Microbes in Human Welfare and Industries

Microorganisms change food's appearance, flavor, and texture.

Bacteria that produce lactic acid, used in making curd and yogurt.

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) produces CO2 gas, making bread rise.

Microbes are used to make fermented foods like fish, soya and bamboo shoots.

Microbes like Propionibacterium sharmanii and Penicillium Roqueforti give different textures in cheeses.

Microbes are used to make many food products like beverages, organic acids, and vitamins.

Different alcoholic drinks are made based on the material used and processing type.

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used in the production of whiskey through a process called distillation.

The fungus Aspergillus niger produces citric acid, commonly used in food and beverages.

The bacterium Acetobacter aceti is responsible for producing acetic acid, the key component in vinegar.

The bacterium Clostridium butylicum is known for producing butyric acid, a substance found in butter and cheese.

Lactobacillus bacteria produce lactic acid, essential for the fermentation of milk into curd and yogurt.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces both ethanol (alcohol) and lipase, an enzyme breaking down fats.

The fungus Aspergillus produces pectinases and proteases, enzymes that clarify fruit juices.

Streptococcus bacteria produce streptokinase, an enzyme used to break down blood clots in heart attack patients.

The fungus Trichoderma polysporum produces Cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressant used in organ transplant patients.

Statins are drugs that block the enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis in the body.

Antibiotics are substances produced by microorganisms (like fungi and bacteria) that inhibit the growth of other microorganisms.

Penicillin is the first discovered antibiotic, produced by the fungus Penicillium notatum. It was found to kill Staphylococcus bacteria.

A good antibiotic is harmless to the host, doesn't disrupt our gut bacteria, has a wide effect on different microbes, and works quickly.

A sewage treatment plant uses microbes to break down organic waste, producing inorganic compounds like phosphates and nitrates.

Primary treatment in an STP involves physically removing large debris and grit from sewage.

Secondary treatment uses aerobic bacteria in oxidation ponds to break down remaining organic matter in the sewage.

Tertiary treatment removes remaining phosphates and nitrates from the treated sewage before it is discharged.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measures the amount of oxygen needed to break down organic matter in water.

Activated Sludge is a mixture of bacteria and organic matter that settles during wastewater treatment.

Anaerobic bacteria break down sludge in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas (methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide).

Biogas is a mixture of flammable gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria.

Methanogens are bacteria that produce methane gas during the breakdown of organic matter.

Any waste plant material, including domestic and agricultural waste, can be used to produce biogas.

Biogas is primarily composed of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), and trace amounts of oxygen.

Biogas production involves three main steps: 1. Hydrolysis: breaking down organic polymers into monomers. 2. Acid formation: converting monomers into simpler compounds. 3. Methane production: anaerobic bacteria convert the simpler compounds into methane.

A system that uses microbial activity to break down organic waste, producing biogas (methane) for energy and a nutrient-rich slurry for fertilizer.

Biogas can be used for cooking, lighting, and even powering small engines like water pumps.

Biogas offers several benefits: renewable energy, reduced waste, improved sanitation, and a natural fertilizer for crops.

Living organisms like predators, parasites, or pathogens used to control pest populations in agriculture.

These insects are natural predators of common garden pests like aphids and mosquito larvae.

A bacterium that produces toxins harmful to certain insects, used as a biopesticide.

Microscopic fungi that live in the soil and help control plant diseases by preying on harmful pathogens.

A type of virus that specifically attacks and kills certain insect pests without harming other organisms.

Rhizobium bacteria live in root nodules of leguminous plants. They convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrates for the plant, which in turn provides nutrients to the bacteria.

Biofertilizers are natural substances containing beneficial microbes that improve soil fertility and plant growth.

Cyanobacteria like Anabaena, Nostoc, and Oscillatoria fix atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, making it available for plants. They are particularly important in paddy fields.

Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between fungal mycelium and plant roots, primarily in gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Biofertilizers offer several benefits over chemical fertilizers: they are economical, environmentally friendly, don't require fossil fuels, improve soil structure, and don't promote pathogens.

Chemical fertilizers can lead to water contamination, eutrophication, soil degradation, and health risks for humans and animals.

IPM combines biological methods and minimal use of chemical pesticides to manage pests effectively.

IPM prioritizes preventing and controlling pests using biologically-based approaches and only resorting to chemical pesticides when absolutely necessary.