The mention of it may bring illness to mind or a compelling urge to wash your hands, but it should be remembered that not all bacteria are the cause of disease.
Many bacteria are quite beneficial and even necessary for our own survival.
Unfortunately, these helpful bacteria are often overshadowed by their infectious relatives. Among those poor bacteria struggling under this harsh stereotype are the helpful and probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus . Lactobacillus acidophilus is a Gram positive nonsporing rod. As seen in the diagram bellow, the cell wall of L. acidophilus is made up of a cell membrane and a thick layer of peptidoglycan. The cells are short rods with rounded ends and are generally found in short chains, singly or in pairs.