Types of Microorganisms

Microorganisms are classified into cellular and acellular types.

Cellular forms include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and algae, while acellular forms consist of viruses.

Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes with diverse shapes and metabolic adaptations, thriving in environments from soil to the human gut.

Examples include E. coli and Streptococcus.

Archaea, also prokaryotic, thrive in extreme environments, like hot springs, and in moderate environments, like soils, oceans, and human microbiomes.

Fungi are eukaryotes with unicellular and multicellular forms.

They decompose organic matter, recycle nutrients, and support plant growth via mycorrhizal associations.

Protozoa, such as Amoeba and Plasmodium, are single-celled eukaryotes.

Some are free-living, while others are parasitic and can cause diseases.

Algae are photosynthetic eukaryotes that produce oxygen and support aquatic food webs.

Viruses are acellular entities consisting of genetic material within a protein coat.

Viruses rely on host cells for replication, causing infections and disease.