Biological Sciences

Proteobacteria

Proteobacteria is a major phylum of bacteria that includes a wide range of species with diverse metabolic capabilities. They are known for their ecological and industrial importance, as well as their association with human health and disease. Many well-known bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, belong to the Proteobacteria phylum.

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  • E-Z Microbiology
    eBook - ePub

    E-Z Microbiology

    10
    The Bacteria
    WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
    This chapter provides a brief introduction to the many diverse groups of bacteria that have been identified and described by microbiologists. As you study this chapter, you will: • review the current view of the phylogeny of the bacteria; • discover the diversity of bacteria; • explore the impact of bacteria on human health and the environment.
    SECTIONS IN THIS CHAPTER
    • Phylum Cyanobacteria
    • Phylum Proteobacteria
    • Phylum Firmicutes
    • Phylum Actinobacteria
    • Phylum Chlamydiae
    • Phylum Spirochaetes
    Most of the prokaryotes you have ever heard of are probably part of the Domain Bacteria, which includes most of the familiar bacteria along with thousands of species you may never have heard of or thought about. Only a very small fraction of bacteria are either human pathogens or used in human industry. Most bacteria are part of the complex ecosystem of planet Earth and perform vital roles in the cycling of nutrients and energy.
    REMEMBERThe microbial world is a vast universe that we have only begun to study, and most of the world’s microbes have yet to be identified. Of those that we have studied, only a very small percentage have negative impacts on humans.
    According to the preliminary taxonomic outline of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2nd edition, there are twenty-three phyla within Domain Bacteria. The bacteria within these phyla exhibit an incredible diversity of metabolism, structure, and role in the environment. Here, we will consider a representative sample of those genera that demonstrate the medical, economic, and environmental importance of the bacteria. In addition, we will look at examples of bacteria (Table 10.1
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