Admin: Added beneficial species labels

2026-07-19T07:47:27Z

Added beneficial species labels

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:47, 19 July 2026
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	\|origin=Naturally occurring; products may use cultivated strains		\|origin=Naturally occurring; products may use cultivated strains
	\|status=Not applicable		\|status=Not applicable
			\|benefit=Selected strains provide targeted biological control of mosquito and caterpillar larvae with agricultural and public-health value.
	\|risk=none		\|risk=none
	\|description=''Bacillus thuringiensis'', usually abbreviated Bt, is a spore-forming soil bacterium whose proteins kill particular groups of insect larvae. Carefully selected strains are used in biological pest-control products, including mosquito larvicides and caterpillar controls. A Bt product’s label identifies its target and safe use; the name does not mean every formulation works against every insect.		\|description=''Bacillus thuringiensis'', usually abbreviated Bt, is a spore-forming soil bacterium whose proteins kill particular groups of insect larvae. Carefully selected strains are used in biological pest-control products, including mosquito larvicides and caterpillar controls. A Bt product’s label identifies its target and safe use; the name does not mean every formulation works against every insect.
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	\|origin=Native and introduced strains occur		\|origin=Native and introduced strains occur
	\|status=Not applicable		\|status=Not applicable
			\|benefit=Fix atmospheric nitrogen in partnership with legumes, improving prairie and garden soil fertility.
	\|risk=none		\|risk=none
	\|description=These bacteria form nodules on the roots of legumes such as clovers, beans, mesquites, and bluebonnets. Inside a compatible nodule they convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds the plant can use, enriching prairie and garden soils. Healthy active nodules are often pink inside because of the oxygen-binding pigment leghemoglobin.		\|description=These bacteria form nodules on the roots of legumes such as clovers, beans, mesquites, and bluebonnets. Inside a compatible nodule they convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds the plant can use, enriching prairie and garden soils. Healthy active nodules are often pink inside because of the oxygen-binding pigment leghemoglobin.
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	\|origin=Native or cosmopolitan		\|origin=Native or cosmopolitan
	\|status=Not applicable		\|status=Not applicable
			\|benefit=Photosynthesizes and fixes atmospheric nitrogen, contributing to soil-surface nutrient cycling where it naturally occurs.
	\|risk=yellow		\|risk=yellow
	\|danger=Slippery when wet and not suitable for casual consumption; visible identification does not rule out contamination by other organisms.		\|danger=Slippery when wet and not suitable for casual consumption; visible identification does not rule out contamination by other organisms.

Admin: Corrected microbial thumbnail filenames

2026-07-18T04:30:08Z

Corrected microbial thumbnail filenames

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 18 July 2026
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Root-nodule bacteria		\|name=Root-nodule bacteria
	\|image=~~Root~~ nodules.~~JPG~~		\|image=Clover root nodules.jpg
	\|type=Symbiotic soil bacteria		\|type=Symbiotic soil bacteria
	\|scientific=''Rhizobium'', ''Bradyrhizobium'', and related genera		\|scientific=''Rhizobium'', ''Bradyrhizobium'', and related genera
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=''Microcystis'' and harmful blooms		\|name=''Microcystis'' and harmful blooms
	\|image=Microcystis aeruginosa.~~jpg~~		\|image=Microcystis aeruginosa.jpeg
	\|type=Cyanobacterium; bloom-forming microbe		\|type=Cyanobacterium; bloom-forming microbe
	\|scientific=''Microcystis aeruginosa'' and other toxin-producing cyanobacteria		\|scientific=''Microcystis aeruginosa'' and other toxin-producing cyanobacteria
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=''Naegleria fowleri''		\|name=''Naegleria fowleri''
	\|image=Naegleria ~~fowleri~~.~~jpg~~		\|image=Naegleria (formes).png
	\|type=Free-living ameba		\|type=Free-living ameba
	\|scientific=''Naegleria fowleri''		\|scientific=''Naegleria fowleri''

Admin: Added notable microbial and bacterial life

2026-07-18T04:25:48Z

Added notable microbial and bacterial life

New page

__NOTOC__
{{Wildlife navigation}}

Microorganisms cannot normally be identified by sight in the field. This page describes notable ecological groups and exposure contexts rather than claiming that a particular puddle, soil sample, animal, or bloom contains a named organism. Laboratory testing is required for confirmation.

==Bacillus thuringiensis==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Bacillus thuringiensis''
|image=Bacillus thuringiensis.jpg
|type=Soil bacterium
|scientific=''Bacillus thuringiensis''
|regional=Bt
|origin=Naturally occurring; products may use cultivated strains
|status=Not applicable
|risk=none
|description=''Bacillus thuringiensis'', usually abbreviated Bt, is a spore-forming soil bacterium whose proteins kill particular groups of insect larvae. Carefully selected strains are used in biological pest-control products, including mosquito larvicides and caterpillar controls. A Bt product’s label identifies its target and safe use; the name does not mean every formulation works against every insect.
}}

==Rhizobium and related root-nodule bacteria==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Root-nodule bacteria
|image=Root nodules.JPG
|type=Symbiotic soil bacteria
|scientific=''Rhizobium'', ''Bradyrhizobium'', and related genera
|regional=Rhizobia; nitrogen-fixing bacteria
|origin=Native and introduced strains occur
|status=Not applicable
|risk=none
|description=These bacteria form nodules on the roots of legumes such as clovers, beans, mesquites, and bluebonnets. Inside a compatible nodule they convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds the plant can use, enriching prairie and garden soils. Healthy active nodules are often pink inside because of the oxygen-binding pigment leghemoglobin.
}}

==Nostoc commune==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Nostoc commune''
|image=Nostoc commune.jpg
|type=Cyanobacterium
|scientific=''Nostoc commune''
|regional=Star jelly; mare’s eggs; blue-green algae
|origin=Native or cosmopolitan
|status=Not applicable
|risk=yellow
|danger=Slippery when wet and not suitable for casual consumption; visible identification does not rule out contamination by other organisms.
|description=''Nostoc commune'' forms dark olive or nearly black gelatinous colonies on soil, gravel, and pavement after rain. During dry weather it contracts into a thin brittle film and can rehydrate quickly. Like other cyanobacteria, it photosynthesizes and can fix atmospheric nitrogen.
|encounter=Treat slick patches as a fall hazard. Routine removal can be done mechanically where traction matters; avoid assuming that any unknown gelatinous growth is safe to eat or handle extensively.
}}

==Microcystis and harmful cyanobacterial blooms==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Microcystis'' and harmful blooms
|image=Microcystis aeruginosa.jpg
|type=Cyanobacterium; bloom-forming microbe
|scientific=''Microcystis aeruginosa'' and other toxin-producing cyanobacteria
|regional=Blue-green algae; harmful algal bloom
|origin=Native or cosmopolitan
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Some blooms make toxins that can cause serious illness; contaminated water can rapidly kill dogs and livestock. Appearance alone cannot determine whether toxins are present.
|description=Warm, slow-moving, nutrient-rich water can support dense cyanobacterial growth that resembles green paint, pea soup, foam, mats, or scum and may smell unpleasant. Not every bloom is toxic, but visual inspection cannot establish safety.
|encounter=Keep people and animals out of discolored, scummy, or foul-smelling water and do not let pets drink or lick material from the shore. Follow public-health advisories and contact a veterinarian immediately if an animal becomes ill after exposure.
}}

==Clostridium tetani==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Clostridium tetani''
|image=Clostridium tetani.jpg
|type=Spore-forming soil bacterium
|scientific=''Clostridium tetani''
|regional=Tetanus bacterium
|origin=Naturally occurring worldwide
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Spores introduced into a wound can produce tetanus toxin, causing life-threatening muscle rigidity and spasms.
|description=''C. tetani'' spores occur in soil, dust, and animal feces and can persist for long periods. Tetanus is associated with contaminated punctures and other wounds, not with rust itself and not with ordinary proximity to soil. Vaccination is the primary protection.
|encounter=Clean wounds promptly. Seek medical guidance for deep, dirty, puncture, crush, burn, or animal-contaminated wounds and whenever tetanus vaccination status is uncertain; symptoms require emergency care.
}}

==Leptospira interrogans==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Leptospira interrogans''
|image=Leptospira interrogans strain RGA 01.png
|type=Spirochete bacterium
|scientific=''Leptospira interrogans''
|regional=Leptospira; cause of leptospirosis
|origin=Naturally maintained in animal hosts
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Contaminated animal urine, soil, or water can transmit leptospirosis through the eyes, mouth, or broken skin; severe disease can damage the kidneys, liver, lungs, or brain and can be fatal.
|description=Many wild and domestic mammals can shed leptospires in urine without appearing sick. Risk rises with floodwater, warm stagnant water, animal facilities, and wet work where skin is cut or abraded. The organism cannot be detected by looking at water.
|encounter=Use waterproof protection for wet or animal-contaminated work and cover cuts. Wash after exposure and seek prompt medical care for fever, severe headache, muscle pain, red eyes, jaundice, or illness following a plausible exposure.
}}

==Naegleria fowleri==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Naegleria fowleri''
|image=Naegleria fowleri.jpg
|type=Free-living ameba
|scientific=''Naegleria fowleri''
|regional=Often called the “brain-eating ameba”
|origin=Naturally occurring in warm freshwater and soil
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Water forced up the nose can very rarely lead to primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a rapidly progressing and usually fatal brain infection. Swallowing water is not the usual route.
|description=''N. fowleri'' thrives in warm freshwater such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and hot springs and can occur in inadequately disinfected recreational water. Cases are extremely rare, but Texas has reported more cases than any other state in CDC’s historical surveillance.
|encounter=Reduce nasal exposure in warm freshwater by avoiding forceful submersion or using a nose clip. Use only distilled, sterile, or properly boiled and cooled water for sinus rinsing; severe headache, fever, vomiting, or stiff neck after a relevant exposure requires immediate emergency care.
}}

==Trypanosoma cruzi==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=''Trypanosoma cruzi''
|image=Trypanosoma cruzi crithidia.jpeg
|type=Single-celled parasite
|scientific=''Trypanosoma cruzi''
|regional=Chagas parasite
|origin=Native transmission cycle in the southern United States
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Causes Chagas disease, which may later damage the heart or digestive system and can be fatal. Local transmission is uncommon but possible.
|description=''T. cruzi'' circulates among kissing bugs and mammal hosts including raccoons, opossums, armadillos, skunks, coyotes, and dogs. Infection usually occurs when feces from an infected bug enter a bite, the eye, or broken skin rather than directly through the bug’s feeding puncture.
|encounter=Avoid bare-handed contact with kissing bugs or their feces, seal indoor entry points, and consult a clinician or veterinarian about a credible exposure. Routine presence of a wild mammal does not establish that it is infected.
}}

==Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Shiga toxin-producing ''Escherichia coli''
|image=Escherichia coli Gram.jpg
|type=Enteric bacterium
|scientific=Shiga toxin-producing ''Escherichia coli'' (STEC), including O157:H7
|regional=STEC; pathogenic E. coli
|origin=Animal-associated strains occur worldwide
|status=Not applicable
|risk=red
|danger=Ingestion can cause severe bloody diarrhea and, particularly in children, life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome.
|description=Most strains of ''E. coli'' are harmless members of animal intestines, but STEC strains can contaminate hands, produce, food, surfaces, and water through feces. Livestock and wildlife may carry them without appearing ill, so hygiene matters around manure, pens, raw foods, and untreated water.
|encounter=Wash hands after animal or soil contact, separate raw foods, and do not drink untreated surface water. Bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or illness after a known exposure warrants prompt medical care.
}}

==Sources==
* [https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/index.html CDC: harmful algal blooms and health]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/naegleria/about/ CDC: Naegleria fowleri infections]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/about/ CDC: leptospirosis]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/ CDC: tetanus]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/about/ CDC: Chagas disease]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/about/about-shiga-toxin-producing-e-coli.html CDC: Shiga toxin-producing E. coli]

[[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]

Wildlife of Proto-Town/Microbial life - Revision history

Admin: Added beneficial species labels

Admin: Corrected microbial thumbnail filenames

Admin: Added notable microbial and bacterial life