19+ Kingdom Bacteria Examples: Detailed Explanations And Images

In this article, we will be discussing examples of different types of bacteria

Bacteria kingdom is one of the major kingdoms under the kingdom Animalia. Previously the kingdom was called monera; it contains two major domains; Eubacteria and Archaea.

Examples of bacteria based on their shape

Streptococcus pyogenes:

It is a gram-positive bacterium that grows in chains and causes many infections like cellulitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and necrotizing fasciitis. The transmission of bacteria takes place through nasal discharge, air droplets, contaminated surfaces, and contaminated food.

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Streptococcus pyogenes from Shutterstock

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis causes skin infections like inflammations, boils, sinus infections, and endocarditis. It is a highly contagious infection that is usually associated with implanted devices like catheters and prosthetic devices.

Enterococcus faecalis 

Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive bacteria that causes gastrointestinal tract infections in humans. The other infections caused by the bacteria are urinary tract infections, endocarditis, prostatitis, cellulitis, and wound infections. It is transmitted mainly through contaminated food.

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Enterococcus faecalis from Shutterstock

Chlamydia trachomatis 

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis a gram-negative bacterium. The bacteria infect the epithelial wall of the cervix, rectum, and urethra. If the infection is not treated properly it will lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease. In infants, the bacteria causes conjunctivitis and pneumonia.

Neisseria meningtitidis

Neisseria meningitides is a gram-negative bacterium that causes meningococcal disease. The most common site of colonization of the bacteria is the nasopharynx region. The bacterium causes sepsis, pericarditis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and urethritis.

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Neisseria meningtitidis from istockphoto

Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a round-shaped gram-positive bacterium that is mostly found in the upper respiratory tract and skin. The bacterium is transmitted by direct contact and contaminated objects.  It travels through the bloodstream and causes endocarditis, bacteremia, pneumonia, and osteomyelitis.

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Staphylococcus aureus from Shutterstock

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumonia is a gram-positive lancet-shaped anaerobic bacteria that cause pneumonia, middle ear infections, sepsis, and meningitis. The infection spreads through air droplets. The symptoms of the pneumococcal infections area shortness of breath, joint pain, fever, cough, ear pain, irritability, and sleeplessness.

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Streptococcus pnemoniae from Shutterstock

Aeromonas hydrophila

Aeromonas hydrophila is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium that is mainly found in fresh water and belongs to the Vibrionaceae family.  It causes infections like kidney disease, cellulitis, meningitis, septicemia, pneumonia, and respiratory tract infections.

Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that causes a highly infectious disease called anthrax. The bacteria naturally occur in animals like sheep, goats, camels, and antelope. The infection causes multiple organ damage, and inflammation of the membrane of the brain and spinal cord leading to hemorrhagic meningitis.

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Bacillus anthracis from Shutterstock

Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum is a rod-shaped gram-positive bacterium that produces a neurotoxin called botulinum. The toxin blocks nerve functions and causes muscular and respiratory paralysis. The infection is not contagious but is transmitted through contaminated food.

Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria commonly found in the lower intestine. In most cases the bacteria are harmless but certain strains cause stomach pain, diarrhea, cramps, and fever. The infection is usually caused by ingesting contaminated food like ground meat.

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Escherichia coli from Shutterstock

Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is flagellated, rod-shaped, aerobic gram-negative bacterium that causes legionellosis disease. Legionellosis is a type of acute pneumonia that is contracted while handling potting soil or compost.

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Legionella pneumophila from Shutterstock

Mycobacterium leprae

Mycobacterium leprae is a rod-shaped, aerobic, gram-positive bacillus that causes a chronic infectious disease called Leprosy.  The bacterium affects the peripheral nerves of the nose, skin, muscles, and eyes. The disease is highly contagious and transmits through airborne droplets from the infected individual’s sneeze or cough.

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Mycobacterium leprae from Shutterstock

Vibrio cholera

Vibrio cholera is gram-negative anaerobic comma-shaped bacterium that causes an intestinal infection called cholera by secreting the cholera toxin. The symptoms of cholera are extreme diarrhea, leg cramps, thirst, vomiting, and restlessness.

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Vibrio cholerae from Shutterstock

Salmonella typhimurium

Salmonella typhimuriums is a flagellated, rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria causing salmonella infection. The infection is caused due to the intake of raw meat, eggs, and poultry.  This is the most common intestinal tract infection that causes gastroenteritis, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.

Rickettsia typhi 

Rickettsia typhi is a small rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium that causes murine typhus infection. The bacterium is usually transmitted by fleas. The symptoms of the infection are rash, fever, headache, and chills.

Borrelia afzelii

Borrelia afzelii is a spiral-shaped gram-negative aerobic bacterium that is transmitted through ticks and causes Lyme’s disease. The common symptoms of the disease are swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills, stiff neck, fatigue, and body aches.

Campylobacter coli

Campylobacter coli is an S-shaped gram-negative bacterium that causes campylobacteriosis – a diarrheal disease. The bacteria are usually transmitted by eating undercooked or raw poultry meat, seafood, and water.

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Campylobacter coli from Shutterstock

Helicobacter hepaticus

Helicobacter hepaticus is a spiral-shaped bacterium with bipolar single sheathed flagellum that causes liver cancer. The infection caused by the bacterium causes chronic gastrointestinal inflammation that leads to neoplasia. The morphology of the breast glands also changes that leading to adenocarcinoma.

Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori are a helical-shaped gram-negative bacterium that causes infection in the stomach and duodenum. The bacterium irritates the inner lining of the stomach causing inflammation and peptic ulcers. Stomach burning, nausea, stomach bloating, weight loss, loss of appetite, indigestion and burping are some of the symptoms of the infection.

Leptospira interrogans 

Leptospira interrogans is a gram-negative spiral-shaped bacteria with internal flagella that causes leptospirosis disease.  The infection is usually mild but if left untreated can cause liver and kidney failure. The bacterium affects both animals and humans and it usually enters the body through skin abrasions and by the bite of the infected rat. The symptoms of the infection are high fever, headache, chills, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, and muscle aches.

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