levels, Human iron metabolism - Diseases of iron regulation

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Principal methane sources are Outgassing from earth's mantle through mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes are often associated with petroleum deposits and tectonic subduction zones and orogenic belts. Hydrocarbon gases often are erupted. According to geologist Nikolai Kudryavtsev, the eruptions of mud volcanoes have liberated such large quantities of methane that even the most prolific gas field underneath should have been exhausted long ago. Also the quantities of mud deposited in some cases would have required eruptions of much ...

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Methane, Methane - Sources of methane, Methane - Reactions of methane, Methane - Extraterrestrial Methane, Methane - Methane on Earth, Methane - Uses, Methane - Units of measure, Methane - Methane in heraldry

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In the combustion of methane several steps are involved: Methane forms a methyl radical (CH3), which reacts with oxygen forming formaldehyde (HCHO or H2CO). The formaldehyde gives a formal radical (HCO), which then forms carbon monoxide (CO). The process is called oxidative pyrolysis: CH4 + O2 → CO + H2 + H2O Following oxidative pyrolysis, the H2 oxidizes, forming H2O, replenishing the active species, and releasing heat. This occurs very quickly, usually in less than a milli ...

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Methane, Methane - Sources of methane, Methane - Reactions of methane, Methane - Extraterrestrial Methane, Methane - Methane on Earth, Methane - Uses, Methane - Units of measure, Methane - Methane in heraldry

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Methane has been detected or is believed to exist in several locations of the solar system. It is believed to have been created by abiotic processes, with the possible exception of Mars. Jupiter Mars Saturn Iapetus Titan Neptune Triton Uranus Ariel Miranda Oberon Titania Umbriel Comet Halley Comet Hyakutake 2003 UB313 Traces of methane gas are present in the thin atmosphere of the Earth's Moon. Me ...

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Methane, Methane - Sources of methane, Methane - Reactions of methane, Methane - Extraterrestrial Methane, Methane - Methane on Earth, Methane - Uses, Methane - Units of measure, Methane - Methane in heraldry

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Methane is an important fuel for electrical generation. Compared to other fossil fuels, burning methane produces less carbon dioxide for each unit of heat released. In many cities, methane is piped into homes for domestic heating and cooking purposes. Methane is used in industrial chemical processes and may be transported in liquid or refrigerated liquid form. While leaks from a liquid container are initially heavier than air, the gas is lighter than air. Gas pipelines distribute large amounts of natural gas, of which met ...

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Methane, Methane - Sources of methane, Methane - Reactions of methane, Methane - Extraterrestrial Methane, Methane - Methane on Earth, Methane - Uses, Methane - Units of measure, Methane - Methane in heraldry

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The upper stomach and small intestine do not have many bacteria (Guarner and Malagelada, 2003b; University of Glasgow, 2005). The colon has the greatest numbers of bacteria and the most different species, and the activity of these bacteria make the colon the most metabolically active organ in the body (Gibson, 2004). Most of the bacteria in the small intestine are Gram-positive, while those in the colon are mostly Gram-negative (Riordan et al., 2001). The first part of the colon is mostly responsible for fermenting carbohydrates (Beaugerie a ...

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Gut flora, Gut flora - Localization, Gut flora - Types, Gut flora - Roles, Gut flora - Carbohydrate fermentation and absorption, Gut flora - Trophic effects, Gut flora - Repression of pathogenic bacterial growth, Gut flora - Immunity, Gut flora - Preventing allergy, Gut flora - Preventing Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gut flora - Effects of antibiotics, Gut flora - Probiotics, Gut flora - Role in disease, Gut flora - Cancer, Gut flora - Translocation, Gut flora - Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gut flora - Colitis

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The upper stomach and small intestine do not have many bacteria. The colon has the greatest numbers of bacteria and the most different species, and the activity of these bacteria make the colon the most metabolically active organ in the body. Most of the bacteria in the small intestine are Gram-positive, while those in the colon are mostly Gram-negative. The first part of the colon is mostly responsible for fermenting carbohydrates, while the latter part mostly breaks down proteins and amino acids. Bacterial growth is rapid in the cecum and ...

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Gut flora, Gut flora - Localization, Gut flora - Types, Gut flora - Roles, Gut flora - Carbohydrate fermentation and absorption, Gut flora - Trophic effects, Gut flora - Repression of pathogenic bacterial growth, Gut flora - Immunity, Gut flora - Preventing allergy, Gut flora - Preventing Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gut flora - Effects of antibiotics, Gut flora - Probiotics, Gut flora - Role in disease, Gut flora - Cancer, Gut flora - Translocation, Gut flora - Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gut flora - Colitis

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Maltitol, like other sugar alcohols, does not brown or caramelize. It is not metabolized by oral bacteria, so it does not promote tooth decay. It is more slowly absorbed than sugar which makes it somewhat more suitable for people with diabetes than white sugar (sucrose) but it is very important to note that its blood sugar impact is far from negligible and some traditional sugars, such as fructose, actually have a significantly lower impact on blood sugar. Its food energy value is 2.1 calories pe ...

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Maltitol, Maltitol - Production & Uses, Maltitol - Metabolism of Maltitol, Maltitol - Miscellaneous, Maltitol - External link

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Archaea are similar to other prokaryotes in most aspects of cell structure and metabolism. However, their genetic transcription and translation — the two central processes in molecular biology — do not show the typical bacterial features, but are extremely similar to those of eukaryotes. For instance, archaean translation uses eukaryotic initiation and elongation factors, and their transcription ...

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Archaea, Archaea - History, Archaea - Archaea Bacteria and Eukaryotes, Archaea - Habitats, Archaea - Form, Archaea - Evolution and classification

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Encephalopathy alters brain function and/or structure. It may be caused by an infectious agent (bacteria, virus, or prion), metabolic or mitochondrial dysfunction, brain tumor or increased intracranial pressure, prolonged exposure to toxic elements (including solvents, drugs, radiation, paints, industrial chemicals, and certain metals), chronic progressive trauma, poor nutrition, or lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain. The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Depending on the type and severity of encephalopathy ...

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Encephalopathy, Encephalopathy - Symptoms and causes, Encephalopathy - Diagnosis, Encephalopathy - Therapy, Encephalopathy - Prognosis, Encephalopathy - Reference

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Archaea are similar to other prokaryotes in most aspects of cell structure and metabolism. However, their genetic transcription and translation — the two central processes in molecular biology — do not show the typical bacterial features, but are extremely similar to those of eukaryotes. For instance, archaean translation uses eukaryotic initiation and elongation factors, and their transcriptio ...

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Archaea, Archaea - History, Archaea - Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryotes, Archaea - Habitats, Archaea - Form, Archaea - Evolution and classification

Read more here: » Archaea: Encyclopedia II - Archaea - Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryotes

The cell structure of prokaryotes differs greatly from eukaryotes in many ways. The defining characteristic is, of course, the absence of a nucleus or nuclear envelope. Prokaryotes also were previously considered to lack cytoskeletons and do lack membrane-bound cell compartments such as vacuoles, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and chloroplasts. In eukaryotes, the latter two perform various metabolic processes and are believed to have been derived from endosymbiotic bacteria. In prokaryotes similar processes occur across the cell membran ...

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Prokaryote, Prokaryote - Structure, Prokaryote - Environment, Prokaryote - Evolution of prokaryotes

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Biofilms are usually found on solid substrates submerged in or exposed to some aqueous solution, although they can form as floating mats on liquid surfaces. Given sufficient resources for growth, a biofilm will quickly grow to be macroscopic. Biofilms usually consist of many species of bacteria and archaea, each performing specialized metabolic functions. However, some organisms will form monospecies films under certain conditions. The biofilm is held together and protected by a matrix of excreted polymeric compounds. This matrix protects th ...

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Biofilm, Biofilm - Formation, Biofilm - Properties, Biofilm - Examples

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Ser is important in metabolism in that it participates in the biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines, Cys, Trp (in bacteria), and a large number of other metabolites. When incorporated into the structure of enzymes, Ser often plays an important role in their catalytic function. It has been shown to occur in the active sites of chymotrypsin, trypsin, and many other enzymes. The so-called nerve gases and many substances used in insecticides have been shown to act by combining with a residue of Ser in the active site of ac ...

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Serine, Serine - Synthesis, Serine - Function, Serine - Dietary sources

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