1. Mutualism (Both benefit)
➡️ Both the human and the microbe benefit.
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Gut Bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli in the large intestine)
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Benefit to us: Help digest food and make vitamin K and B vitamins.
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Benefit to bacteria: Get a warm, nutrient-rich place to live.
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Example disease/infection: Normally harmless, but if E. coli moves to the urinary tract → can cause urinary tract infection (UTI).
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Skin Microbiota (e.g., Staphylococcus epidermidis)
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Benefit to us: Competes with harmful bacteria, protecting us from infection.
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Benefit to microbe: Lives on our skin and feeds on sweat/oil.
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2. Commensalism (One benefits, the other is not harmed)
➡️ Microbe benefits, human is not affected.
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Microbes on the skin (e.g., Corynebacterium species)
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They live on our skin and eat sweat and oils.
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They don’t help or hurt us — just exist.
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Non-pathogenic microbes in the intestine
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Some bacteria live in the gut, taking nutrients without helping or hurting us.
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No disease is caused.
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3. Parasitism (Microbe benefits, human is harmed)
➡️ Microbe causes damage to human body or tissue.
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Harmful Bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
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Causes: Tuberculosis (TB) — damages lungs.
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Bacteria benefit by feeding and growing inside lungs.
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Fungi (e.g., Candida albicans)
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Causes: Yeast infection or oral thrush.
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Grows when immune system is weak or after antibiotic use.
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Worm (e.g., Ascaris lumbricoides)
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Causes: Ascariasis — large intestinal worm infection.
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Steals nutrients and can block intestines.
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Let me know if you want this in a chart format or rewritten in very simple terms.
