# What's your favorite microbe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413 "2009-01-22T05:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/1 "2009-01-22T05:19:40Z")
I’ve got to make a laboratory notebook for Microbiology, and I thought I should find a neat microbe (bacteria, virus, helminth, fungi, etc.) picture for the cover. What’s you’re favorite germ? This invading [flu virus](http://science.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Science/Images/Content/flu-virus-e06074-ga.jpg) is awfully pretty. Of course, [syphilis](http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/T.pallidumAgstain.jpeg)is always cool. I find the [schistosoma](http://www.usuhs.mil/mic/Davies/SJD_fig1.jpg)just too creepy to look at every day. Then again, this virus protection [suggestion](http://www.themorningmagazine.com/pics/Anti-Virus.jpg)might make my teacher laugh. Got pics? ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/2 "2009-01-22T05:44:49Z")
I’m a fan of the Flu virus myself, and the common cold (Rhinovirus) and I’d say this is the coolest thing ever. You should get some of[these](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/a55e/) or put [these guys](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/6708/images/) up on the cover maybe. Oh, I also like Sleeping Sickness, trypanosoma if I recall correctly… That undulating wave is sorta pretty. Though, if you are doing microbiology, and want something that’s not a bacteria, I’d say [Volvox](http://images.google.com/images?q=volvox&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title). That’s the prettiest stuff I’ve seen under a scope this side of a diatom. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/3 "2009-01-22T05:48:18Z")
I don’t know if this fits the definition of a microbe but I find [giardia](http://www.pathobio.sdu.edu.cn/sdjsc/webteaching/Course/webteach/Protozoan/Giardia-20lamblia/GiardiaTroph(1).jpg)to be amazingly cute. ---
**Author:** ![Jaglavak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jaglavak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaglavak)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/4 "2009-01-22T06:00:24Z")
[Conan the Bacterium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans) I crush you now! ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/5 "2009-01-22T07:17:33Z")
It’s not pretty, but you can’t beat [deinococcus radiodurans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans). I mean literally, they call it Conan the Bacterium fer cryin out loud… ETA: Wierd, it didn’t show Jaglavak’s post when I read the thread, although it came before mine by an hour. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/6 "2009-01-22T07:34:29Z")
Wow, I change my bacteria votes to Conan the Bacterium. that’s pretty damn cool… ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/7 "2009-01-22T07:45:43Z")
[This](http://www.microbeworld.org/microbes/protista/slimemolds.aspx) > [@](#): > > Slime molds have traits like both fungi and animals. They have very complex life cycles involving multiple forms and stages. During good times, they live as independent, amoeba-like cells, dining on fungi and bacteria. But if conditions become uncomfortable—not enough food available, the temperature isn’t right, etc.—individual cells begin gathering together to form a single structure. This happens when the cells give off a chemical signal that tells all of them to gather together. The new communal structure produces a slimy covering and is called a slug because it so closely resembles the animal you sometimes see gliding across sidewalks. The slug oozes toward light. When the communal cells sense that they’ve come across more food or better conditions, the slug stops. It then slowly does a kind of headstand. Cells in the slug now begin to do different things. Some of the cells form an anchor for the upended slug. Others in the middle of the slug begin making a stalk and some at the tip turn into what’s called a spore cap and others become spores in that cap. When a drop of rain or strong wind knocks the spore cap hard enough, the spores go flying out. These spores are like plant seeds. Each of them becomes a new amoeba-like cell when they land and each goes off on its merry way. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/8 "2009-01-22T08:42:33Z")
I vote for [Chernobyl’s Radioactive Fungus.](http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20070422222547data_trunc_sys.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/9 "2009-01-22T08:49:03Z")
[Bacteriophages](http://www.relax-well.co.uk/images/Bacteriophage-Marc_Adrian.jpg) are very cool-looking. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/10 "2009-01-22T12:44:44Z")
The space amoeba from Star Trek [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STImmunity.jpg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STImmunity.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/11 "2009-01-22T13:58:37Z")
To look at? Toss-up between [diatoms](http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/pix/diatoms.jpg) ([more](http://www.bhikku.net/archives/03/img/diatoms.JPG)) and[forams](http://bio1903.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/lab/diversity/protista/img/Foraminifera.jpg)([more](http://serc.carleton.edu/images/microbelife/topics/proxies/foraminefera.jpg)). [Crustacean](http://www.imagequest3d.com/catalogue/larvalforms/pages/a005_jpg.htm) [larvae](http://www.imagequest3d.com/catalogue/larvalforms/pages/a035_jpg.htm) are also cool, but not sure if they qualify? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/12 "2009-01-22T14:44:22Z")
Not exactly what you were looking for, but I have to post a link to [these.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/6708/) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/13 "2009-01-22T14:47:37Z")
Fungi is my favorite because, well… Who doesn’t like to be around a _fun guy_? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/14 "2009-01-22T14:49:02Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I don’t know if this fits the definition of a microbe but I find [giardia](http://www.pathobio.sdu.edu.cn/sdjsc/webteaching/Course/webteach/Protozoan/Giardia-20lamblia/GiardiaTroph(1).jpg)to be amazingly cute. Those are smiling. I did not know that microbes could smile! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/15 "2009-01-22T14:52:51Z")
Ah! These are all so cool! I may just have to do a collage, 'cause I really can’t choose. Those diatoms are amazing - they look artificially made, really they do! As do the bacteriophages. Is there anything else in nature with such naturally straight lines?! Anything considered living which is too small to be seen with the naked eye counts for Microbiology. While some of the parasitic worms (helminths) get to be huge (the longest beef tapeworm removed from a person was 75 feet long, my teacher told us yesterday. The patient presented complaining of mild abdominal discomfort. MILD! With a 75 FOOT WORM INSIDE HIM!:eek:) but they start out as microscopic critters, so they get in on a technicality. Yes, yes, I think a collage is in order. So keep 'em coming, now I need LOTS of cool microbe pictures! ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/16 "2009-01-22T15:13:56Z")
> [@Jaglavak](#): > > [Conan the Bacterium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans) > I crush you now! You beat me to it! But here’s a picture of [bacteria doin’ it](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/1103490291_9ef8ee4c35.jpg)! Boom Chicka Wow Wow! If you need help with anything, feel free to PM me. Micro’s my specialty. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/17 "2009-01-22T15:21:38Z")
> [@masterofnone](#): > > You beat me to it! > > But here’s a picture of [bacteria doin’ it](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/1103490291_9ef8ee4c35.jpg)! Boom Chicka Wow Wow! Ha! Sexy-like! > [@](#): > > If you need help with anything, feel free to PM me. Micro’s my specialty. Sweet! I’ll remember that! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/18 "2009-01-22T22:23:19Z")
Saccharomyces does a lot for me. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/19 "2009-01-22T22:36:23Z")
I’ve always been partial to [Spirogyra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirogyra)(the algae, not the band!) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413/20 "2009-01-22T22:38:09Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Saccharomyces does a lot for me. cerevisiae or carlsbergensis? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-microbe/482413.md?page=2)