MEDICAL DICTIONARY
Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life). Examples of bacteria include: - Acidophilus , a normal inhabitant of yogurt,
- Chlamydia , which causes an infection very similar to gonorrhea ,
- Clostridium welchii the most common cause of the dreaded gas gangrene ,
- E. coli , the common peaceful citizen of our colon and, upon occasion, a dangerous agent of disease , and
- Streptococcus , the bacterium that causes the important infection of the throat strep throat .
The term bacteria was devised in the 19th century by the German botanist Ferdinand Cohn (1828-98) who based it on the Greek bakterion meaning a small rod or staff. In 1853, Cohn categorised bacteria as one of three types of microorganisms -- bacteria (short rods), bacilli (longer rods), and spirilla (spiral forms). The term bacteria was preceded in the 17th century by the microscopic animalcules described by Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723).
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