Bacteroidetes

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Bacteroidetes

Bacteroidetes (pronunciation: /bækˌtɪərɪˈoʊdiːtiːz/) is a phylum of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria. They are widely distributed in the environment, including in soil, sediments, and sea water, as well as in the guts of animals and humans.

Etymology

The name Bacteroidetes is derived from the Greek words "bakterion" meaning small rod and "etes" meaning resembling. Thus, the name refers to the rod-like shape of these bacteria.

Characteristics

Bacteroidetes are typically obligate anaerobes, meaning they can only survive in environments without oxygen. They are non-spore forming and non-motile. Many species of Bacteroidetes are known to be involved in the degradation of complex organic compounds in the environment. In the human gut, they play a crucial role in breaking down dietary fiber and other complex carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the human body.

Related Terms

  • Gram-negative bacteria: A group of bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation.
  • Anaerobes: Organisms that can survive and grow in an oxygen-free environment.
  • Human microbiota: The aggregate of microorganisms that reside on or within any of the human tissues and biofluids.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski