Beneficial Bacteria Names

The word ‘bacteria’ generally indicates some sort of disease, but here, in this article, beneficial bacteria for humans as well as beneficial bacteria for plants are described, along with the specific beneficial bacteria names. This article will guide you about how these bacteria are beneficial to human beings, animals and plants.

The word ‘bacteria’ refers to the group of unicellular microorganisms, having a wide range of shapes, growing in every habitat on earth, including the living bodies of human beings, animals and plants. Bacteriology, the study of different types of bacteria, is a branch of microbiology. A Dutch merchant named Antony van Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria with a lens he designed himself, calling these tiny creatures ‘animalcules’; over time they were classified into the kingdom Procaryotae. There are both helpful and harmful types of bacteria. Pathogenic bacteria cause diseases, but it is surprising that almost 99% of bacteria are helpful. They are present in food, water and air, and they travel from one person to another. They cannot be called parasites to the human body, as it is with their help that the body functions well. The number of bacteria in our body exceeds the number of our own cells, while the population of beneficial bacteria in this world surpasses the population of human beings — even after a good bath, over one million bacteria are supposedly present on every square centimeter of the skin.

A Body Full of Bacteria

All of us are born absolutely sterile, with not a single organism growing on or inside our bodies. As we come into contact with the environment — breathing air, drinking and eating — we are colonized by millions of organisms that remain with us even after death. Take any part of your body, even the tiniest hair, and you will find a flourishing ecosystem of at least five or six types of bacteria. There are over 500 species found on the human body as normal flora; the mouth alone houses over 25 species, and in the cecum, the initial part of the colon, there are over 108 million bacterial cells per milliliter of content. Most of these do not cause disease, and the beneficial bacteria outnumber the harmful ones. Depending upon their shape, bacteria are classified as coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-like), spirochete (spiral or corkscrew shaped), and vibrio (comma shaped).

Beneficial Bacteria: Names and Functions

The beneficial bacteria are called ‘probiotics’, and the other bacteria which help the probiotics to function well are called ‘prebiotics’. The human body fights disease through the skin layer, the immune system, the mucous lining and finally through the ‘gut microflora’ — the beneficial bacteria present in the intestine. Bacteria also have names and surnames like human beings:

• Lactobacillus Acidophilus: The most friendly bacteria, where lactobacillus is the genus name and acidophilus is the particular strain. They are naturally present in dairy products and also added to dietary supplements for better results.
• Lactobacillus (acid-loving strains): Found in buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream and frozen desserts, these convert sugar and carbohydrates into lactic acid and so are called lactic acid bacteria. By lowering the pH and reducing the risk of other organisms growing in the food, they generate the fermented taste and help prevent gastrointestinal infections.
• Cyanocobalamin: These bacteria help in the production of vitamin B12 during digestion. Probiotics are responsible for overall digestive health, breaking down the complex components of food so they can be easily absorbed into the blood.
• Acidophilus Bifidus: Reduces cholesterol levels and prevents the growth of hostile yeasts like Candida albicans. It cleanses the blood stream by removing toxins, thus enhancing the immune system.
• Streptomyces: Used in the manufacturing of antibiotics.
• Rhizobium: Plays an important role in nitrogen fixation.
• E. Coli (Escherichia Coli): Present in the intestine and also known as enteric bacteria, these help in digestion and produce vitamin B-complex and vitamin K.
• Streptococcus Mutans: Found in the mouth, they convert sucrose into lactic acid.
• Staphylococcus Epidermidis and Proprionibacterium Acnes: Present on the skin and usually commensal, they prevent certain fungi from spreading.
• Acidophilus Bacteria: Found in the vagina, these produce lactic acid which prevents fungal growth.
• Intestinal Flora: Play an important role in the formation of new cells and regeneration of the intestinal tract by fermenting dietary fiber and producing fatty acids. They also produce some vitamins required by the body.
• Probiotics: Help in the synthesis of vitamin K, required for clotting of blood, and aid the absorption of magnesium.
• Saccharomyces Boulardii: Helps reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children.
• Anaerobic Beneficial Bacteria: Helpful in the fermentation of vinegar and in the cheese-making process.

How Beneficial Bacteria Help the Body

The common gut microflora present inside the human body — chiefly Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria — compete with harmful bacteria for space, limit their growth, produce enzymes that aid digestion, and manufacture vitamins essential for the body. They normally grow in a state of equilibrium until disrupted by an external factor. Studies show that this microflora can be destroyed by stress, alcohol, disease, antibiotics, certain drugs and exposure to toxic substances, which allows harmful bacteria to thrive and cause health problems. This is why doctors often recommend a dose of probiotics after a course of antibiotics. Ingesting probiotics has shown marked improvement in people who are lactose intolerant, and in conditions such as diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, vaginal candida or yeast infections, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, as well as in lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, improving mineral absorption and helping some allergy sufferers.

Beneficial Bacteria for Water, Soil and Plants

Other than humans, bacteria benefit water, soil and plants too. In water, some bacteria help dissolve organic sludge, break down the growth of algae, reduce noxious odors such as hydrogen sulfide, lower ammonia levels and enhance the growth of fish. In soil, bacteria break down organic fertilizers into matter that plants can easily absorb, and some convert nitrogen into nitrates for the same purpose. Others break down the woody, tough tissues of jute, coconut, hemp and flax. Bacteria are also used in biological pest control in place of pesticides, and in the production of pure chemicals for the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. In bioremediation — a sewage-disposal approach — beneficial bacteria are incorporated into water or soil to break down toxic pollutants like oil and pesticides into harmless substances.

Probiotic bacteria are available in the form of capsules, whose branded names are easier to remember than the beneficial bacteria names themselves. But natural intake through buttermilk, yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, kim chi, miso and other fermented foods is always recommended. Prebiotic intake can be increased by including oatmeal, barley, banana, flax, onions, green vegetables and legumes in the diet. Bacteria were the first living organisms found on Earth and make up a significant part of its total biomass. The beneficial bacteria would survive anywhere, without humans, but we cannot survive without them. Mother Nature has effectively created bacteria to offer us help in the functions we cannot achieve on our own.