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EQ2 - How do viruses, bacteria, and protists impact our lives in both positive and negative ways?  toc

=Wallace = A common, naturally occurring virus that attacks cancer cells but appears to be harmless to normal cells is may be a possible treatment for highly aggressive brain tumors.

Over the course of a lifetime, most adults will be exposed to the virus in its natural state. It commonly infects the lungs and intestines but, unlike most viruses, it causes few (if any symptoms) and is usually eliminated by the body within two weeks. But while the reovirus (respiratory enteric orphan virus) may be harmless to normal cells, it can specifically kill certain cancer cells.

However, viruses are not all good. Viruses are known for their deadly attacks on living species, especially humans. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a typical virus that spreads, multiplies, develops and kills many living organisms. It originates from the Guang Dong province, and spread to many countries in a few weeks. It killed about 780 people in 2002-2003. SARS causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing, and produces a whole lot more of white blood cells than the body needs.

Just like viruses, bacteria can be helpful and harmful too! An example would be the Rhizobium bacteria, a group of helpful bacteria that converts nitrogen gas into other useful substances that help plants to grow well. When other organisms die, the Rhizobia bacteria decomposes the dead animal and use some of the dead organism's molecules as food while letting the rest of the molecules get mixed into the soil for the plants to consume. As the plants consume the molecules, they get to grow well and other organisms such as animals feed on these plants as they keep on increasing their own body cells until they also get to die and the cycle is repeated again.

However, Sometimes bacteria cause diseases in plants and animals that sicken or even kill them. Disease-causing bacteria can infect organisms in two different ways. Most attack the body's cells directly. Others produce chemicals called Toxins (poisons). Either way, the bacteria destroy or damage cells within the plant or animal. Anthrax is a deadly type of bacteria that infects animals, especially cattle and sheep. Plants can be infected as well with a number of dangerous bacteria. Fire blight is plant disease that occurs in apple trees and pear trees.

Protists are important because they play a major role in all food webs. They consume bacteria and through photosynthesis, they provide oxygen. In addition they provide food for other organisms. There are many protists that cause diseases such as Amoebic Dysentery (Inflammation of intestines caused by parasite amoeba), and Malaria (Fever caused by protozoan parasite).

The picture shows how the lung of a patient infected by SARS is affected. Paige- *Surprised Expression* This is very good and nice choice of disease. However, I would talk more about protists. But other than that, very scientific! =] Back to top =Coco= My comment to Wallace: Did you research it out? I mean as in the SARS part, 780 people died! Seriously, why does so many people get infected? I know that viruses could copy into people's bodies fast but that is like a lot of people who died from it...(btw. you forgot to put a back to top button) so I put it for you. Most people think that bacteria or virus are all bad to us, which is true but also not all of them are bad for us. Bacteria and virus caused pretty bad diseases like SARS, which lots of people died from it but that’s in modern. The thing is, before there is a horrible diseases that lots of people died from. And mostly half of the Europeans population died because of it, it’s the well-known disease, Black Death. People said that about 20 million to 75 million people died. Black Death is caused by virus that is called Bubonic virus, that ‘s what the textbooks said. But some people says it’s caused by the Ebola virus, there’s still arguments about that. Also the mosquitoes spread the protozoan that causes Malaria. Many thousands of people die from this disease throughout the world every year. Even though there are lots of deceases that is caused by those bacteria, virus and protists but without them we probably won’t survive. (Though I’m not so sure about virus) Bacteria help us in lots of ways, like our eating habits would be different without bacteria, we won’t be eating yogurts or even cheese. And there would be lots of dead bodies on the ground because there aren’t bacteria that break down the dead bodies. Bacteria also breaks down dangerous chemicals into less dangerous chemicals or oil. There is lots of other things that bacteria, virus and protists helps us. [|The virus that caused plague:]  MARY!: I think that you should of have talked more about viruses and protists. And that the picture should be related to bacteria. But you listed good information. Paige: I changed your 'words' into a link with the URL so it would be easier to use. As I said in mine, I couldn't upload. You have the same disease as Wallace. Yes I agree with Mary on talking more about Virus and Protists. Very Interesting. Back to top =Soomin=

Soomin's comment to Meg:　I agree with you. A lot of people think viruses, bacteria are bad, but its not true. Some can be good. They can help people digest food, and make vitamins too. They are also decomposers. They clean up dead things. Without them, the earth will be a mess. Viruses, bacteria, protists impact our lives in both negative and positive way. Viruses can make you sick with diseases when they reproduce, because they harm your cells. But they don't really mean to harm you. In the medieval times, a lot of Europeans died from this disease called the black death carried by the rats who carried the viruses. However, Viruses can be also helpful. Scientists can use them to help disordered people, and people who have cancer, etc. (Gene Therapy, which transfers genes to a person whose necessary genes are missing...) Bacteria breaks down food particles which will cause your food to spoil. They also causes Pathogenic diseases. Like meningococcus. However, Bacteria, can also do really helpful things to us. Like, they help to clean up oil spills, gasoline leaks, and they also help us to digest food, make vitamins, and also they help us to make food. Like they help us to make yogurt, apple cider, butter and even cheese! Without these bacteria, there wouldn't be cheese for us to eat. And some bacteria can produce oxygen by respiration. Protists can cause pathogenic diseases, like Malaria, Sleeping Sickness (Trypanosomiasis), Leishmaniasis, etc. Also water mold is a parasite that grows on fish. The water mold eventually will kill the fish. And if this happens a lot, maybe in the future, we won't be able to eat fish anymore.... However, Protists can be also helpful to us. Like the Red algae can be used my humans in a variety of ways. Carrageenan a substance extracted from red algae, is used in products such as ice creams and hair conditioners. For people in many Asian Cultures, red algae is a nutrient-rich delicacy that is eaten fresh, dried or toasted.

I put this picture, because I wanted people to know that without bacteria, this butter would not be made. (Butter uses bacteria??--Mrs B) Mary: You're right about how bacteria makes food go bad, but doesn't food spoil because of the waste bacteria produces on it? Paige- You have got it right when you said that they help oil spills and everthing but I agree with everyone that it isn't only to spoil food. Soomin: Mary, you are right. The large number of bacteria and their waste products cause the changes in odor, taste, and texture of the food. So I think I was wrong about the fact that bacteria breaks down food particles to spoil the food... (They do break it down and then produce by-products that give it the bad taste, odor, etc. -- Mrs. B)

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=Megan= People think viruses and bacteria are always bad for us, but they aren't. True, viruses like HIV and Ebola can kill, but scientists are using viruses to make gene therapy, which transfers genes to a person whose necessary genes are missing. Also, viruses can be used to find a cure for cancer.

As for bacteria, most are actually either harmless or helpful to us. For example, they compete for space with harmful bacteria to prevent you from getting sick, and also digest your food. This may be why when some people take antibiotics, they get an upset stomach. Helpful bacteria are also decomposers. Without them, there would be piles of dead bodies on earth, and we wouldn't be able to use methane as a source of energy. However, some bacteria, like E. Coli or salmonella can give us infections like food poisoning or pneumonia. At the same time, a genetically engineered mutation of E. Coli can help us produce clean energy and clean up oil spills. So we can manipulate "bad" bacteria to actually help us.

This is E. Coli. It can be found in produce, raw meat, and raw poultry. It can also kill us. On the bright side, E. Coli can be used to produce clean energy, which can replace fossil fuels.

\ Soomin comment to meg: I like your answer and I agree with you. A lot of people think viruses, bacteria are bad, but its not true. Some can be good. They can help people digest food, and make vitamins too. They are also decomposers. They clean up dead things. Without them, the earth will be a mess. I think you should have talked more about how bacteria can also cause negative things to us. Like bacteria that goes in the food, it will break down the food particles which will spoil the food, and people might get sick after they eat the food......

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=Jeffrey= = =

Viruses and bacteria are both harmful and helpful to us and our surroundings. They both can harm us, give us disease, such as HIV or Influenza, or etc. But that's not the only thing they do, and it's not exactly their intentions. Bacteria could get you sick, so you must wash your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom, and etc. But bacteria also help us by cleaning up gas leaks, oil spills, they help us digest food, and they make vitamins. They are decomposers, so they clean up the dead things on the floor, making it a cleaner environment for us. Viruses also have a few positive sides to us. They don't just get us sick, and they don't intend to. But they can give us things like the Common Cold, or even SARS. But we've found out that we can use their outer coat as a box or something to hold a small amount of medicine. And that has been useful now. Scientists are using viruses to understand the basic processes of molecular genetics. Currently, viruses are being used by material scientists for creating metal wires and batteries. Here's a picture of one being used in a tube: well my tree icon isn't working well, so i'll just link the picture. This picture shows how viruses can be used in a good useful way. []

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Wallace's comment to Jeff: Very good. But I don't think you expressed it in much detail. You should have put that bacteria eat up oil spills instead of just cleaning up. But you used good scientific terminology. You forgot to link the back to top button.

=Nellie=

Bacteria are a very special part of our lives. They can be helpful, and they can be extremely harmful. Bacteria can cause strep throat, Tuberculosis, Pnemonia, fever and other various diseases. All of these things kill the bacteria in your body. (They do? --Mrs. B) But sometimes bacteria do things that help us.

They do this natural recycling thing. Lets just say there is an oil spill in the middle of the ocean and there are almost extinct animals in the water. Guess what the bacteria does?! It cleans it up. Also it makes things like cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and butter milk.http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache[|/article_image_large/files/articles/listeria_485.jpg]- picture

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=Jeremy= = = = = During your life time bacteria and virus would have done lots of things to you! Since the beginning of time bacteria was already there. They helped shape the Earth that is right now, with out them we would not have even existed on this planet. Another good thing bacteria can do is that they can decompose things. Rotting food and garbage can quite a tasty dinner for them! Bacteria can also clean up oil spills that are extremely dirty. Viruses can also be good to us. Scientist have found out ways to make their outer shell as a container of drugs to help cancer patients.

Although bacteria and viruses can do lots of good they can also do lots of bad. Bacteria and viruses can give you deadly diseases which can harm your body. Diseases such as AIDS can lower your immune system and make you more venerable to more diseases. One disease called tuberculosis can slowly destroy your lungs making holes so it will be difficult to breathe.

This is a picture of a landfill which bacteria decomposes trash.

Paige- Interesting Picture and nice comment about "tasty dinner" haha...very good. =Mary! = When most people think about viruses, protists and bacteria, they think of killer diseases and disfigured victims. But that doesn't always happen. In fact, most bacteria and viruses would cause little or no harm at all to their hosts/surroundings. It's true that bacteria causes some of the most deadly diseases. They can cause fevers, sores, or even death. Sometimes, they would just make its environment smell bad. But that is only a tiny fraction of the whole bacteria family. Certain types of bacteria can actually help people. Though you may not know it, your whole body is covered with bacteria. Most won't cause any harm, but a small quantity might be deadly. That little group of bacteria will actually help boost your immune system. As your white blood cells over come and destroy the disease, the blood cells will strengthen and be more prepared at the next invasion. In a way, it's like working out at the gym. Useful bacteria can help you digest your food and help absorb more nutrients. Other helpful types will help preserve a clean environment by decomposing waste and consuming the oils in case of oil spills in the ocean. Protists are helpful in some ways too. The bad protists can cause seriously illnesses which are transmitted to humans through animals or liquid contact. Phytopthana infestans is a type of water mold that infects potatoes. They are the source of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland. But protists are the producers of about 50% of all the oxygen in the world. Some types lives in the stomachs of termites and allows them to digest wood. Some produces chemicals that can be used for high blood pressure and ulcers. Another good thing that protists can do is produce seaweed. Seaweed makes really good sushi and provides nutrients. Viruses will cause really bad sicknesses but can be used as a vaccine. Viruses can help prevent diseases by competeing against eachother for territory. Scientists are now researching for new ways to use the virus's structure for technological and medicinal uses. [] <span style="color: rgb(139, 255, 0);">The video is about a human cell getting infected by viruses. Although it is outside the lady, I'm pretty sure that its meant to represent it inside her. As the cells get infected, they turn on her. It seems as though they attack her or something, but that's the visual representation for a person getting sick from viruses. That is one of the negative things that viruses can do to you. <span style="color: rgb(156, 255, 0);">The video wouldn't show up with the media button so i had to link it. I'm gonna make the link<span style="color: rgb(255, 109, 0);"> nice and<span style="color: rgb(229, 86, 52);"> bright so everyone can see it. Turn the volume down really low, especially in the invasion part. The zombie cells are really loud and creepy. you have been warned. Megan's Comment to Mary: That is right. In vaccines, weakened versions of viruses enter our body, but without attacking us. Our immune systems develop antibodies to fight off these weakened viruses, and when the real viruses come in, they are easily fought off. Back to TOP!<span style="color: rgb(152, 135, 181);"> =<span style="color: rgb(78, 158, 193); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Juliana =

Bacteria viruses and protist are harmful in some ways but most of them are helpful. I know everyone already said that but i don't know what else to say. Bacteria are helpful because they break down food in our intestinal tract, they help make many types of food, they change nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants need to grow, and much more. But bacteria can also spoil our delicious food and can make us sick. Even though we do have antibiotics can kill them it could also make them stronger like that. Like the saying "what does not kill you makes you stronger". And kids also need bacteria and viruses to help their body fight stuff like a common cold. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">(Not true as written...need to explain about the immune system response...--Mrs. B) Viruses are also good and bad. But all they do is inject there genetic material inside a cell but sometimes they leave the host unhurt. Viruses are also bad because they can cause diseases and kill you. And antibiotics cant kill them because they are non-living. But other stuff like our own white blood cells can kill them sometimes. Overall they are harmful but helpful in many ways. And protists are good because they help decompose our garbage and they are bad because they can also cause diseases.

I chose this picture because bacteria spoils food too.



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=Rahul= Like most a lot of people have said is what I have said but with a little more. All viruses, bacteria and protist affect our lives in both negative and positive ways. Viruses affect us as an organism because when they are multiplying we can sometimes get diseases. Especially when they burst out that is the time when you can get most sick. Sometimes hidden viruses can give you long diseases since they stay hidden in your body. Viruses aren’t all bad they don’t mean to harm you; it’s just how they reproduce. Viruses can also be helpful. A lot of certain varieties of flowers are made by viruses. Bacteria can also be harmful and helpful. It can be harmful because bacteria can give you harmful diseases .so ti is better if you wash your hands more often after you come from the outside. You should do that because that is one of the easiest ways to get bacteria. Bacteria can also spoil your food which can give you food poisoning which can be very dangerous. They can be very helpful because they help you digest your food and you need to digest your food properly to have a good healthy life. They produce vitamins which you need and they are in most of the dairy products you eat like yogurt. Some protist like amoeba can cause diseases and some are poisonous. Protists are actually more helpful than harmful. These protists produce the oxygen we breathe and play an important role in nutrient recycling. Many protists are economically useful as well. Red algae contain vitamins and minerals which are good for us and seaweed is made of red algae. Rahul’s comment to Jeremy: Jeremy I don’t understand your picture. I don’t get how the bacteria decompose trash. Jeremy why did you not write about protist? Actually not many people talked about protist. My first picture contains vitamins which bacteria produces. My second picture is yogurt which contains bacteria and which is very good for us. Im just showing how bacteria cna be helpful to life on earth. My picture arent uploading so I have given you the links.

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=Hong Beom=

My comment to Nellie: Nice work Nellie. You showed clearly about the positive and negative effects that bacteria gives us. One thing to say is that in the very first line, you said bacterias are very special, but why? I would be better if you gave us some examples rather than they are good and also bad. Also, I don't get what is natural recycle thinging. Cleaning oil spoil is just cleaning but not recycling. And there are lot more things that bacteria helps us in natural way I guess..?

Normally, people think that viruses, bacterias and protists are bad. REALLY BAD. Disgusting.... Yes, it is ture but they also have good effects that can help us a lot! If you look at the bacterias, they can be harmful to you. Even more serious, it can cause you really heavy diseases such as super bacteria infection. However it helps us in many ways. Firstly, it can clean very dirty oil spoils. Like the black disgusting oil, they can clean it up all! Also they can make healthy foods for us, such as cheese, yogurt, etc. It also helps our body to digest easily. Thus, don't think that bacteria is always bad! It is normally good for you!

This is a picture showing yogurt which includes many healthy bacterias,

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=Ele= My comment to Hong Beom: I think you gave interesting information,but you were kind of summarizing. Also, you just talked about bacteria, but what about protists and viruses? Also, Rahul, I think that your answer was really clear and I didn't know that some types of flowers were made from viruses. I wonder what would happen if you smelled these flowers? Would inhaling the viruses make you sick? Your answer was very interesting.

So, you probably think that viruses, bacteria, and protists are bad. Well, they can make you very ill and they aren't very clean, but most of them are actually good for you. Bacteria can actually do all sorts of things to help us. They clean up oil spills, they decompose dead things, and they help your body function, e.g. the bacteria in your intestines help you digest. Also, they make foods that are good for you. For example, they make yogurt, cheese, apple cider, pickles, sour cream, and alot of other things. Another thing is that even if you do get sick from them, you will most likely heal and your immune system will be stronger because it learns how to fight them off. Viruses are responsible for the sicknesses like flu, chicken pox, and hand, mouth, and foot disease, but they aren't evil and there purpose isn't to kill. People have started to take advantage of them instead of fearing them, and now researchers have found a way to get rid of their contents and use the empty container to fill it with a drug that stops cancer. Protists are the things that aren't exactly animals, but not plants either. You can get sick from them by drinking water that is infected by them. Mushrooms are fungus-like protists, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">(Be careful...mushrooms are actual fungus, not fungus-like protists...just like a cow is an actual animal and not an animal-like protist -- Mrs. B) and they can both be good and bad. Some can make you sick because they are poisonous, while others are tasty and good for your body. Also, seaweed is a plant-like protist but people eat them and they contain very good nutrients. Also, algea is a plant-like protist, and like trees, they let off oxygen. This is good for the Earth and the organisms living on it.

This is a picture showing a fungus-like protist: mushrooms. It shows that some are poisonous for you, but some are healthy for your body. The first pictures shows a poisonous mushroom, and the 2nd one shows edible ones. They impact our lives in both a positive and a negative way.





=Peter= you would think that viruses and bacteria are only made to cause you harm and cause epidemics. This is wrong. Viruses and bacteria can be used in many ways to be good. Bacteria is what is in yogurt that helps digest food into your stomach. They can also clean up oil spills, trash and decompose dead animals. As we read in that dirt is good for you article, bacteria is good for your immune system. This is because if you get sick, your immune system will get stronger so it knows how to fight back. We also read the other article which makes viruses useful. They are trying to find a way to cure cancer using viruses. They empty out the genetic material and put in a cancer stopping drug. Because viruses inject materials into cells, this will inject the cancer drug which will cure the cells. See? viruses and bacteria ARE useful.

this is yogurt which has good bacteria in it to help digest food.

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Back To Top =<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 144);">Paige = Virus, Bacteria, and Protists are all different things in our world. What may these things do to harm us? What could these three things do to help us? Well, this has just begun. Viruses are the ones that normally hurt you. They actually do have some good to them, well not yet but scientists are trying. What they are trying to do is inject good genetic material, chemicals and other things into it so that when the virus uses the host cell, it can inject these things. But some of these interesting nonliving creatures do some bad things as well. When they insert their genetic material, they are making new virus. These new virus could make more, and those make more to where eventually, they overflow your body. How painful that would be. Bacteria have done some bad too. They overflow also, but this develops into tumors and then that could require surgery. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255);">(Bacteria don't make tumors. Cancerous cells make tumors. --Mrs. B) My picture below shows a picture of a tumor. Disgusting Eh? Well a lot of people in the world have to live with that. The blame is on the bacteria. Well, I guess the really good things that the bacteria do can make up for this. They are decomposers (break down unnecessary things; e.g. trash and bodies.) and they are those things that make cheese!! Bacteria even make up yogurt. If you just thought ‘eww I am never eating cheese again!’ well you shouldn’t, because although this may sound weird but bacteria can be good for you. Now Protists are kind of the mix of the things that aren’t classified as a Virus or Bacteria. These things can grow to be 100 meters long! Seaweed is an example of Protists in which we eat. Well, most of us eat. That kind of relates to bacteria because you can eat it but it definitely isn’t. Protists are easily poisonous though. Like if you eat a mushroom off the ground, it could easily take you to a poison control center. <span style="color: rgb(243, 48, 161);"> (Be careful! Mushrooms are fungus not fungus-like protists. Just like a cow is a animal and not an animal-like protist --Mrs. B) This is what I wanted to tell you about Protists, Bacteria, and Virus! =] **NOTE** My picture would not load to the image upload so I just put the URL! Thanks! [|Tumor] [|Yogurt]

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