home Auditorium 7 Dangerous and beneficial bacteria, their role in human life. Bacteria are man's friend! What microbes help the body? Name bacteria that are beneficial to human health

Dangerous and beneficial bacteria, their role in human life. Bacteria are man's friend! What microbes help the body? Name bacteria that are beneficial to human health

Strategy of reason and success Antipov Anatoly

Beneficial microbes

Many people perceive microbes as something that only brings harm to the human body. But more than 500 species of microbes live in humans that perform a protective function. Many microorganisms live on the human skin, in the mouth, and on the mucous membranes of some internal organs, forming a kind of protective film. These microbes are the first to attack harmful substances, preventing them from entering the body.

In addition, in the human body there are microbes that produce vitamins, microbes involved in the regulation of sex hormones, and, interestingly, microbes that are directly responsible for a person’s attractiveness to people of the opposite sex.

The beneficial activities of microbes are diverse. For example, bacteria and fungi, which make up ten percent of the dry weight of the intestines (260 species of microorganisms live in the human gastrointestinal tract), are involved in chemical processes that play an important role in digestion. The normal permanent microflora in healthy people is represented by lactic acid bifidolactobacteria, Escherichia coli, bacteroides and enterococci and performs the most important biological functions necessary for the human body.

First of all, it should be noted their ability to suppress pathogenic microorganisms. It has long been known that these representatives of normal microflora prevent the proliferation of salmonella, staphylococcus, proteus, pathogenic Eschechiria and, very importantly, the most dangerous fungi of the genus Candida. In addition, microorganisms participate in digestion processes and in the metabolism of a number of substances, including those toxic to the body. They also promote the absorption of a number of vitamins, calcium and phosphorus from food consumed by humans, and carry out the synthesis of essential amino acids and many vitamins. And this is far from a complete list of the beneficial activities of bacteria and fungi living in our intestines.

But for our skin, its natural “microbial background” is no less important. About 500 microorganisms we need constantly live on our body. “Own” microflora, which forms a protective shell on the surface of the skin, stands guard: it destroys foreign microorganisms. Unfortunately, in an increasing number of people, the natural “microbial background” is disrupted due to the unreasonably frequent use of various bactericidal detergents, in particular actively advertised antibacterial soap (such types of soap destroy beneficial saprophytic microbes).

It should be noted that the use of such products is quite appropriate for cuts, abrasions and scratches. But their constant use can hardly be considered justified. A study by British scientists has shown that living in a sterile environment is dangerous to our health. In particular, it puts us at greater risk of developing all kinds of allergies. Our skin loses its natural resistance. By sterilizing the skin, we thereby open our body to more dangerous microbes. This is why antibiotic experts recommend stopping the sale of “germicidal detergents.”

Excessive concern for body cleanliness can lead to disruption of the natural microflora of the skin and thereby provoke various diseases. Here, as indeed everywhere, the old saying “Everything is good in moderation” is appropriate. Moreover, even after repeated “washing”, even on very clean hands, 100 microorganisms remain per square centimeter. By shaking someone's hand, a person brings 16 million of his bacteria into contact with the same amount on another. When you kiss on the lips, a mutual “acquaintance” of 42 million microbes occurs.

Employees of the Scripps Institute in California have found that keeping a child in excessively clean conditions can have a detrimental effect on his health and, in particular, lead to the development of diabetes. These data were obtained from experiments on mice that developed under “sterile” conditions. The immune system of such animals did not encounter bacteria and therefore attacked its own body.

Do not try to completely destroy indoor dust. As scientists have found, some of it is even beneficial. The fact is that the toxic components of bacterial cells - endotoxins contained in ordinary room dust - act as a kind of vaccine against allergies, and also increase resistance to bronchial asthma. This discovery once again confirms: “Everything is good in moderation.” Even cleanliness.

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Most people associate the word “bacteria” with something unpleasant and a threat to health. At best, fermented milk products come to mind. At worst - dysbacteriosis, plague, dysentery and other troubles. But bacteria are everywhere, they are good and bad. What can microorganisms hide?

What are bacteria

Man and bacteria

In our body there is a constant battle between harmful and beneficial bacteria. Thanks to this process, a person receives protection from various infections. Various microorganisms surround us at every step. They live on clothes, fly in the air, they are omnipresent.

The presence of bacteria in the mouth, and this is about forty thousand microorganisms, protects the gums from bleeding, from periodontal disease and even from sore throat. If a woman’s microflora is disturbed, she may develop gynecological diseases. Following basic rules of personal hygiene will help avoid such failures.

Human immunity completely depends on the state of the microflora. Almost 60% of all bacteria are found in the gastrointestinal tract alone. The rest are located in the respiratory system and in the reproductive system. About two kilograms of bacteria live in a person.

The appearance of bacteria in the body

Beneficial bacteria

Beneficial bacteria are: lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, E. coli, streptomycents, mycorrhizae, cyanobacteria.

They all play an important role in human life. Some of them prevent the occurrence of infections, others are used in the production of medicines, and others maintain balance in the ecosystem of our planet.

Types of harmful bacteria

Harmful bacteria can cause a number of serious illnesses in humans. For example, diphtheria, anthrax, sore throat, plague and many others. They are easily transmitted from an infected person through air, food, or touch. It is the harmful bacteria, the names of which will be given below, that spoil food. They give off an unpleasant odor, rot and decompose, and cause diseases.

Bacteria can be gram-positive, gram-negative, rod-shaped.

Names of harmful bacteria

Table. Harmful bacteria for humans. Titles

Titles	Habitat	Harm
Mycobacteria	food, water	tuberculosis, leprosy, ulcer
Tetanus bacillus	soil, skin, digestive tract	tetanus, muscle spasms, respiratory failure
Plague stick (considered by experts as a biological weapon)	only in humans, rodents and mammals	bubonic plague, pneumonia, skin infections
Helicobacter pylori	human gastric mucosa	gastritis, peptic ulcer, produces cytoxins, ammonia
Anthrax bacillus	the soil	anthrax
Botulism stick	food, contaminated dishes	poisoning

Harmful bacteria can stay in the body for a long time and absorb beneficial substances from it. However, they can cause an infectious disease.

The most dangerous bacteria

One of the most resistant bacteria is methicillin. It is better known as Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus). This microorganism can cause not one, but several infectious diseases. Some types of these bacteria are resistant to powerful antibiotics and antiseptics. Strains of this bacterium can live in the upper respiratory tract, open wounds and urinary tract of every third inhabitant of the Earth. For a person with a strong immune system, this does not pose a danger.

Harmful bacteria to humans are also pathogens called Salmonella typhi. They are the causative agents of acute intestinal infections and typhoid fever. These types of bacteria, harmful to humans, are dangerous because they produce toxic substances that are extremely dangerous to life. As the disease progresses, intoxication of the body occurs, very high fever, rashes on the body, and the liver and spleen enlarge. The bacterium is very resistant to various external influences. Lives well in water, on vegetables, fruits and reproduces well in milk products.

Clostridium tetan is also one of the most dangerous bacteria. It produces a poison called tetanus exotoxin. People who become infected with this pathogen experience terrible pain, seizures and die very hard. The disease is called tetanus. Despite the fact that the vaccine was created back in 1890, 60 thousand people die from it every year on Earth.

And another bacterium that can lead to human death is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It causes tuberculosis, which is drug-resistant. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, a person may die.

Measures to prevent the spread of infections

Harmful bacteria and the names of microorganisms are studied by doctors of all disciplines from their student days. Healthcare annually seeks new methods to prevent the spread of life-threatening infections. If you follow preventive measures, you will not have to waste energy on finding new ways to combat such diseases.

To do this, it is necessary to timely identify the source of the infection, determine the circle of sick people and possible victims. It is imperative to isolate those who are infected and disinfect the source of infection.

The second stage is the destruction of pathways through which harmful bacteria can be transmitted. For this purpose, appropriate propaganda is carried out among the population.

Food facilities, reservoirs, and food storage warehouses are taken under control.

Every person can resist harmful bacteria by strengthening their immunity in every possible way. A healthy lifestyle, observing basic hygiene rules, protecting yourself during sexual contact, using sterile disposable medical instruments and equipment, completely limiting communication with people in quarantine. If you enter an epidemiological area or a source of infection, you must strictly comply with all the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological services. A number of infections are equated in their effects to bacteriological weapons.

Most people view various bacterial organisms solely as harmful particles that can provoke the development of various pathological conditions. Nevertheless, according to scientists, the world of these organisms is very diverse. There are frankly dangerous bacteria that pose a danger to our body, but there are also useful ones - those that ensure the normal functioning of our organs and systems. Let's try to understand these concepts a little and consider individual types of such organisms. Let's talk about bacteria in nature that are harmful and beneficial to humans.

Beneficial bacteria

Scientists say that bacteria became the very first inhabitants of our big planet, and it is thanks to them that there is life on Earth now. Over the course of many millions of years, these organisms gradually adapted to the constantly changing conditions of existence, they changed their appearance and habitat. Bacteria were able to adapt to the environment and were able to develop new and unique methods of life support, including multiple biochemical reactions - catalysis, photosynthesis and even seemingly simple respiration. Now bacteria coexist with human organisms, and such cooperation is characterized by some harmony, because such organisms are capable of bringing real benefits.

After a little person is born, bacteria immediately begin to penetrate into his body. They penetrate the respiratory tract along with the air, enter the body along with breast milk, etc. The entire body becomes saturated with various bacteria.

It is impossible to accurately calculate their number, but some scientists boldly say that the number of such cells in the body is comparable to the number of all cells. The digestive tract alone is home to four hundred different types of living bacteria. It is believed that a certain variety can grow only in a specific place. Thus, lactic acid bacteria are able to grow and multiply in the intestines, others feel optimal in the oral cavity, and some live only on the skin.

Over many years of coexistence, humans and such particles were able to recreate optimal conditions for cooperation for both groups, which can be characterized as a useful symbiosis. At the same time, bacteria and our body combine their capabilities, while each side remains in the black.

Bacteria are capable of collecting particles of various cells on their surface, which is why the immune system does not perceive them as hostile and does not attack them. However, after organs and systems are exposed to harmful viruses, beneficial bacteria rise to the defense and simply block the path of pathogens. When existing in the digestive tract, such substances also bring tangible benefits. They process leftover food, releasing a significant amount of heat. It, in turn, is transmitted to nearby organs, and is transferred throughout the body.

A deficiency of beneficial bacteria in the body or a change in their number causes the development of various pathological conditions. This situation can develop while taking antibiotics, which effectively destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria. To correct the number of beneficial bacteria, special preparations - probiotics - can be consumed.

Bacteria are useful and harmful. Bacteria in human life

Bacteria are the most numerous inhabitants of planet Earth. They inhabited it in ancient times and continue to exist today. Some species have even changed little since then. Bacteria, beneficial and harmful, literally surround us everywhere (and even penetrate into other organisms). With a rather primitive unicellular structure, they are probably one of the most effective forms of living nature and are classified as a special kingdom.

Permanent microflora

99% of the population resides permanently in the intestines. They are ardent supporters and helpers of man.

Essential beneficial bacteria. Names: bifidobacteria and bacteroides. They are the vast majority.
Associated beneficial bacteria. Names: Escherichia coli, enterococci, lactobacilli. Their number should be 1-9% of the total.

You also need to know that under appropriate negative conditions, all these representatives of the intestinal flora (with the exception of bifidobacteria) can cause diseases.

What are they doing?

The main functions of these bacteria are to help us in the digestion process. It has been noted that dysbiosis can occur in a person with poor nutrition. The result is stagnation and poor health, constipation and other inconveniences. When a balanced diet is normalized, the disease usually recedes.

Another function of these bacteria is guard. They monitor which bacteria are beneficial. To ensure that “strangers” do not penetrate their community. If, for example, the causative agent of dysentery, Shigella Sonne, tries to penetrate the intestines, they kill it. However, it is worth noting that this only happens in the body of a relatively healthy person with good immunity. Otherwise, the risk of getting sick increases significantly.

Fickle microflora

Approximately 1% of the body of a healthy individual consists of so-called opportunistic microbes. They belong to the unstable microflora. Under normal conditions, they perform certain functions that do not harm humans and work for the benefit. But in certain situations they can manifest themselves as pests. These are mainly staphylococci and various types of fungi.

Bacteria live almost everywhere - in the air, in water, in soil, in living and dead tissues of plants and animals. Some of them benefit humans, others do not. Most people know harmful bacteria, or at least some of them. Here are some names that justifiably evoke negative feelings in us: salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, vibrio cholerae, plague bacillus. But few people know the beneficial bacteria for humans or the names of some of them. Listing which microorganisms are beneficial and which bacteria are harmful would take more than one page. Therefore, we will consider only some of the names of beneficial bacteria.

Microorganisms with a diameter of 1-2 microns (0.001-0.002 mm) usually have an oval shape, as can be seen in the photo, which can vary from spherical to rod-shaped. Representatives of the genus Azotobacter live in slightly alkaline and neutral soils throughout the planet, up to both polar regions. They are also found in fresh water bodies and brackish marshes. Able to survive unfavorable conditions. For example, in dry soil these bacteria can survive up to 24 years without losing viability. Nitrogen is one of the essential elements for plant photosynthesis. They do not know how to separate it from the air on their own. Bacteria of the genus Azotobacter are useful because they accumulate nitrogen from the air, converting it into ammonium ions, which are released into the soil and are easily absorbed by plants. In addition, these microorganisms enrich the soil with biologically active substances that stimulate plant growth and help cleanse the soil of heavy metals, in particular lead and mercury. These bacteria are useful to humans in areas such as:

Agriculture. In addition to the fact that they themselves increase soil fertility, they are used to produce biological nitrogen fertilizers.
Medicine. The ability of representatives of the genus to secrete alginic acid is used to obtain drugs for gastrointestinal diseases that depend on acidity.
Food industry. The already mentioned acid, called alginic acid, is used in food additives to creams, puddings, ice cream, etc.

Bifidobacteria

These microorganisms, 2 to 5 microns long, are rod-shaped, slightly curved, as seen in the photo. Their main habitat is the intestines. Under unfavorable conditions, bacteria with this name quickly die. They are extremely useful for humans due to the following properties:

supply the body with vitamin K, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), nicotinic acid (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), amino acids and proteins;
prevent the development of pathogenic microbes;
protect the body from toxins from the intestines;
accelerate the digestion of carbohydrates;
activate parietal digestion;
help the absorption of calcium, iron, and vitamin D ions through the intestinal walls.

If dairy products have a prefix to the name “bio” (for example, biokefir), this means that it contains live bifidobacteria. These products are very useful, but do not last long.

Recently, drugs containing bifidobacteria have begun to appear. Be careful when taking them, because, despite the undoubted benefits of these microorganisms, the usefulness of the drugs themselves has not been proven. The research results are quite contradictory.

Lactic acid bacteria

The group with this name includes more than 25 species of bacteria. They are predominantly rod-shaped, less often spherical in shape, as shown in the photo. Their size varies greatly (from 0.7 to 8.0 µm) depending on the habitat. They live on the leaves and fruits of plants, in dairy products. In the human body, they are present throughout the gastrointestinal tract - from the mouth to the rectum. The vast majority of them are not at all harmful to humans. These microorganisms protect our intestines from putrefactive and pathogenic microbes.
They get their energy from the process of lactic acid fermentation. The beneficial properties of these bacteria have been known to man for a long time. Here are just a few areas of their application:

Food industry – production of kefir, sour cream, fermented baked milk, cheese; fermentation of vegetables and fruits; preparing kvass, dough, etc.
Agriculture – fermentation of silage (silage) slows down the development of mold and promotes better preservation of animal feed.
Traditional medicine – treatment of wounds and burns. That is why it is recommended to lubricate sunburns with sour cream.
Medicine – production of drugs to restore intestinal microflora and the female reproductive system after infection; receiving antibiotics and a partial blood substitute called dextran; production of drugs for the treatment of vitamin deficiencies, gastrointestinal diseases, to improve metabolic processes.

Streptomycetes

This genus of bacteria consists of almost 550 species. Under favorable conditions, they form threads with a diameter of 0.4-1.5 microns, reminiscent of mushroom mycelium, as can be seen in the photo. They live mainly in the soil. If you have ever taken medications such as erythromycin, tetracycline, streptomycin or chloramphenicol, then you already know how these bacteria are useful. They are manufacturers (producers) of a wide variety of drugs, including:

antifungal;
antibacterial;
antitumor.

Streptomycetes have been used in the industrial production of drugs since the forties of the last century. In addition to antibiotics, these beneficial bacteria produce the following substances:

To be fair, it is worth noting that not all streptomycetes are equally useful. Some of them cause potato disease (scab), others are the cause of various human ailments, including blood diseases.

I work as a veterinary doctor. I am interested in ballroom dancing, sports and yoga. I prioritize personal development and mastering spiritual practices. Favorite topics: veterinary medicine, biology, construction, repairs, travel. Taboos: law, politics, IT technologies and computer games.

What are bacteria

Bacteria means “stick” in Greek. This name does not mean that harmful bacteria are meant.

They were given this name because of their shape. Most of these single cells look like rods. They also come in squares and star-shaped cells. For a billion years, bacteria do not change their appearance; they can only change internally. They can be movable or immobile. Bacteria On the outside it is covered with a thin shell. This allows it to maintain its shape. There is no nucleus or chlorophyll inside the cell. There are ribosomes, vacuoles, cytoplasmic outgrowths, and protoplasm. The largest bacterium was found in 1999. It was called the "Grey Pearl of Namibia". Bacteria and bacillus mean the same thing, they just have different origins.

Man and bacteria

The appearance of bacteria in the body

A newly born baby has a sterile intestine.

After his first breath, many microorganisms enter the body with which he was previously unfamiliar. When the baby is first put to the breast, the mother transfers beneficial bacteria with milk, which will help normalize the intestinal microflora. It is not for nothing that doctors insist that the mother immediately after the birth of her child breastfeed him. They also recommend extending this feeding as long as possible.

Beneficial bacteria

Beneficial bacteria are: lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, E. coli, streptomycents, mycorrhizae, cyanobacteria.

Types of harmful bacteria

Harmful bacteria can cause a number of serious illnesses in humans. For example, diphtheria, sore throat, plague and many others. They are easily transmitted from an infected person through air, food, or touch. It is the harmful bacteria, the names of which will be given below, that spoil food. They give off an unpleasant odor, rot and decompose, and cause diseases.

Bacteria can be gram-positive, gram-negative, rod-shaped.

Names of harmful bacteria

Table. Harmful bacteria for humans. Titles

Titles	Habitat	Harm
Mycobacteria	food, water	tuberculosis, leprosy, ulcer
Tetanus bacillus	soil, skin, digestive tract	tetanus, muscle spasms, respiratory failure
Plague stick (considered by experts as a biological weapon)	only in humans, rodents and mammals	bubonic plague, pneumonia, skin infections
Helicobacter pylori	human gastric mucosa	gastritis, peptic ulcer, produces cytoxins, ammonia
Anthrax bacillus	the soil	anthrax
Botulism stick	food, contaminated dishes	poisoning

Harmful bacteria can stay in the body for a long time and absorb beneficial substances from it. However, they can cause an infectious disease.

The most dangerous bacteria

One of the most resistant bacteria is methicillin. It is better known as Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus). can cause not one, but several infectious diseases. Some types of these bacteria are resistant to powerful antibiotics and antiseptics. Strains of this bacterium can live in the upper respiratory tract, open wounds and urinary tract of every third inhabitant of the Earth. For a person with a strong immune system, this does not pose a danger.

And another bacterium that can lead to the death of a person is It causes tuberculosis, which is resistant to drugs. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, a person may die.

Measures to prevent the spread of infections

The second stage is the destruction of pathways through which harmful bacteria can be transmitted. For this purpose, appropriate propaganda is carried out among the population.

Food facilities, reservoirs, and food storage warehouses are taken under control.

For many years, we considered microbes to be dangerous enemies that needed to be gotten rid of, but in reality, everything is not as simple and straightforward as we used to think.

Microbiologist from Chicago Jack Gilbert I decided to find out whether the microbes that inhabit our homes are really dangerous. To do this, he explored several houses, including his own.
The specialist came to the same conclusion as many modern scientists. No matter how strange and regrettable it may sound, the main source of bacteria in the house is the person himself. So the struggle to keep all items in the house clean is the same as fighting against windmills.
Jack discovered that each person has his own unique set of microbes, and he only needs to stay indoors for a few hours to leave an easily identifiable bacterial trace - like a fingerprint. This discovery will undoubtedly help law enforcement agencies.
However, as for the domestic side of the issue, Gilbert did not find any truly dangerous microorganisms in twenty-first century homes.
According to the scientist, for so many centuries humanity has become accustomed to living in a dangerous world, when many people died from terrible diseases. When people learned about the nature of bacteria, they began to fight them. Of course, today we live in much safer and healthier conditions. But in their fight against microbes, people often go too far, forgetting that along with harmful ones, there are also useful ones.
“The causes of asthma, allergies, and many other diseases, as research shows, most likely lie in an imbalance in the microbial balance of the body. This imbalance has even been found to be associated with obesity, autism and schizophrenia!” says the American scientist.
Another important point is that immediately after cleaning, the clean surface is first inhabited by pathogenic microbes. That is, the more you clean and disinfect, the dirtier and more dangerous the space becomes. Of course, over time, a balance is established when the good microbes take their place.
Gilbert is sure that one should not interfere so zealously with natural processes. After research, he himself brought three dogs home to help him and, most importantly, the children maintain microbial diversity.

How will you react if you learn that the total weight of bacteria in your body is from 1 to 2.5 kilograms?
This will most likely cause surprise and shock. Most people believe that bacteria are dangerous and can cause serious harm to the body. Yes, this is true, but in addition to dangerous ones, there are also beneficial bacteria, which, moreover, are vital for human health.

They exist inside us, taking a huge part in various metabolic processes. Actively participate in the proper functioning of life processes, both in the internal and external environment of our body. These bacteria include bifidobacteria Rhizobium and E. coli, and many others.

Beneficial bacteria
We live in a world densely populated by bacteria. For example, a soil layer 30 cm thick and an area of 1 hectare contains from 1.5 to 30 tons of bacteria. There are almost as many bacteria in every gram of fresh milk as there are people on Earth. They also live inside our body. Several hundred species of bacteria live in the human oral cavity. For every cell of the human body, there are about ten bacterial cells living in the same body.

Of course, if all these bacteria were harmful to humans, it is unlikely that people would be able to survive in such an environment. But it turns out that these bacteria are not only not harmful to humans, but, on the contrary, are very useful to them.

In a newborn baby, the intestinal mucosa is sterile. With the first sip of milk, microscopic “tenants” rush into the human digestive system, becoming his companions for life. They help a person digest food and produce some vitamins.

For many animals, bacteria are simply necessary for life. For example, plants are known to serve as food for ungulates and rodents. The bulk of any plant is fiber (cellulose). But it turns out that bacteria living in special parts of the stomach and intestines help animals digest fiber.

We know that putrefactive bacteria spoil food. But the harm they bring to humans is nothing compared to the benefits they bring to nature as a whole. These bacteria can be called “natural orderlies.” By decomposing proteins and amino acids, they support the cycle of substances in nature.

Bacteria help find uses for animal waste. From the millions of tons of liquid manure that accumulates on farms, bacteria in special installations can produce flammable “swamp gas” (methane). Toxic substances contained in waste are neutralized, in addition, a considerable amount of fuel is produced. In the same way, bacteria purify wastewater.

All living organisms require nitrogen to make proteins. We are surrounded by veritable oceans of atmospheric nitrogen. But neither plants, nor animals, nor fungi are capable of absorbing nitrogen directly from the air. But special (nitrogen-fixing) bacteria can do this. Some plants (for example, legumes, sea buckthorn) form special “apartments” (nodules) on their roots for such bacteria. Therefore, alfalfa, peas, lupines and other legumes are often planted in poor or depleted soils so that their bacteria “feed” the soil with nitrogen.

Yogurt, cheese, sour cream, butter, kefir, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables - all these products would not exist if it weren’t for lactic acid bacteria . Man has been using them since ancient times. By the way, yogurt is absorbed three times faster than milk - in an hour the body completely digests 90% of this product. Without lactic acid bacteria there would be no silage for livestock feed.

It is known that if wine is stored for a long time, it gradually turns into vinegar. People have probably known about this since they learned to make wine. But only in the 19th century. Louis Pasteur (see article " Louis Pasteur") established that this transformation is caused by acetic acid bacteria that have entered the wine. With their help, vinegar is obtained.

Various bacteria help humans make silk, produce coffee, and tobacco.
One of the most promising ways to use bacteria was discovered only towards the end of the 20th century. It turns out that it is possible to introduce into the body of a bacterium the gene for some protein that a person needs (although it is completely unnecessary for the bacterium) - for example, the insulin gene. Then the bacteria will begin to produce it. The applied science that makes such operations possible is called genetic engineering. After a long and difficult search, scientists managed to establish bacterial “production” of this substance (insulin), which is vital for patients with diabetes. In the future, it will probably become possible to customize bacteria into microscopic “factories” for the production of certain proteins.