Bacteria and Archae Example organisms

Halococcus dombrowskiiThis bacteria is found in areas with very high salt concentrations, and can grow aerobically or anaerobically, meaning they are facultative anaerobes.

Escherichia coli

This is a gram-negative organism, and is commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded organisms. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some can be fatal.

Methanopyrus kandleriThis bacteria can survive and reproduce in temperatures as high as 122 degrees Celsius. It lives in environments that have a lot of hydrogen-carbon dioxide and reduces it to methane so it can be used by other organisms.

Nitzschia kerguelensisThese organisms are usually found in cooler waters, and have even been seen to strive in temperatures as low as -6 degrees Celsius. Some of them even have very high tolerances to salt, because they have discovered species living in Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana, which is a large salt pan.

Thermoplasma acidophilumThis organism is a heterotrophic prokaryote. It is said to be "among the most acidophilic organism known.” It grows in high temperatures and a very low pH.

Thermococcus celerThis organism requires high temperatures to live and thrive, as well as sulfur. It is an obligate anaerobe.

Rickettsia prowazekiiThis gram-negative, parasitic bacteria is most commonly found in the feces of lice. The bacteria usually has two hosts throughout its life, a vertebrate and an invertebrate.

Bifidobacterium dentiumThis bone-shaped gram-positive bacteria that is also an opportunistic pathogen. It is an obligate anaerobe.

Clostridium difficile

This is a gram-positive bacteria that causes severe diarrhea along with other intestinal issues when other bacteria in your gut have been killed by antibiotics. This bacteria can lead to severe inflammation of the colon.

Bacillus cereusThis is a gram-positive bacteria that is commonly found in the ground. Some strains of this bacteria can cause foodborne illness, while others are beneficial. It is the cause of “Fried Rice Syndrome,” which is basically just food poisoning in rice because it has sat in room temperature too long.

Nodularia armorciaThis is a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. It tends to live in salinic waters, and has even been found in the Makgadikgadi Pans. This bacteria occasionally causes heavy algal blooms.

Chlamydia trachomatisThis is a pathogen in humans that causes many problems, such as infertility and infections in the eye. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as many other things.

Treponema pallidumThis bacteria causes many diseases such as syphilis, beiel, pinta, and yaws. The organism is too thin to be seen under a light microscope.

Halobacterium salinarum

This organism is extrememly halophilic and gram-negative. It is found in salted fish, hides, saltern lakes, and many other areas with very high salt concentrations. It can also be found in high-sodium foods, like salt pork and sausages.

Rhizobium leguminosarumRhizobium leguminosarum was the first species of Rhizobium to be identified in 1889. The name Rhizobium means “root of life.” It is a soil bacteria that requires a plant host to take part in notrogen fixation.