Thermophillic Bacteria

Fall 2009 - Volume 13 Number 4

"Thermophilic Bacteria"

photograph

By Gary Larsen, MS

Mr Larsen is a clinical microbiologist, at the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Regional Laboratory.

This photograph depicts yellow growth of thermophilic bacteria with green algae growing in a Yellowstone

National Park hot spring "petri-dish." The mesmerizing beauty of these harmless organisms is unlike

the pathogenic bacterial agents of infectious diseases Mr Larsen works with on a daily basis in cultures

submitted to the laboratory from Northern California Kaiser Permanente facilities.