Structure

Relationship with humans

Infants and elderly are at the higher risk for being affected by l. acidophilus compare to young and middle age humans because they have weaker immune system. Individuals infected with salmonella will only have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Initial symptoms may persist 3-7 days and include:

·                     Vomiting  

·                     Diarrhea

·                     Fever

·                     Headache

Movement

L.acidophilus it uses its flagella or uses the water current in the body to move around.

 

Habitat

The habitat of L. acidophilus can be found in many places. This bacterium can be found in animal and human intestinal tracts (for humans it is found in the gastrointestinal tract), soil, water, milk and milk products, plants, silage, and manure. 

Lactobacillus acidophilus is part of a group of lactobacilli---bacteria that live in the small intestine, vagina and similar parts of the human body. This beneficial bacteria helps prevent infection by disease-producing organisms and produces beneficial substances such as vitamin K and lactase. This bacteria is found in yogurt and other fermented milk products and is partially responsible for their sour taste.

Reproduction

Lactobacillus acidophilus reproduces by binary fission, a type of asexual reproduction.  Binary fission is when the bacterium doubles its contents and divides into two.  It is the primary form of reproduction for all bacteria, and can grow the colonies very quickly because each generation increases two fold.  each bacterium split every twenty minutes for an entire day.The picture shown below shows binary fission.