Annotated Bibliography

Background Information

Bacteria are prokaryotes under the kingdom Monera. This means they have no true nucleus. Most bacteria also lack internal organelles. Most bacteria is beneficiary while a fraction are pathogens. Pathogens cause human and animal disease. However, they can also produce antibiotics. Beneficial bacteria can do various tasks from producing yogurt to decomposing dead organic matter.
Most bacteria are one in three shapes. The first one is coccus which is spherical. The next one is bacillus which is rod shaped. The last and third on is spirillum which is spiral.
There are many parts to a cell. The capsule, only found in specific bacteria, is the outermost protective coating. The cell wall gives the cell its shape. It is made out of peptoglycan. The cytoplasm is the gel-like material that fills up the cell. Here is also where the organelles are found. The Flagella helps the bacterium to move. I swings it in a propeller motion. The pili are hair-like organelle that helps the bacterium to attach to other cells or items. The nucleoid is where the DNA and RNA is stored.
Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic by serendipity. Most antibiotics work by preventing the cell wall from producing peptoglycan. There are two types of antibiotics. The first is bacteriocidal.It kills the bacteria directly. The second is bacteriostatic. This method stops the bacteria from multiplying.

Even though synthetic antibiotics are powerful and effective. Bacteria most of the time becomes resistant to that drug. Scientists are constantly creating new antibiotics to counterattack. However with natural antibiotics this is not necessary. There are a few natural antibiotics that are effective and have no side effects. One is garlic. Allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, can treat illnesses from a simple earache to deadly MRSA. Manuka Honey is another effective natural antibiotic. Its deadly antibiotic properties can kill even flesh eating bacteria.