Bacteria, beneficial

Fructo-oligosaccharides selectively promote the growth of Acidophillus, Bifidus and Faecium spp. bacteria beneficial to the gastro-intestinal tract (Campbell et al, 1997 Collins Rastah, 2008). By stimulating the intestinal flora, the fructo-oligosaccharides contribute to... 

Pathogenic organisms Bacteria, viruses or cysts which cause disease (typhoid, cholera, dysentery) in a host (such as a person). There are many types of bacteria (non-pathogenic) which do NOT cause disease. Many beneficial bacteria are found in wastewater treatment processes actively cleaning up organic wastes. 

It is now believed that many of our useful drugs exert their beneficial action by the inhibition of enzyme activity in bacteria. Some bacteria, such as staphylococcus, require for their growth the simple organic compound poraaminobenzoic... 

Cranberry juice has long been recommended for use in treating and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Clinical studies have confirmed that cranberry juice is beneficial to individuals with frequent UTIs Cranberries inhibit bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract and prevent certain bacteria from forming dental plaque in the mouth. Cranberry juice is safe for use asa food and for urinary tract health. Cranberry juice and capsules have no contraindica-tions no known adverse reactions and no drug interactions The recommended dosage is9 to 15 capsules a day (400-500 mg/d) or 4 to 8 ounces of juice per day. (See Chap. 6 for more information.)... 

Goldenseal Hydrastis canadens s Antiseptic for skin (topical), astringent for mucous membranes (mouthwash), wash for inflamed eyes, sinus infections, peptic ulcers, colitis, gastritis Large doses may cause dry or irritated mucous membranes and injury to the gastrointestinal system may reduce the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Siould not be taken for more than 3-7 days. 

Even though environmental toxicology could have profound effects on the HS response, there are other considerations where manipulation of the HS response could be beneficial. For example, constitutive induction of the HS response in bacteria could be a potential means to develop super-microbes which could withstand harsh environments while engaging in their genetically-designed function such as scouring oil spills and enzymatically converting toxins into harmless substances. 

Fever is the most common manifestation. The thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus regulates body temperature and this can be affected by endotoxins (heat-stable lipopolysaccharides) of Gram-negative bacteria and also by a monokine secreted by monocytes and macrophages called interleukin-1 (IL-1) which is also termed endogenous pyrogen. Antibody production and T-cell proliferation have been shown to be enhanced at elevated body temperatures and thus are beneficial effects of fever. 

T. J. Burr and A. Caesar, Beneficial plant bacteria. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 2 1 (1984). 

Many areas of the human body are colonized with bacteria— this is known as normal flora. Infections often arise from one s own normal flora (also called an endogenous infection). Endogenous infection may occur when there are alterations in the normal flora (e.g., recent antimicrobial use may allow for overgrowth of other normal flora) or disruption of host defenses (e.g., a break or entry in the skin). Knowing what organisms reside where can help to guide empirical antimicrobial therapy (Fig. 66-1). In addition, it is beneficial to know what anatomic sites are normally sterile. These include the cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and urine. 

Probiotics Dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria that promote health by stimulating optimal mucosal immune responses. 

Many unicellular eukaryotes are free-living cells, but may form huge local communities, which are especially beneficial to the homeostasis of the ocean/atmos-phere carbon cycle, e.g. coccoliths. Many others are not free-living, but are extremely valuable in symbiotic relationship with multi-cellular plants and animals. Unfortunately, some unicellular eukaryotes are the causes of disease, for example Trypanosoma, which are animals and cause sleeping sickness in humans (see Section 8.9 for parallel diseases of plants). These facts are reminders that while we consider that the whole ecosystem works to one general purpose (Section 4.4), this does not exclude the obvious feature that within its overall associations we can see diseases inflicted on one species by another or competition between similar species. Many bacteria are also causes of serious eukaryote diseases. Even so at the end of... 

The term prebiotic was introduced by Gibson and Roberfroid (1995) who defined prebiotics as a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon . 

Allelopathy is defined as biochemical interactions between one plant or microorganism (alga, bacteria, or virus) and another plant through the production of chemical compounds - secondary metabolites (allelochemicals), which influence, direct or indirect, harmful or beneficial, plant growth and development (Rice 1984). Allelochemicals are present in almost all plants and in many tissues, like leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, or pollen and may be released from plants into the environment by volatilization, leaching, root exudation, and decomposition of plant residues (Chou 1990). 

---