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Bacteria - Bacillus anthracis
Sorry for the poor quality photo, but these bacteria are tiny and my scope isn't powerful enough. The rods are only 3-5 um long.
As innocent as these bacteria may appear, they are not. Bacillus anthracis is the bacterium that causes anthrax -- a deadly disease. The infection causes black, necrotic lesions on the face, neck, arms, or hands. If untreated, it is usually fatal, causing fever, chest pain, diaphoresis, body aches, and death.
*Whole mount microscope slide
''Bacillus anthracis'' is a Gram-positive and rod-shaped bacterium that causes anthrax, a deadly disease to livestock and, occasionally, to humans. It is the only permanent pathogen within the genus ''Bacillus''. Its infection is a type of zoonosis, as it is transmitted from animals to humans. It was discovered by a German physician Robert Koch in 1876, and became the first bacterium to be experimentally shown as a pathogen. The discovery was also the first scientific evidence for the germ theory.. more
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