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SUPERBUGS
An intro to bacteria, infectious
diseases, and antibiotic resistance
What are bacteria?
Single-celled organisms
Prokaryotes: genetic material NOT
contained in a nucleus
Auto-trophs and hetero-trophs
How abundant are
bacteria?
Bacterial Abundance
Total bacteria on Earth
Number of stars in the universe
Age of the universe in seconds
Bacteria in the human gut
Global gross product ($/year)
Cells in the human body
Texts sent in 2009
People on Earth
5 x 1030
7 x 1022
4.4 x 1017
1 x 1014
7 x 1013 10X
1 x 1013
1.5 x 1012
6.9 x 109
All about bacteria…
Help make yogurt, cheese, & wine
Involved in environmental
recycling and clean-up
How many types of
bacteria are there?
Bacterial Distribution
Insect Species
Bacterial species in the soil
Bacterial species in the air
Bacterial species in the ocean
Bird Species
Bacterial species in the human mouth
Bacterial Species in the human gut
Pathogenic Species
1-10 million
4 million
4 million
2 million
10,000
600
500
55
Infectious Diseases
Pathogen: a biological agent that
causes disease
Can be a virus, bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, or parasite
Infectious diseases are
communicable or transmissible
from one person to another
Virus: Influenza
(H1N1)
Protist: Malaria
(Plasmodium)
Fungi: Plant pathogen
(Rigidoporus laetus)
Staph Infection: Staphylococcus aureus
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Salmonella typhimurium
Antibiotics
Compounds that kill bacteria or
inhibit their growth
Naturally produced by
microorganisms to kill others
Now many are made synthetically
Antibiotics
Susceptible vs. Resistant
Antibiotic
Clearing
Lawn
Why is resistance bad?
Because you can’t treat the disease!
The patient will remain sick 
How do you get
resistance?
Usually from mutation in DNA
Genetic mutations can be passed to
offspring…
Leads to evolution!
Genetic
Mutation
Susceptible
+ Antibiotic
Antibiotic
Resistant
What can you do to
help?
Follow the
directions!
Take antibiotics
only when
necessary