14 ways microbes can be useful for welfare of human beings

                                           14 ways microbes can be useful for welfare of human beings

Introduction

Do we really think of microorganisms in negative terms? Yes, we really think about microorganisms in that way as we develop negative attitude towards microbes when media shows the microbe caused diseases to us. In advertisements related to Dettol soaps and cleaners, the microbes are depicted as villains. Though reducing disease transmission is important for community health, we ought to understand benefits of microbes.

Microbes run the world. Microbial communities make the essential elements of oxygen, nitrogen and Sulphur available for other life on our planet.

By reading this blogpost you will be able to appreciate the importance of microbes in our lives and consider them as heroes.

Utility of microbes in human beings

The following ways which depicts the usefulness of microbes:

1.      Bacteria called lactic acid bacteria grow in milk to convert it into curd.

2.      The dough which is used to make bread, is fermented by yeast called saccharomyces cerevisiae.

3.      Microbes are used to produce industrial products like lactic acid, acetic acid and alcohol.

4.      Antibiotics like penicillins produced by useful microbes are used to kill disease causing harmful microbes.

5.      Streptokinase which is produced by Streptococcus and modified by genetic engineering is used as a ‘Clot buster’ which helps in removal of clots from blood vessels of patients with myocardial infarction which can lead to heart attack.

6.      Cyclosporin-A which is produced by Trichodermapolysporum (fungus) is used as immuno¬suppressive agent in organ-transplant patients.

7.      Statins produced by Monascus purpureus (yeast), is used as blood cholesterol lowering agents which acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol.

8.      Lipase is used in detergent formulations which helps in removing oily stains from the laundry.

9.      The dough which is used for making foods such as dosa and idli is fermented with the help of bacteria. The puffed-up appearance of dough is due to the production of CO2 gas.

10.  Sludge, which is produced during secondary treatment of sewage is passed into large tanks called anaerobic sludge digesters in which anaerobic bacteria digest the bacteria and fungi in the sludge and produce mixture of gas called biogas, which is a mixture of methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide.

The effluents from the secondary treatment plant are released into water bodies.

11.  Biogas which is a mixture of gases is produced by the microbial activity that can be used as fuel. Certain bacteria which grows anaerobically on cellulosic material produce large amount of methane along with CO2and H2. These bacteria are called methanogens (Methanobacterium).

12.  Baculoviruses are the pathogens that attack the insects and other arthropods. The majority of baculoviruses used as biological control agents belong to the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus. These viruses are excellent for species-specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications.

13.  Bio fertilisers are the organisms that improve the nutrient quality of the soil. The main sources includes bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria.

The root nodule which is formed by Rhizobium bacteria on root of the leguminous plants increase the nitrogen level of soil, necessary for various metabolic processes.

 

Azotobacter and Azospirillum are the free living bacteria that reside in soil and fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms.

 

Symbiotic association of fungi with angiosperm plants (mycorrhiza) also increase the fertility of soil by absorbing phosphorus from the soil and passing it to the plant. These microbes also provide benefits like providing resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought.

 

Cyanobacteria (Nostoc, Anabaena), an autotrophic microbes which are found in aquatic and terrestrial environment fix atmospheric nitrogen thus acting as important bio-fertiliser in paddy field. Blue green algae also increase fertility of soil by adding organic matter to the soil.

14.  Pasteur realized that exposing the bacteria to oxygen had made them less deadly. This lead to purposely “attenuating” a germ in the laboratory so that it could/can be used as a safe vaccine.

Conclusion

 

Through this blogpost we come to know that how microbes are of use to human beings. Microbial products can be used for betterment of human beings.

References:

1. Class notes of Riya and Jiya.

2.  Microbes in Human Welfare class 12 Notes Biology

March 1, 2019 by myCBSEguide

3. Microbes in Human Welfare- CBSE Notes for Class 12 Biology

June 4, 2022 by Sastry CBSE