36 Questions
What type of mycorrhizae are fungi that belong to genus Glomus?
Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae
Which of the following cyanobacteria lives in symbiotic association with the free floating water fern Azolla?
Anabaena azollae
What is the primary role of microbes in the context of biofertilisers?
To fix atmospheric nitrogen
Which of the following is NOT an example of a household product made with the help of microbes?
Soap
What is the primary input into a biogas plant?
Cow dung + water
Which of the following is an example of a biocontrol agent?
Trichoderma
What is the primary function of microbes in sewage treatment?
To break down organic matter
Which type of microbes are typically found in extreme habitats like deep-sea hydrothermal vents?
Thermophilic microbes
What is the term for the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic matter?
Biological oxygen demand
Which of the following is an example of a microbial ecosystem?
All of the above
What is the role of microbes in wastewater treatment?
To consume organic matter and release carbon dioxide
Which type of microbe is responsible for breaking down organic matter in the absence of oxygen?
Anaerobic microbes
What is the primary purpose of measuring Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in wastewater treatment?
To measure the rate of uptake of oxygen by microorganisms in a sample of water
Why is it important to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of wastewater during treatment?
To decrease the polluting potential of the water
What is the primary role of microorganisms in the BOD test?
To consume oxygen from the water
What is the purpose of the settling tank in the secondary sewage treatment process?
To allow bacterial 'flocs' to sediment
What type of microorganisms are found in the 'flocs' that settle in the secondary sewage treatment process?
Heterotrophic aerobic microbes
What is the final product of the secondary sewage treatment process?
Treated effluent
What is the primary function of fungi that belong to genus Glomus?
To absorb and store nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium
Which type of microbe is responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with the free floating water fern Azolla?
Anabaena azollae
What type of products are made with the help of microbes in industrial settings?
Fermented beverages and chemicals
What is the primary output of a biogas plant?
Biogas and sludge
What type of molecules are produced by microbes in industrial settings?
Bioactive molecules and enzymes
What is the characteristic of undistilled alcohols?
Low alcohol concentration
What is the meaning of the term 'anti' in the context of antibiotics?
Against life
Which type of organism is used as a biocontrol agent?
All of the above
Who discovered the full potential of penicillin as an effective antibiotic?
Ernst Chain and Howard Florey
What is the name of the mold that produces penicillin?
Penicillium notatum
What is the primary function of antibiotics?
To kill bacteria
What is the origin of the word 'antibiotics'?
Greek and Latin
What is the mode of action of statins, which are used as blood-cholesterol lowering agents?
Competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cholesterol
What is the primary purpose of sewage treatment plants?
To remove pathogens and contaminants from sewage
What type of microorganisms are used in sewage treatment plants?
Heterotrophic microbes
What is the role of Cyclosporin A in pharmaceutical applications?
As an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients
Which of the following microorganisms produces Cyclosporin A?
Trichoderma polysperma
What is the role of Monascus purpureus in pharmaceutical applications?
Produces Statins, blood-cholesterol lowering agents
Study Notes
Microbes in Human Welfare
- Microbes are tiny living organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye and are present in the human body, soil, water, and air.
Microbes in Household Products
- Microbes are used in the production of curd, cheese, idli, dosa, bread, and toddy.
- Examples of fermented beverages include rum, brandy, wine, and beer.
Microbes in Industrial Products
- Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by some microbes that can kill or inhibit the growth of other disease-causing microbes.
- Antibiotics were discovered by Alexander Fleming and were found to be produced by the mould Penicillium notatum.
- Ernst Chain and Howard Florey found the full potential of penicillin as an effective antibiotic.
- Microbes are used in the production of fermented beverages, chemicals (organic acids), and antibiotics.
- Bioactive molecules such as enzymes, cyclosporin A, and statins are produced by microbes.
Microbes in Sewage Treatment
- Untreated sewage pollutes water bodies, causing aquatic animals to die, making water unfit for use, and spreading water-borne diseases.
- Sewage treatment plants use heterotrophic microbes to treat sewage, reducing the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of wastewater.
- The process of sewage treatment is divided into primary and secondary treatment.
- Primary treatment involves physical removal of solid waste, while secondary treatment involves the use of microbes to break down organic matter.
- The effluent from the aeration tank is sent to a settling tank, where the bacterial 'flocs' sediment, and the clean supernatant is the treated effluent.
Microbes as Biofertilisers
- Cyanobacteria are autotrophic microbes that can fix atmospheric nitrogen, making them useful as biofertilisers.
- Examples of cyanobacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen include Anabaena, Nostoc, and Oscillatoria.
- Anabaena azollae lives in symbiotic association with the free floating water fern Azolla and fixes atmospheric nitrogen.
Microbes in Biogas Production
- Microbes are used in the production of biogas from cow dung and water.
- The biogas plant consists of a digester, where the microbial fermentation takes place, and a slurry tank, where the remaining sludge is collected.
Biocontrol Agents
- Biocontrol agents are living organisms that can control pests and diseases.
- Examples of biocontrol agents include viruses, fungi, bacteria, and animals.
- Baculovirus is a virus that can control pests, while Trichoderma is a fungus that can control diseases.
- Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that can control pests, and ladybird and dragonfly are animals that can control pests.
Test your knowledge of mycorrhizae, including ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae, and their role in plant nutrition. Learn about the importance of microbes as biofertilizers, including cyanobacteria. Assess your understanding of these microbiological concepts.
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