Bacteroidetes

Bacteroidetes
Bacteroides biacutis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Bacteroidetes
Classes
Bacteroidetes Flavobacteria Flexibacteria Rhodothermus Sphingobacteria

The phylum Bacteroidetes is a large, diverse group of bacteria. It has three large classes that are found on every habitat on Earth, including in soil, sediments, sea water, the guts, and the skin of animals.^[1] The group is made of around 7000 sub-groups. The sub-groups are divided into 6 main groups: Bacteroidia, Chitinophagia, Flavobacteria, Sphingobacteria, Saprospiria and Cytophagia.

Bacteroidetes have many roles but mainly break down humus (dead organic matter) such as proteins and complicated sugars into smaller molecules.^[1] Members of Bacteroidetes can be both helpful and unhelpful to humans and plants. Some members are involved in metabolism (the natural way of changing chemicals) and decompostion (the breaking down of particles). On the other hand, some members are pathogenic, they cause disease in humans. Members of the genus Bacteroides are 'good' pathogens. Members of the other two classes are rarely pathogenic to humans.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Thomas, François; Hehemann, Jan-Hendrik; Rebuffet, Etienne; Czjzek, Mirjam; Michel, Gurvan (2011). "Environmental and Gut Bacteroidetes: The Food Connection". Frontiers in Microbiology. 2: 93. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2011.00093. ISSN 1664-302X. PMC 3129010. PMID 21747801.