Friendly Microbes Initially, it was believed that all microorganisms are harmful as they cause

diseases. It has now

been established that only a small number of microbes are harmful, while many of them are
beneficial to us. Mankind has successfully identified and used good microbes for their own
benefit. Today, microorganisms are used to make various products such as food items,
medicines. vaccines, and fuels. Some useful microorganisms reside in our body and protect us
from harmful germs, whereas others help in digestion. Microorganisms are indispensable to life
on the Earth as they carry out various processes, including nitrogen fixation, decomposition of
dead plants and animals, recycling of nutrients, etc.

Misconception

Myth: E. coli bacteria are always dangerous.

Fact: The bacterium Escherichia coli (aka E. coli) can cause severe intestinal illnesses, but it
also plays an important role in providing humans with vitamin K.

Use of microbes to keep the environment clean

Bacteria, fungi and some protozoa help to keep our environment clean by decomposing organic
waste such as dead plants and animals, animal excreta, etc.

Microorganisms are used in wastewater treatment to digest organic matter present in it.

Organisrns that carry out the process of decomposition

DECOMPOSERS FUNGI, BACTERIA PROTISTS, INSECTS AND WORMS

Certain specific bacteria are used to clean oil spillage in water caused due to accidents of oil
carrying ships. For example, scientists have modified the genetic material of the bacterium
pseudomonas which has enhanced the oil eating capacity of these bacteria. These bacteria are
also called 'oil eating bacteria'.

Some bacteria eat up toxic chemicals, plastics, waste materials and help us in cleaning the
environment.

Use of microbes in the food industry

We use microbes at home to make food items such as curds, cakes, breads, idlis, and dosas.

Curd is made by adding a small amount of curd to warm milk and leaving it undisturbed for a
few hours. The added curd contains bacteria called Lactobacilli. These bacteria only become
active at temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, these bacteria
produce lactic acid that acts on the milk and converts it into curd.

Fig. 4.15 Yeast

Some bacteria are used in the commercial synthesis of citric acid, acetic acid, glycerol and
amino acids.

Yeast a fungus, is used in making breads. Yeast breaks down sugar contained in the dough in
the absence of oxygen to release carbon dioxide. This process is called fermentation. During
bread making, the dough is left in a warm place. The warmth causes fermentation to take place
faster. The carbon dioxide produced during fermentation, gets trapped as tiny pockets of air
within the dough. This causes the dough to rise making the breads soft and fluffy.

Yeast and bacteria such as acetobacter are used to make vinegar, alcohol, wine and fruit juices.
Idli, dosa, wine, vinegar and alcohol are made by the process of fermentation.
Mushrooms are also a type of fungus. Button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms are
commonly consumed as food and used in making soups and toppings for pizzas. Mushrooms
are rich in proteins and Vitamin B. They are good for health as they contain limited amount of
fats and are free of cholesterol.

Algae are rich in proteins and vitamins and are used as human food supplements. Brown algae
are a rich source of iodine and potassium. Red algae give us agar-agar which is used in making
ice creams, puddings, gelatine and jellies. Some algae grow as seaweeds and are used as cattle
feed. Spirulina and seaweed are also used as a source of food by humans.

Use of microbes in medicines

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that kill or stop the growth of disease-causing bacteria.
These antibiotics are obtained from bateria or fungi. Chloromycetin and streptomycin are
obtained from bacteria whereas penicillin, is obtained from the fungus penicillium. Penicillin is
used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Some live bacteria and yeasts are good for the digestive system. They are used as probiotics.
Probiotic foods and medicines improve the gut microorganisms and increase the immunity.

Some genetically modified bacteria are used in the production of insulin, a hormone needed by
people suffering from diabetes to control the level of sugar in their blood.

Yeast and many bacteria are used for producing Vitamin B.

Iodine used in medicines is obtained from brown algae.

Some bacteria are employed in the creation of serums and vaccines. A vaccine is a biological
preparation that boosts resistance to a specific disease. The process of administering the
vaccine is called vaccination. Killed bacteria or extracts of bacteria and viruses are used for
making vaccines. When this preparation is introduced into the human body, the immune system
is able to recognise the threat and destroy it. Moreover, the body "remembers" the threat and
can initiate an appropriate response if it encounters the same threat in the future. Rabies, a fatal
disease is treated by the anti-rabies vaccine that is developed from the rabies virus itself.

Fig. 4.18 Vaccination

Enrichment

In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist discovered penicillin. He began a series
of experiments with common staphylococcal bacteria. An uncovered petri dish that was lying
next to an open window became contaminated with mould spores. Fleming, observed that the
mould, was a fungus (pencillium notatum) and it killed colonies of staphylococci bacteria which
are a common cause of wound infections. This is how pencillin was discovered.

Sir Alexander Fleming

Use of microbes in agriculture

Seaweed, an algae, is used as manure as it is rich in nitrogen and potassium.

Some algae are used as biofertilisers.

Some microorganisms help decompose the dead remains of animals and plants, thus helping to
increase soil fertility They also help in cleaning our environment.

Plants cannot use atmospheric nitrogen. Conversion of nitrogen gas into biologically available
inorganic nitrogen such as ammonia is called nitrogen fixation. Most nitrogen

fixation is carried out by microorganisms such as bacteria. Rhizobium, a bacterium that lives in
the root nodules of leguminous plants such as pea and soyabean helps in nitrogen fixation.
Certain natural phenomena such as lightning, volcanic eruptions, forest fires and industrial
processes like combustion of fossil fuels also fix atmospheric nitrogen. Bacteria such as
azotobacter and some cyanobacteria found living freely in the soil also have the ability to fix the
atmospheric nitrogen. Blue-green algae and some other algae also help in fixing atmospheric
nitrogen.