microorganisms are they helpful or harmful?

     Microorganisms, tiny microscopic germs that we cannot see, but know that they are around everywhere.  They can be outside in our environment or even in our own body.  However, are these bacterium helpful to us or are they there waiting for a chance to harm us?  Many bacteria, for example, some bacteria and yeast are used to help ferment certain types of food.  The five processes in the nitrogen cycle, which include fixation, uptake, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification are all driven by microorganisms.  In fact, many other bacteria are used to help make medicine that help cure us from many different infections.  On the other hand, there are some bacteria that are not so helpful.  These bacteria are known as pathogens and they can be so harmful that we can die from them.  In conclusion, microorganisms can be either beneficial or harmful and we should take precautions on how to prevent any disease. 

Reflections of Microbiology

     When i was younger, I never thought about "germs" as being good.  I remember the first time hearing this word was probably when I was in grade school, when the teachers would say wash your hands good or you'll catch a cold.  Even when I got older I never really thought about what germs really were, but things that could make you sick.  However, when I started studying microorganisms that helped us in our everyday lives and the ones that are pathogenic towards us, it changed my concept of how I saw things.

     Microbiology, helped me understand why it is that these bacteria exist and what is the purpose of having them in this world.  Not only do I understand better, but I owe that to the current professor that is teaching the course.  She has excellent knowledge about the topics we learn everyday in class.  For example, when I took Biology in high school, we learned about cellular respiration, which is the process of using energy to make ATP.  However, I never really understood it and honestly I've probably heard of it a good amount of times to actually know the process and what is involved to make ATP, but when the professor went over it in class I understood it much better and was actually able to answer questions.  Microbiology is an interesting course and I would recommend everyone to take a better look at the environment and know that the things that surround us are there for a reason.

Encounter with E.coli or not??

   About 7 or 8 years ago, my family and I had just moved back to New Jersey from Texas.  We were all excited to be back to our home town and with our family and old friends.  Make the long story short, my sisters and a couple of my cousins decided to go out to eat at this Dominican spot.  We go in, order what we usually get and sit down to eat.  I remember we were all having fun laughing at each other and enjoying the food.  We end up going home and I believe a week or so goes by and my sister starts having stomach cramps.  Thinking it was nothing my mother gave her some medicine that would take the pain away.  However, that was not the case, she actually got worse.  She started with cramps that led to diarrhea and ended up getting a fever.  We were home just relaxing waiting for my mom to come back home from work when my sister came out and told us that she was bleeding every time she went to the bathroom.

   We all waited for my mom to come home and when she did we told her what was going on.  We ended up taking my sister to the emergency room and she ended  up being there for almost 2 weeks.  They would run test every day to determine what it was she had and everyday she was there it seemed that she got worse.  Little by little she got better with the medicine she was taking, she got discharged and we went home.  In the end I never really knew what it was she had, but from taking this Microbiology class I come to my own conclusion that it must have been E.coli.  I do not know if it truly was this, but with all the symptoms you get from this disease and what my sister had there is a really close resemblance to this bacteria.  

A Deadly Encounter

  Today, I will be discussing with you guys an encounter that occurred to me not to long ago.  I believe this happened about 5 years ago, when i was 15.  I live in a certain part of the United States in where we experience all four seasons.  This particular year winter hit us pretty hard.  However, as a 15 year old teen, I was happy to see all the snow fall and even more delighted because school was closed for about 2 days straight with delayed openings following after.  My brother and I love playing in the snow, no matter how cold it is outside you will always find us out there.  Thus, because of  the snow falling my mother told us not to go outside because it was extremely cold.  In the days to come, I would realize that I should have listened to my mom.

  According to Robert W Derlet, MD, he states that the Influenza is a common infectious disease.  It is a highly contagious airborne disease that causes an acute febrile illness and results in variable degrees of systemic symptoms, ranging from mild fatigue to respiratory failure and death.  At first, I felt like I had nothing but a cold, however, I would soon realize that was not the case.  Two days would pass and my "cold" would not go away, even while taking medicine.  Chills from my neck down followed with severe headaches and body aches.  At this point, I knew I had the flu.  I have experienced the flu before, but never like this.  I lasted with the flu for about a week and on the final days of recovering my temperature rose to 103.  As a result of the high temperature I ended up going to the hospital and got the right medication I needed.  To end, we need to keep in mind, that even though we could just have the flu we need to take it serious.  If I would have stayed at home thinking that this would pass on it's own, I could probably be dead right now.  

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/219557-overview#a0101