Final answer:
Bacteria generally grow best at moderate temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, with mesophiles thriving between 25°C and 40°C, and having an optimal growth temperature around 37°C, the temperature of the human body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bacteria usually grow best at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, with optimal growth typically occurring between 25°C and 40°C (77°F and 104°F). These conditions are ideal for a category of bacteria known as mesophiles, which are adapted to moderate temperatures and include many common pathogens. Mesophiles that are part of the normal human microbiota or that are pathogenic, such as E. coli, Salmonella spp., and Lactobacillus spp., usually have an optimal growth temperature of 37°C (98.6°F), which is the normal human body temperature.
Mesophilic organisms are also significant in the food industry, playing a crucial role in the production of cheese, yogurt, beer, and wine. If you're working with bacteria in a lab setting, those that grow best at body temperature should generally be incubated at 37°C when you can regularly check on them. Bacteria that prefer room temperature should be kept at room temperature, although they may require a bit more time to grow. Inadequate temperature control can lead to rapid and potentially unsafe bacterial growth, particularly in foods that fall within the danger zone of 4°C to 60°C (40°F to 140°F).