Bacteria are prokaryotic beings, very important in the lives of human beings, given their use in various areas, such as medicine, environment and food.
Bacteria in Medicine
In medicine we can mention the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, responsible for the production of botulinum toxin, commercially called Botox.
This substance reduces or eliminates muscle contractions and is used in aesthetic treatments such as preventing wrinkles and expression marks, as well as strabismus and cervical dystonia.
In antibiotics, vitamins, growth hormones, insulin, alcohols, bacteria are used.
Bacteria in the Environment
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis has been used in agriculture, as it plays the role of biological controller, since its protein crystals control larvae, caterpillars, borers, flies, mosquitoes and plecos. This way, it ends up replacing many herbicides.
Some other bacteria can also act in processes of degradation of organic waste and herbicides, pesticides, oil, PCBs, DDT, plastics, detergents, mercury, nitrites, selenium, arsenic and uranium, which are considered environmental polluters.
Bacteria in Food
In food, we can mention species such as Streptococcus thermophilus, S. lactis and S. cremoris; Lactobacilli bulgaricus, L. casei, L. acidophillus, and L. yogurtii; and some of the genera Acetobacter, Corynebacterium and Acetobacter, responsible for the production of vinegar, glutamic acid (protein from living beings), chocolate, bread, wine, fermented drinks, soy sauce and certain dairy products.
That's why bacteria will always be part of humanity's life.
