Microbes in Human Welfare

1 INTRODUCTION 3 MICROBES IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

m Microbes are the major components of biological systems on Requires growing microbes in fermentors Chemicals, Enzymes & other Bioactive Molecules
this earth. They are present everywhere-in soil, water, air, Fermented Beverages m Aspergillus niger (a fungus) – Citric acid
inside our bodies and that of other animals and plants. m Acetobacter aceti (a bacterium) – Acetic acid
m Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used for beverages
m Clostridium butylicum (a bacterium) – Butyric acid
m They are present even at sites where no other life-form could production and called brewer's yeast. It is also used for
fermenting malted cereals & fruit juices to produce ethanol. m Lactobacillus (a bacterium) – Lactic acid
possibly exist-like deep inside the geysers (thermal vents)
m Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Ethanol
where the temperature is 100°C, deep in the soil, under the m Wine & beer are produced without distillation, whereas
whisky, brandy & rum are produced by distillation of m Lipases – Used in detergent formulations.
layers of snow several metres thick and in highly acidic
fermented broth. m Streptokinase produced by bacterium Streptococcus &
environments. modified by genetic engineering is used as a 'clot buster' for
m Microbes are diverse-protozoa, bacteria, fungi and Antibiotics (Anti = against, bio = life) removing clots from blood vessels of myocardial infarction
m Penicillin-first antibiotic was a chance discovery, by patients.
microscopic animal & plant viruses, viroids and also prions.
Alexander Fleming, while working on Staphylococci m Cyclosporin-A, used as immunosuppressive agent in
m Microbes like bacteria and many fungi can be grown on bacteria, when he observed that they didn't grew due to the organ-transplant patients, is produced from Trichoderma
nutritive media to form colonies, that can be seen with naked growth of mould Penicillium notatum. Its full potential was polysporum (a fungus).
eyes. Such cultures are useful in studies on micro-organisms. discovered by Chain & Florey. Fleming, Chain & Florey m Statins produced by yeast Monascus purpureus is a blood-
m Microbes can be harmful and disease causing but many are were awarded Nobel prize in 1945. cholesterol lowering agent.
useful to man in diverse ways.
4 MICROBES IN SEWAGE TREATMENT
2 MICROBES IN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS m The municipal waste water is called sewage. A major component of this waste water is human excreta. It contains large
amounts of organic matter & microbes.
m Lactobacillus & others (LAB) grow in milk & convert it to curd.
LAB produce acids that coagulate & partially digest milk m Before disposal into natural water bodies like rivers and streams, it is treated in sewage treatment plants (STPs) to make it less
proteins, at suitable temperatures. It also improves its polluting.
m Treatment of waste water is done by the heterotrophic microbes naturally present in the sewage.
nutritional quality by increasing vit-B12.
In our stomach too, LAB play beneficial role in checking Treatment is carried in two stages
pathogenic microbes.
m The dough used for dosa, idli is fermented by bacteria. Primary Treatment (Physical treatment) Secondary Treatment (Biological treatment)
m Involves physical removal of particles- In anaerobic sludge digester anaerobic bacteria Primary effluent is passed into large
m Dough which of used for making bread, is fermented using aeration tanks
large & small from the sewage through digest bacteria & fungi in the sludge. Produce a
baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). ¯
filtration and sedimentation mixture of CH4, H2S, CO2 (Biogas) Constantly agitated and air is
m Toddy is fermented sap from palms.
m Floating debris is removed by ­ pumped into it
m Microbes are used to ferment fish, soyabean & bamboo
sequential filtration ¯
shoots to make foods. A small part of the activated sludge is pumped back
Allows vigorous growth of useful
m The characteristic texture, flavour, taste and specificity of m Grit (soil & small pebbles) removed by into aeration tank to serve as inoculum. Rest is aerobic microbes into flocs. (Bacteria
cheese is due to the microbes: sedimentation pumped into anaerobic sludge digesters + fungal filaments to form mesh
like structures)
a. Swiss cheese: Large holes are due to large amount of m Solids that settle form the primary ­
¯
CO2 produced by the bacterium. Propionibacterium sludge & the supernatant forms the Effluent passed into settling tank, where bacterial Microbes grow & consume the major
sharmanii. effluent. 'flocs' sediment, called Activated sludge and then part of organic matter, significantly
The effluent is taken for secondary reducing the BOD.
b. Roquefort cheese: Ripened by a specific fungi, which m effluent from secondary treatment plant can be
gives the specific flavour. treatment. released into natural water bodies.
 Microbes in Human Welfare

5 MICROBES IN PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS 6 BIOGAS PLANT 9

1. Biogas is a mixture of gases (predominantly methane) m Consist of a concrete tank (10-15 feet deep) in which bio-
produced by microbial activity. wastes are collected and a slurry of dung is fed.
m The puffed-up appearance of dough is due to CO2 gas.
2. Methanogens, like Methanobacterium, grow anaerobically m A floating cover is placed over the slurry, which rises when gas
is produced due to microbial activity. m Toddy is a traditional drink of some parts of Southern
on cellulosic material to produce large amount of CH4 along
m It has outlet to transfer biogas. India.
with CO2 and H2. m Slurry is removed and may be used as fertiliser.
3. These bacteria are commonly found in anaerobic sludge m Antibiotics mean against life, in the context of disease
m Biogas can be used for cooking and lighting.
during sewage treatment, rumen of cattle. causing organisms, but in context to human life they are
m The technology of Gas
4. In rumen, these bacteria help in the breakdown of cellulose & 'pro life'.
biogas production
play an important role in nutrition of cattle. The excreta of Bottled juices are clarified by use of pectinases and
was developed in m
cattle (dung), commonly called Gobar is rich in these Gas-holder
India mainly due to proteases.
bacteria. Dung Water (CH4 + CO2 + ----) Sludge
the efforts of Indian
5. Dung can be used for generation of biogas, so commonly m Statins act by competitively inhibiting the enzyme
Agricultural
called Gobar gas. responsible for synthesis of cholesterol.
Research Institute
(IARI) & Khadi & m BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) is the amount of
7 MICROBES AS BIOCONTROL AGENTS Digester
Village Industries oxygen consumed if all the organic matter in one liter of
m Biocontrol refers to the use of biological methods for Commission (KVIC). water were oxidised by bacteria.
controlling plant diseases and pests.
m BOD test measures the rate of uptake of oxygen by micro-
m As use of insecticides and pesticides are harmful and 8 MICROBES AS BIOFERTILISERS
polluting, our soil is also polluted by weedicides. organisms in a sample of water. BOD is a measure of the
m Organic farming uses biofertilizers. organic matter present in the water.
Biological control of pests & diseases
m Biofertilizers are organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of m In our country, a number of biofertilisers are available
m It relies on natural predation.
the soil. commercially in the market and farmers use these
m The process does not eradicate pests, instead keeps it at
m Main sources of biofertilizers are bacteria, fungi and regularly to replenish soil nutrients and reduce
manageable levels by a complex system of checks and
cyanobacteria. dependence on chemical fertilizers.
balances.
Chemical methods kill both useful and harmful life forms m Root nodules in leguminous plants is formed by symbiotic
m m Microbes are a very important component of life on earth.
indiscriminately. association of Rhizobium, to fix atmospheric nitrogen into
Not all microbes are pathogenic. Many are very useful.
l Beetle with red & black markings-the ladybird & dragon- organic forms.
m Microbes play a major role in treating millions of gallons of
flies are useful to get rid of aphids and mosquitoes m Free-living N2-fixers like Azospirillum and Azotobacter enrich waste water everyday across the globe. Till date, no man-
respectively. the soil. made technology has been able to rival the microbial
l Butterfly caterpillars are controlled by bacteria Bacillus
m Fungi-plant root, symbiotic association is called mycorrhiza. treatment of sewage.
thuringiensis (Bt) on plants such as brassicas & fruit
Glomus form mycorrhiza. Fungi-absorb phosphorus from soil
trees. m The ministry of Environment and Forests has initiated
& passes to the plant. Plants also show resistance to root-
l Bt toxin genes is introduced to produce Bt-cotton. Ganga Action Plan & Yamuna Action Plan to save these
borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought and overall
l Fungus Trichoderma, common in the root ecosystems, major rivers of our country from pollution.
increase in growth and development.
effective against several plant pathogens. m The biocontrol measures help us to avoid heavy use of
m Cyanobacteria like Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria etc. fix
l Baculoviruses attack insects and other arthropods. toxic pesticides for controlling pests.
Majority of Baculoviruses are in the genus atmospheric N2, in paddy fields.
m It is clear from the diverse uses human beings have put
Nucleopolyhedrovirus, they are species-specific, narrow m BGA (blue green algae) also add organic matter to the soil and
microbes to that they are important for our survival.
spectrum insecticidal applications. increase its fertility.
 Microbes in Human Welfare NCERT Maps

1. During the process of making curd, a 5. The first antibiotic to be discovered, which 9. Which of the following bio-active molecule
inoculum is added to fresh milk to initiate the was extensively used to treat American has been commercialised as blood-
process. The term inoculum actually means soldiers wounded in world war-II was cholesterol lowering agent?
a starter [NCERT Pg.181] [NCERT Pg.182] [NCERT Pg.183]
(1) Rich in vitamin B2 and B12 (1) Streptomycin (2) Penicillin (1) Statins (2) Cyclosporin-A
(2) Having pathogenic microbes (3) Tetracyclin (4) Bacitracin
(3) Penicillin (4) Lipase
(3) Producing large amount of CO2 6. "Toddy", a traditional drink of some parts of
10. Which of the following chemical produced by
Southern India is made by fermenting
(4) Rich in millions of LAB the bacterium Streptococcus and modified
[NCERT Pg.181] by genetic engineering can be used to
2. The puffed-up appearance of dough is due
(1) Fresh bamboo shoots remove clots from blood vessels of
to [NCERT Pg.181]
myocardial infarction patients?
(2) Soyabean
(1) Specific bacteria
(3) Cereals [NCERT Pg.183]
(2) Fermented fish
(4) Sap from palms (1) Statins (2) Streptokinase
(3) Production of CO2
7. Which of the following microbes is used for (3) Thiokinase
(4) A particular flavour the commercial production of ethanol? (4) Pyruvate kinase
3. The 'Roquefort cheese' gets a particular [NCERT Pg.183]
11. During the process of primary treatment in
flavour as they are ripened by (1) Aspergillus niger the STP, floating debris is removed by:
[NCERT Pg.181] (2) Saccharomyces cerevisiae [NCERT Pg.184]
(1) Lactic acid bacteria (3) Acetobacter aceti (1) Aeration
(2) Saccharomyces (4) Lactobacillus
(2) Sedimentation
(3) A specific fungi 8. Cyclosporin-A is used as an
(3) Sequential filtration
immunosuppressive agent in organ-
(4) Aspergillus
transplant patients, is produced by the (4) Effluent treatment
4. Which of the following alcoholic drinks are fungus [NCERT Pg.183] 12. During secondary treatment of sewage, the
produced without distillation? (1) Aspergillus niger bacterial 'flocs' are allowed to sediment. This
[NCERT Pg.182] (2) Penicillium notatum sediment is called [NCERT Pg.184]
(1) Wine and beer (2) Wine and rum (3) Trichoderma polysporum (1) Activated sludge (2) Primary sludge
(3) Rum and whisky (4) Brandy and wine (4) Saccharomyces (3) Slurry (4) Supernatant
 Microbes in Human Welfare
13. The bacteria commonly found in the 16. Many members of which of the following (3) Acetobacter aceti
anaerobic sludge during sewage treatment genus of fungi form the mycorrhiza?
(4) Staphylococci
is [NCERT Pg.185]
[NCERT Pg.188] 19. Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack
(1) Streptococcus
(1) Glomus [NCERT Pg.187]
(2) Staphylococci
(2) Aspergillus (1) Insects & other arthropods
(3) Methanobacterium
(3) Monascus (2) Prions & viroids
(4) Acetobacter
(4) Saccharomyces (3) Prions & virusoids
14. The organisms that enrich the nutrient
quality of the soil are known as (4) Butterfly caterpillars
17. The dragonflies are useful to get rid of
[NCERT Pg.188] 20. Which of the following group of gases form
[NCERT Pg.187]
the biogas and can be used as source of
(1) Natural manure (2) Organic manure
(1) Aphids (2) Mosquitoes energy as it is inflammable?
(3) Biocontrol agents (4) Biofertilizers
(3) Parthenium (4) Methanogens [NCERT Pg.185]
15. Which of the following group of organisms
(1) CO2, H2S, H2
serve as an important biofertilizer in paddy 18. Industrial production of butyric acid is done
fields? [NCERT Pg.188] by using the bacterium [NCERT Pg.183] (2) CO, CO2, H2
(1) Methanogens (2) Cyanobacteria (1) Lactobacillus (3) CH4, H2S, CO2
(3) Archaebacteria (4) Protozoans (2) Clostridium butylicum (4) CO, H2, C2H6

1. Microbes are present even at sites where no 3. The dough, used for making foods such as 6. For the discovery of _______ Fleming,
Chain and Florey were awarded the Nobel
other life form could possibly exist even at dosa and idli is fermented by prize in 1945. [NCERT Pg. 182]
sites such as _______ where the _______ [NCERT Pg. 181] 7. _______ acts by competitively inhibiting the
temperature may be as high as enzyme responsible for synthesis of
4. Whisky, brandy and rum are produced by cholesterol. [NCERT Pg. 183]
100°C. [NCERT Pg. 179] _______ of the fermented broth.
8. The _______ measures the rate of uptake
2. In our stomach, the LAB plays very [NCERT Pg. 182] of oxygen by micro-organisms in a sample
of water and thus, indirectly, BOD is a
beneficial role in checking 5. In the context of disease causing organisms, measure of the organic matter present in the
anti-biotics mean _______[NCERT Pg. 182] water. [NCERT Pg. 184]
_______. [NCERT Pg. 181]
 Microbes in Human Welfare
9. The effluent from the _______ is generally 13. In agriculture there is a method of controlling 17. The majority of baculoviruses used as
released into natural water bodies like rivers pests that relies on _______ rather than biological control agents are in the genus
and streams. [NCERT Pg. 184] introduced chemicals. [NCERT Pg. 186] _______. [NCERT Pg. 187]
14. The use of biocontrol methods and 18. Nodules on the roots of leguminous plants
10. _______ are commonly found in the rumen
measures will greatly reduce our
of cattle. [NCERT Pg. 185] are formed by the symbiotic association of
dependence on _______. [NCERT Pg. 187]
_______. [NCERT Pg. 188]
11. The technology of _______ was developed 15. An example of microbial biocontrol agents
in India mainly due to the efforts of IARI and 19. The main source of __________ are
that can be introduced to control butterfly
KVIC. [NCERT Pg. 186] caterpillars is the bacterium bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria.
_______. [NCERT Pg. 187] [NCERT Pg. 188]
12. _______ refers to the use of biological
methods of controlling plant diseases and 16. _______ species are free-living fungi that 20. _______ produce methane (biogas) while
are very common in the root degrading plant waste. [NCERT Pg. 189]
pests. [NCERT Pg. 186]
ecosystems. [NCERT Pg. 187]

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