noun
bacteria (as a taxonomic group)
Refers to bacteria as a broad biological category, often in scientific or educational contexts. Not typically used for a single bacterium; compare 細菌 (さいきん) for individual bacteria or the general concept.
細菌類は原核生物に分類される。
Bacteria are classified as prokaryotes.
この抗生物質は多くの細菌類に効果がある。
This antibiotic is effective against many types of bacteria.
バクテリア is a loanword often used in scientific contexts, similar to 細菌類 but more international; 細菌類 is the native Japanese taxonomic term.
Compound of 細菌 (さいきん, 'bacteria') and 類 (るい, 'kind, category'), literally 'bacteria category'. The term is used in biological classification.