Bacterial strain

A bacterial strain is a specific version or variety of bacteria within a species that has distinct characteristics, such as different genetic makeup, antibiotic resistance, or the ability to produce certain toxins. Think of it like different breeds of dogs—they're all dogs, but a golden retriever looks and behaves differently from a poodle. Scientists study different bacterial strains to understand how diseases spread, develop treatments, and predict which microbes might be more dangerous or easier to control.