MICROBES IN HUMAN

WELFARE

CHAPTER – 10

MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE

Microbes are diverse Protozoa, bacteria, fungi and Baker's yeast is used to ferment the dough needed to make
microscopic animal and plant virus, virods are also prions bread (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
that are proteinaceous infectious agents.
‘Toddy’, a traditional drink of some parts of southern India is
Microbes like bacteria and many fungi can be grown on made by fermenting sap from palms.
nutritive media to form colonies that can be seen with the Cheese is one of the first foods to include microorganisms.
naked eyes, such cultures are useful in studies on The big holes in 'Swiss cheese' are caused by a bacteria called
microorganisms. Propionibacterium sharmanii producing a huge amount of
It is also true that microbes also cause a large number of CO2. The 'Roquefort cheese' is made by cultivating an unique
diseases in human beings, they also cause diseases in animals fungus on it to give it a distinct flavour.
and plants but this does not mean that microbes are harmful, Microbes in Industrial Production
microbes are useful to man in various ways, some of the most
important contribution of microbes to humans are discussed A large number of microbes are used to synthesise various
as follows: products that are important to humans being, these includes
beverages, antibiotics that are produced on industrial scale
Microbes in household products and requires microbes in very large quantity, for this very
large vessels are used that are called fermenters.
Lactobacillus and other microorganisms known as lactic acid
bacteria (LAB) thrive in milk and generate curd. The LAB Let’s have a look at all the industrial products in a bit detail:
synthesises acids that coagulate and partly breakdown milk
Beverages: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sometimes known
proteins. It also boosts the nutritional quality by adding more
as brewer's yeast, is used for fermenting malted grains and
vitamin B12. In our stomach, the LAB also plays an important
fruit juices to generate drinks such as wine, beer, whiskey,
function, it prevents the growth of disease-causing and rum. Wine and beer are not distilled, but whiskey,
microorganisms. brandy, and rum are made by distilling the fermented broth.
Bacteria ferment the dough, which is used to make dishes like Antibiotics: They are molecules that are produced by
dosa and idli. The generation of CO2 gas causes the puffed-up bacteria that have the ability to kill or slow the development
look of dough. of other microorganisms. The first discovered antibiotic
was Penicillin. The discovery of penicillin was by chance and For this sewage is treated, treatment plants are used to
was made by Alexander Fleming when he was working on reduce pollution by employing heterotrophic bacteria
Staphylococcus. However, its full potential as an effective found naturally in sewage. Sewage treatment is a 2 step
antibiotic was established much later by Ernest Chain and process:
Howard Florey. This antibiotic was extensively used to treat Primary Treatment: Floating debris is removed by
American soldiers wounded in World War II. Fleming, Chain successive filtering in first treatment. Sedimentation removes
and Florey were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945, for this grit (dirt and tiny stones). All solids that settle form the
discovery. primary sludge, and the supernatant forms the effluent.
Antibiotics have significantly enhanced our ability to cure Secondary Treatment: Secondary treatment is also called
lethal infections such as plague, whooping cough, diphtheria, as biological treatment; it is a process in which primary
and leprosy. effluents go through a huge aeration tank to aid in the
development of aerobic microbes into flocs (masses of
bacteria associated with fungal filaments to form mesh
like structures). These bacteria boost organic waste
Q1. Which of the following is also called as baker’s yeast? consumption while decreasing effluent BOD (biological
(a) Lactobacillus oxygen demand).
(b) Saccharomyces cerevisiae When the BOD of the sewage gets lowered, the effluent is fed
(c) Trichoderma into a settling tank, so that tha bacterial flocs can settle. This
(d) None of the above is called as activated sludge which is pumped into massive
S1. (b) tanks known as anaerobic sludge digesters, where anaerobic
bacteria consume the bacteria and fungus in the sludge to
Q2. Which of the following are produced by by distillation generate biogas, which is a combination of methane,
of the fermented broth? hydrogen sulphide, and carbon dioxide. The secondary
(a) Whisky (b) Brandy treatment plant's effluent is discharged into bodies of water.
(c) Rum (d) All of the above
Biological Oxygen Demand: BOD is the quantity of oxygen
S2. (d) consumed if bacteria oxidised all of the organic materials in
one litre of water. It determines the quantity of organic stuff
Chemicals, Enzymes and other Bioactive molecules:
in the water. If the BOD of the water is high, then it means that
Some of the chemicals produced by microbes are:
water is more flithy.
(i) Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Ethanol
(ii) Acetobacter aceti (bacterium) – Acetic acid
(iii) Clostridium butylicum (bacterium) – Butyric acid
(iv) Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Ethanol
Q1. The BOD test measures the rate of uptake of which of
(v) Aspergillus niger (fungus) – Citric acid
the following by microorganism in a sample of water?
(vi) Lactobacillus (bacterium) – Lactic acid
(a) Nitrogen (b) Carbon dioxide
Enzymes and their uses: (c) Carbon monoxide (d) Oxygen
(i) Streptokinase is produced by Streptococcus and is used
S1. (d)
as to remove clots from the blood vessels of patients who
have undergone myocardial infarction leading to heart Q2. The particles from waste water during the primary
attack. treatment are removed by.
(ii) Pectinase and protease are used in used for clearing (a) Filtration (b) Sedimentation
juices. (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above
(iii) Lipase is used in laundry detergents. S2. (c)
Bioactive molecules: Microbes in Biogas Production
(i) Cyclosporin A is produced by Trichoderma polysporum a Biogas is a gas mixture created by microbial activity that may
fungi and is used as during organ transplant patients. be used as a fuel. Certain anaerobic bacteria that live on
(ii) Statins is produced by Monascus purpureus a yeast and is cellulose material create a considerable quantity of methane,
used as blood cholesterol lowering agents. CO2 and H2. These microorganisms are known together as
Microbes in Sewage Treatment methanogens (Methanobacterium).
Municipal sewage comprises of a high concentration of Biogas Plant: Cattle excreta (dung) is used to produce biogas
organic materials and harmful bacteria, such a sewage is very as it is rich in these bacteria.
harmful and cannot be dumped into rivers and streams.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) worked on the
technology of Biogas production.
A biogas plant is made up of a concrete tank that collects bio-wastes and feeds dung slurry. When gas is created, a floating cover
is placed over the digester and travels upward. The generated gas is extracted and delivered for consumption through an output
pipe. The leftover slurry is collected and utilised as fertiliser through another exit. The plants are built in rural locations since
significant amounts of dung is conveniently accessible.

As Biocontrol Agents
Biocontrol refers to the employment of biochemical
methods to control plant disease and pests. Q1. Which of the following is a biocontrol agent?
(a) Nucleopolyhedrovirus
Biological pest and disease control is a form of pest control (b) Baculoviruses
that relies on natural prediction rather than chemicals. In this (c) Both (a) and (b)
system pests are not exterminated, but rather managed at a (d) None of the above
manageable level by a sophisticated system of check and
balance inside the living and flourishing ecosystem. e.g. S1. (c)
(i) Ladybirds and dragonflies, are utilised to control Q2. In mycorrhiza, the fungal symbiont absorbs which of
aphids and mosquitoes. the following component from the soil and passes it to
(ii) Bacillus thuringiensis is used to control butterfly the plant?
caterpillars on brassicas and fruit trees. (a) Calcium
(iii) Trichoderma are free-living fungus found in root (b) Magnesium
systems that suppress a variety of plant diseases. (c) Phosphorous
(iv) The genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus contains the bulk of (d) Nitrogen
baculoviruses employed as biological control agents.
These viruses are excellent candidates for species- S2. (c)
specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications. Mycorrhiza is the symbiotic relationship of fungus
These viruses are promising prospects for insecticidal with angiosperm plants that increases soil fertility.
treatments with a species-specific, limited scope. Many members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhiza.
Microbes as Biofertilisers The fungal symbiont in these associations absorbs
The organisms that improve the nutritional quality of the soil phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant. Plants
act as Biofertilisers, e.g. bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria. having such associations show other benefits also, such
as resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to
Rhizobium generate root nodules on the roots of leguminous salinity and drought, and an overall increase in plant
plants, thus boosting soil nitrogen concentrations, which are growth and development.
required over many metabolic functions. Azotobacter and
Azospirillum are soil-dwelling free-living bacteria that fix Cyanobacteria (Nostoc, Anabaena) are autotrophic
atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms. microorganisms that fix atmospheric nitrogen. This is
used on paddy fields.
 Microbes are beneficial as well as detrimental to the welfare of human beings. Microbes are utilized in many ways. Microbes
are used to synthesize different products that are useful for humans. Beverages and antibiotics are the most common product
obtained from microbes. Antibiotics are chemical substances produced using microbes against any disease-causing microbe.
Microbes were also used for the production of certain chemicals such as alcohols, enzymes, organic acids etc. Many microbes
are of household importance also, most of them are used in setting of curd, in preparation of idli and dosa etc. Microbes are
also very useful in the treatment of sewage water that contains human excreta. Biocontrol is defined as use of biological
methods to control plant diseases and pests. Conventionally, pesticides and insecticides are being used for the control of
diseases and pests. The excess use of chemicals and their harmful effect has forced the farmers to switch to organic farming.
Organic farming use biofertilizers. Biofertilizers are organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of the soil. Biofertilizers
contain bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria.

• LAB produce acids that coagulate and partially digest the • Flocs are masses of bacteria associated with fungal
milk proteins. filaments to form mesh like structures during the sewage
• Curd contains good quantity of Vitamin B12. treatment.
• The puffed-up appearance of dough of idli and dosa s due • The greater the BOD of waste water, more is its polluting
to the production of CO2 gas. potential.
• Penicillin is a serendipitous discovery. • Trichoderma and Baculoviruses are biocontrol agents.
• Organic farming utilises biofertilisers.
 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Q1. Which of the following microbe is present in milk? (c) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(a) Propionibacterium sharmanii (d) LAB
(b) Lactic acid bacteria
Q11. Which of the following is used as an
(c) Clostridium butylicum
(d) Trichoderma polysporum immunosuppressive agent?
(a) Penicillin
Q2. Which of the following vitamin enhances the (b) Streptokinase
nutritional quality of curd when a small amount of (c) Cyclosporin A
inoculum is added to milk? (d) All of the above
(a) Vitamin B2 (b) Vitamin B12
(c) Vitamin A (d) Vitamin C Q12. Which of the following forms the primary sludge in
sewage treatment?
Q3. What is the reason for the puffed up appearance of dosa (a) Floc (b) Soil and small pebbles
and idli dough? (c) Microbes (d) All of the above
(a) CO2 gas gets trapped within the dough
(b) CO get trapped within the dough Q13. What is floc?
(c) The microbes change the appearance of the dough (a) They are masses of protozoa associated with
(d) All of the above fungal filaments to form mesh-like structures
(b) They are masses of bacteria associated with fungal
Q4 Which of the following bacteria is used for making filaments to form mesh like structures
Swiss cheese? (c) They are masses of worms associated with fungal
(a) LAB filaments to form mesh like structures
(b) Propionibacterium sharmanii
(d) None of the above
(c) Acetobactor aceti
(d) Clostridium butylicum Q14. Which of the following is the correct full form of BOD?
(a) Biological Oxygen Demand
Q5 Which of the following microbes is used in bread
(b) Biochemical Oxygen Demand
making?
(c) Best Oxygen Demand
(a) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(d) Biochemical Oxygen Default
(b) Acetobactor aceti
Q15. What does BOD test measures?
(c) Aspergillus niger
(a) it measures the rate of uptake of carbon monoxide
(d) Lactobaccilus
by microorganisms in a sample of water
Q6 Which of the following is not produced by distillation (b) it measures the rate of uptake of nitrogen by
of the fermented broth? microorganisms in a sample of water
(a) Brandy (b) Rum (c) it measures the rate of uptake of oxygen by
(c) Whisky (d) Beer microorganisms in a sample of water
Q7 Which of the following was the first discovered (d) it measures the rate of uptake of carbon dioxide by
antibiotic? microorganisms in a sample of water
(a) Cefexin Q16. How is the polluting potential determined by testing
(b) Amoxycillin the BOD of waste water?
(c) Penicillin (a) Greater the BOD lesser is the polluting potential
(d) Cephalosporin (b) Lesser the BOD lesser is the polluting potential
Q8 Which of the following is also called as gal ghotu? (c) Lesser the BOD greater is the polluting potential
(a) Whooping cough (b) Diphtheria (d) Greater the BOD greater is the polluting potential
(c) Leprosy (d) Plague
Q17. Which of the following function of mixture of gases is
Q9 Which of the following is a fungus? present in anaerobic sludge digesters?
(a) Acetobactor aceti (a) Methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon di oxide
(b) Lactobacillus (b) Methane, oxygen, carbon di oxide
(c) Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(c) Methane, hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen
(d) All of the above
(d) Methane, hydrogen, oxygen
Q10. Which of the following is used for commercial
Q18. Which of the following microbe produces citric acid?
production of ethanol?
(a) Acetobactor aceti (b) Clostridium butylicum
(a) Acetobactor aceti
(c) Lactobascillus (d) Aspergillus niger
(b) Aspergillus niger
Q19. Which of the following is correct about antibiotics? Q29. Bacteria growing anaerobically on cellulosic material
(a) They are medicines produce large amount of which of the following gases?
(b) They are microbes (a) CO2, H2, CH4 (b) CO2, H2O, CH4
(c) They are toxic plants (c) CO, H2, CH4 (d) CO2, H2, C
(d) All of the above
Q30. The settled bacterial flocs that is allowed to sediment
Q20. Which of the following is pre-dominantly present in during sewage treatment is called.
biogas? (a) Primary sludge
(a) Oxygen (b) Secondary sludge
(b) Carbon di oxide (c) Activated sludge
(c) Methane (d) Tertiary sludge
(d) Carbon monoxide
Q31. Who among the following discovered the technology of
Q21. Methanogens are present in. biogas production?
(a) Stomach of cow (b) Rumen of cattle (a) PUSA
(c) Intestine of cat (d) Liver of sheep (b) IARI
Q22. What is the function of Methanobacterium in the rumen (c) KVIC
of cattle? (d) Both (b) and (c)
(a) Help in breakdown of starch Q32. The fungus Trichoderma can be used for.
(b) Help in breakdown of cellulose (a) Killing microbes within human body
(c) Help in breakdown of lactose (b) Killing several plant pathogens
(d) Help in breakdown of glucose
(c) Killing houseflies in houses
Q23. Ladybird and dragonflies are useful to get rid of. (d) Killing mosquitoes
(a) Mosquitoes
Q33. Which of the following bacteria forms symbiotic
(b) Houseflies
association with the roots of the leguminous plants?
(c) Aphids and mosquitoes
(a) Azospirillum’
(d) Bees
(b) Azotobacter
Q24. Which of the following virus are excellent candidate for (c) Rhizobium
species-specific narrow spectrum insecticidal (d) Nostoc
applications?
(a) Cytomegalovirus Q34. Which of the following is used as a clot buster for
(b) Nucleopolyhedrovirus removing clots from the blood vessels of patients who
(c) Both (a) and (b) have undergone myocardial infarction?
(d) None of the above (a) Cyclosporin A
(b) Streptokinase
Q25. Which of the following is the correct full form of IPM? (c) Cephalosporin
(a) Internet Pest Management (d) Penicillin
(b) Integrated Pest Management
(c) Integrated Post Management Q35. Which of the following is correct about BOD of
(d) Innovative Pest Management wastewater?
(a) It is estimated by measuring the content of CO2
Q26. Organic farming uses. (b) It is estimated by measuring the content of CO
(a) Chemical fertilizers (c) It is estimated by measuring the content of O2
(b) Bio-fertilizers (d) It is estimated by measuring the content of N2
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above Q36. Which of the following is very effective in controlling
butterfly caterpillars?
Q27. Which the following bacteria can fix atmospheric
(a) Bacillus cereus
nitrogen while living free in the soil?
(b) Bacillus thuringiensis
(a) Rhizobium (b) Azotobacter
(c) Bacillus pumilus
(c) Azospirllium (d) Both (b) and (c)
(d) Bacillus mycoides
Q28. Sludge produced during wastewater treatment it is
Q37. Which of the following are main sources of
treated by.
biofertilizers?
(a) Oxidation ponds
(a) Cyanobacteria only
(b) Activated sludge digesters
(b) Bacteria only
(c) Flocs
(d) All of the above (c) Fungus only
(d) All of the above
Q38. Which of the following is correct about cyanobacteria? (a) Alexander Fleming (b) Ernest Chain
(a) They are heterotrophic microbes (c) Howard Florey (d) Both (b) and (c)
(b) They are autotrophic microbes
Q49. Which of the following is a biofertilizer?
(c) They are saprophytes
(a) Urea
(d) All of the above
(b) Cyanobacteria
Q39. Which of the following add organic matter to the soil (c) Ammonium nitrate
and increases its fertility? (d) Ammonium sulphate
(a) Mycorrhiza (b) Rhizobium
(c) Blue Green Algae (d) Azotobacter Q50. Which of the following acts as an inoculum and is
pumped back into the aeration tank during sewage
Q40. Which of the following is found in paddy fields and treatment?
serves as an important biofertilizer? (a) Grit (b) Activated sludge
(a) Azotobacter (b) Rhizobium (c) Primary sludge (d) All of the above
(c) Clostridium (d) Cyanobacteria
Q41. Which of the following is a symbiotic Association ASSERTION AND REASON
between a green plant and a fungus?
(a) Blue Green Algae (b) Mycorrhiza Direction: in the following questions, a statement of
(c) Cyanobacteria (d) Rhizobium assertion (A) is followed by a statement of reason (R). Choose
the correct option among a, b, c and d.
Q42. Which of the following mineral nutrient is absorbed by
the fungal symbiont during its association with the Q1. Assertion (A): The main component of biogas is CH4.
plant? Reason (R): Biogas plants are prepared on the foreign
(a) Iron (b) Calcium technology.
(c) Phosphorus (d) Nitrogen (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
Q43. The primary treatment of the sewage involves. reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion
(a) Distillation and filtration (A)
(b) Filtration and evaporation (b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but
(c) Evaporation and distillation reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
(d) Filtration and sedimentation assertion (A)
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
Q44. Which of the following is called as grit in the primary (d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
treatment of sewage?
(a) Soil and large stone Q2. Assertion (A): Wine and beer are produced by the
(b) Large stones and mud distillation of the fermented broth.
(c) Soil and small pebbles Reason (R): Different types of alcoholic drinks are
(d) Pebbles and Large stones obtained only by fermentation, always followed by
distillation process.
Q45. Which of the following is used in detergent (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion
from the laundry?
(A)
(a) Lactic acid (b) Lipase
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but
(c) Citric acid (d) Ethanol
reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
Q46. Which of the following acts as a blood cholesterol assertion (A)
lowering agent? (c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
(a) Trichoderma polysporum (d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
(b) Staphylococci
(c) Penicillium Q3. Assertion (A): Baculovirus are species specific.
(d) Monascus purpureus Reason (R): It is very common in root ecosystem and
effective against several plant pathogens.
Q47. Which of the following is regarded as serendipitous (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
discovery in science? reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion
(a) Discovery of biogas (A)
(b) Discovery of penicillin (b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but
(c) Discovery of Cylosporin reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
(d) Discovery of streptokinase assertion (A)
Q48. Who among the following discovered the full potential (c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
of penicillin as an effective antibiotic? (d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
Q4. Assertion (A): Cheese is one of the oldest food item in
which microbes are used. TRUE/FALSE
Reason (R): Different varieties of cheese are known by Q1. The greater the BOD of waste water, less is its polluting
characteristic texture, flavour and taste. potential.
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion Q2. Biocontrol refers to the use of biological methods for
(A) controlling plant diseases and pests.
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but Q3. Bottled juices are clarified by the use of lipases.
reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
Q4. The large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’ are due to production
assertion (A)
of a large amount of CO by a bacterium named
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
Propionibacterium sharmanii.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true

PRACTICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

Q1. Which of the following Microorganisms use for swiss (c) Cyanobacteria
cheese? (d) Archaebacteria
(a) Propionibacterium
Q8. Yeast is used in the production of.
(b) Geotrichum
(a) Bread and beer
(c) Penicillium
(b) Cheese and butter
(d) Streptococcus
(c) Citric acid and lactic acid
Q2. What are the advantage of gobar gas over conventional (d) Lipase and pectinase
utilization?
Q9. A patient brought to a hospital with myocardial
(a) More efficient source of energy
infarction is normally immediately given.
(b) Used as good fertilizer
(a) Cyclosporin-A
(c) Reduces the chances of spreading of pathogens
(b) Statins
(d) All the above
(c) Penicillin
Q3. Modern farmer can increase the yield of Paddy upto (d) Streptokinase
50% by the use of.
Q10. Which of the following statements about methanogens
(a) Cyanobacteria (b) Rhizobium
is not correct?
(c) Mycorrhiza (d) Farm yard manure
(a) They can be used to produce biogas.
Q4. Which one produce gas by decomposing the gobar (b) They are found in the rumen of cattle and their
(Dung) in gobar gas? excreta
(a) Fungus (c) They grow aerobically and breakdown cellulose-
(b) Virus rich food.
(c) Methanogenic bacteria (d) They produce methane gas.
(d) Algae Q11. Which of the following bacteria was associated with
discovery of penicillin?
Q5. Which of the following is the pair of biofertilizers?
(a) Streptococus
(a) Azolla and BGA
(b) Staphylococcus
(b) Nostoc and legume
(c) Saccharomyces cerveisiae
(c) Rhizobium and grasses
(d) Propionobacterium
(d) Salmonella & E. Coli
Q12. Full potential of penicillin as an effective antibiotic was
Q6. Select the correct match.
established by.
(a) Aspergillus niger - Acetic acid
(a) Alexander Flemming
(b) Streptokinase – Immunosuppressive
(b) Ernest chain
(c) Cyclosporin - A - Clot buster
(c) Howard florey
(d) Statins - Cholesterol lowering agent
(d) Both (b) and (c )
Q7. The most abundant prokaryotes helpful to humans in
Q13. Bacillus thuringiensis show their inhibitory effect on
making curd from milk and in production of antibiotics
which part of the insect body.
are ones categorised as:
(a) Gut
(a) Chemosynthetic autotrophs
(b) Respiratory tract
(b) Heterotrophic bacteria
 (c) Nervous system (c) Soil (d) All of the above
(d) Circulatory system
Q24. Identify the stage of sewage treatment shown below.
Q14. Use of biofertilizer is the part of.
(a) Inorganic farming
(b) Organic farming
(c) Energy cropping
(d) Energy plantation
Q15. LAB converts milk into curd. Choose the correct option
with respect to the action of LAB on the milk proteins.
(a) It coagulates the milk protein only
(b) It digests the milk proteins only
(c) Both (a) and (b) are correct
(d) None of the above
(a) Primary treatment
Q16. In the human body, LAB is present in the. (b) Secondary treatment
(a) Liver (b) Stomach (c) Tertiary treatment
(c) Kidney (d) All of the above (d) Filtration and sedimentation
Q25. Identify the colonies labelled as A and B in the
Q17. Bacteria is very helpful in making the dough of dosa
following diagram.
and idli, the process that takes place in the formation of
that dough is.
(a) Evaporation (b) Condensation
(c) Distillation (d) Fermentation
Q18. Toddy’, a traditional drink of some parts of southern
India is made by fermenting sap obtained from.
(a) Coconut
(b) Neem
(c) Palm
(d) None of the above (a) A-Fungal, B-bacterial
Q19. The microbe that have been used from time (b) A-bacterial, B-fungal
immemorial for the production of beverages like wine, (c) A-algal. B-viral
beer, whisky, brandy or rum is. (d) A-Fungal, B-Algal
(a) A virus (b) A bacteria Q26. Statins acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme
(c) A fungus (d) All of the above responsible for synthesis of.
(a) Protein (b) Cholesterol
Q20. The beverages whisky, brandy and rum are produced
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of the above
by.
(a) Only distillation Q27. Municipal waste water contains large amounts of.
(b) Only fermentation (a) Organic matter
(c) Both (a) and (b) are correct (b) Microbes
(d) None of the above (c) Both (a) and (b) are correct
(d) None of the above
Q21. (i) Partially degraded concentrate of milk, fat and
casein Q28. Treatment of waste water is done by the microbes
(ii There are several hundered of varities prepared by naturally present in the sewage, these microbes are.
selected type of microbe. (a) Autotrophic (b) Saprotrophic
Both the statements are related with. (c) Heterotopic (d) All of the above
(a) Sour cream (b) Youghrut
Q29. Trichoderma species are free-living.
(c) Cheese (d) Bread (a) Bacteria
Q22. A small part of the activated sludge is pumped back (b) Fungi
into the aeration tank suring sewage treatment, this (c) Virus
activated sludge acts as a. (d) None of the above
(a) Digester (b) Solubiliser Q30. Azospirillum is a.
(c) Inoculum (d) None of the above (a) Free living bacteria
Q23. Biofertilisers enrich theQuality of. (b) Found associated with some plants
(a) Water (b) Air (c) Found associated with some other microbe
 (d) None of the above (c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
ASSERTION AND REASON
Q3. Assertion (A): Microbes are also used for commercial
and industrial production of certain chemicals like
Direction: in the followingQuestions, a statement of organic acids, alcohols and enzymes.
assertion (A) is followed by a statement of reason (R). Choose Reason (R): Clostridium butylicum (a bacterium) is
the correct option among a, b, c and d. used for commercial production of ethanol.
Q1. Assertion (A): It is seen that curd is of more nutritious (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
value than milk. reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion
Reason (R): LAB present in curd checks growth of (A)
disease causing organism (b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion assertion (A)
(A) (c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but (d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Q4. Assertion (A): Municipal waste-water is also called
assertion (A) sewage.
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false Reason (R): Before disposal, sewage is treated in
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true sewage treatment plants (STPs) to make it less
Q2. Assertion (A): Antibiotics produced by microbes are polluting.
regarded as one of the most significant discoveries of (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and
the twentieth century and have greatly contributed reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion
towards the welfare of the human society. (A)
Reason (R): Penicillin was a serendipitous discovery. (b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion assertion (A)
(A) (c) Assertion (A) is true but reason(R) is false
(b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but (d) Assertion (A) is false but reason(R) is true
reason (R) is not the correct explanation of
assertion (A)

SOLUTIONS MULTIPLE CHOICE

S1. (b) Lactic acid bacteria grow in milk and converts it S6. (d) Wine and beer are alcoholic drinks that are
into curd it produces acids that 7:45 and partially produced without distillation
digested milk proteins
S7. (c) Antibiotics are chemical substances which are
S2. (b) Small amount of curd added to fresh milk as an produced by microbes and can kill or retard the
initiative of starter contains millions of LAB growth of other microbes
which at suitable temperature X does convert
S8. (b) The deadly disease diphtheria can be effectively
milk into curd which improve its nutritional
treated by some of the major antibiotics
quality by increasing the content of vitamin B12
S9. (a) Some of the microbes are used for commercial
S3. (a) The idli and dosa gets fermented. The
and industrial production of certain Chemicals
fermentation process produces carbon dioxide
like organic acid enzymes and alcohol and one
gas which gets trapped within the dough which
example is aspergillus niger, a fungus
gives it a puffed appearance
S10. (c) Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used for production
S4. (b) Swiss cheese is produced by bacterium of Ethanol on large scale
Propionibacterium sharmanii. It has large holes in
S11. (c) Cyclosporine A is a bioactive molecule that is used
it.
as an immunosuppressive agent in organ
S5. (a) Saccharomyces cerevisiae also called as “bakers transplant patients.
yeast” previously it is used for making bread at
S12. (b) The grit that is the soil and small pebbles are
commercial levels.
removed by sedimentation during sewage
treatment this forms the primary sludge.
 S31. (d) The technology of biogas production was
S13. (b) The microbes in flocks consumed a major part of
developed in India mainly due to the efforts of
the organic matter in the effluent during sewage
Indian Agricultural Research Institute and Khadi
treatment and village Industries Commission
S14. (b) BOD is the amount of the oxygen that would be S32. (b) Trichoderma species are free living fungi that are
consumed if all the organic matter in one litre of very common in the root ecosystem, they are
water were oxidized by bacteria effective biocontrol agents of several plant
pathogens
S15. (c) Biological oxygen demand is a measure of the
organic matter present in the water S33. (c) The nodules on the roots of the leguminous plants
are formed by the symbiotic association of gram-
S16. (d) Biological Oxygen Demand is a measure of the negative bacteria Rhizobium
organic matter present in water, greater the value S34. (b) Streptokinase is produced by the bacterium
of bod of wastewater more is the polluting Streptococcus and is modified by genetic
potential engineering and is used as a clot buster for
S17. (a) The natural gases like Methane and hydrogen removing clots from the blood vessels of patients
sulphide and carbon dioxide is produced by who have undergone myocardial infarction
bacteria in the anaerobic sludge digester leading to heart attack
S18. (d) Citric acid is produced by the fungus Aspergillus S35. (c) Determining the BOD of wastewater is an
niger important aspect of determining pollution
present in it, greater the BOD of waste water more
S19. (a) Antibiotics are medicines that are very useful in is its polluting potential
killing and retarding the growth of pathogenic
microorganisms S36. (b) Bacillus thuringiensis is available in sachets of dry
powdered spores, which are mixed with water
S20. (c) Biogas is a mixture of gases containing and sprays on vulnerable plants
predominantly Methane produced by microbial
activity that can be used as a fuel S37. (d) Biofertilizers are organisms that enrich the
S21. (b) Methanobacterium is a methanogen that nutrient quality of the soil and the main sources
produces methane gas in the rumen of cattle. of biofertilizers in organic farming are bacteria
fungi and cyanobacteria
S22. (b) Methanobacterium help in the breakdown of
cellulose in the rumen of cattle and play an S38. (b) Cyanobacteria autotrophic Mai micro that are
important role in its nutrition widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial
environment and many of them fix atmospheric
S23. (c) The use of Ladybird and Dragon Fireflies to get rid nitrogen
of aphids and mosquitoes is an example of
biocontrol S39. (c) Blue Green Algae is an important constituent of
the soil that increases its fertility
S24. (b) Nucleopolyhedrovirus belong to baculoviruses
that attack insects and other arthropods S40. (d) Cyanobacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen and
are wildly distributed in terrestrial environment
S25. (b) Integrated pest management can be easily done
with baculoviruses that are excellent candidates S41. (b) Mycorrhiza is a mutual symbiotic association
for insecticidal applications. between a fungus and a plant and it plays a very
important role in plant nutrition
S26. (b) Bio-fertilizers are organism that enrich the
nutrient quality of the soil S42. (c) The fungal symbiotic during the association
absorbs the nutrient phosphorus from the soil
S27. (d) Azospirillum and Azotobactor are free living and passes it to the plant
atmospheric fixing nitrogen bacteria that enrich
the nitrogen content of the soil S43. (d) The primary treatment basically involves
physical removal of particles large and the small
S28. (a) oxidation pond effectively treats sludge that is from the sewage through filtration and
produced during sludge treatment sedimentation
S29. (a) Bacteria producing Methane carbon dioxide and S44. (c) The grit that is the soil and the small pebbles are
hydrogen are collectively called methanogens removed by sedimentation during the treatment
S30. (c) Activated sludge is treated in aerobic sludge of sewage
digesters, a part of it is pumped back into the
aeration tank to serve as an inoculum
S45. (b) lipases is very effective in detergent formulations
and very useful in the removal of stains from ASSERTION AND REASON
clothes
S1. (c) The technology of biogas production was
S46. (d) Statins produced by yeast Monascus purpureus developed in India mainly due to the efforts of
have been commercialized as blood cholesterol Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
lowering agents
S47. (b) Discovery of penicillin is a serendipitous S2. (d) Wine and beer are produced without distillation
discovery. It was the first antibiotic to be whereas whisky, brandy and rum are produced
by distillation of the fermented broth.
discovered, the discovery was made by Alexander
Fleming while he was working on Staphylococci S3. (c) Baculoviruses are pathogens that attack insects
and other arthropods. The majority of
bacteria
baculoviruses used as biological control agents
S48. (d) Ernest Chain and Howard Florey discovered the are in the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus. These
viruses are excellent candidates for species-
full potential of Penicillium an effective antibiotic,
specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal
the antibiotic was extensively used to treat applications
American soldiers wounded in World War 2
S4. (b)
S49. (b) Cyanobacteria like Anabaena and Nostoc are
effective biofertilizers and an effective TRUE AND FALSE
replacements of the chemical fertilizers
S1. (False) The greater the BOD of waste water, more is
S50. (b) During the sewage treatment when the BOD of its polluting potential.
the switch is reduced significantly, the effluent is S2. (True)
passed into a settling tank where the bacteria S3. (False) Bottled juices are clarified by the use of
flocs are allowed to sediment, this sediment is pectinases and proteases.
called activated sludge that acts and as an S4. (False) The large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’ are due to
inoculum and is pumped back into the aeration production of a large amount of CO2 by a
tank during sewage treatment. bacterium named Propionibacterium sharmanii.

PRACTICE SOLUTIONS
S1. (a) Propionibacterium is a Gram-positive, non-motile cholesterol lowering agents. It acts by
bacterium that plays an important role in the creation competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible
of Emmental cheese, and to some extent, Jarlsberg for synthesis of cholesterol.
cheese, Leerdammer and Maasdam cheese.
S7. (b) heterotrophic bacteria require an organic
S2. (d)
carbon source for growth that is they derive
S3. (a) rice farmers sometimes, keep this plant in their energy and carbon from organic compounds.
paddies, because it generates valuable nitrogen via its S8. (a) the dough, which is used for making bread, is
symbiotic Cyanobacteria. So, modern farmers can
fermented using baker’s yeast
increase the yield of paddy up to 50% by the use of
Cyanobacteria in Azolla pinnata. (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), they are also used
S4. (c) biogas is an alternate source of energy produced for the production of beverages like wine, beer,
by anaerobic breakdown of biomass such as whisky, brandy or rum.
animals excreta and kitchen wastes with the
help of methanogenic bacteria. S9. (d) Streptokinase is given to the patients with acute
S5. (a) Biofertilizers are the suspension of microorganism myocardial infarction in adults.
which mainly increases the growth of the plants.
These secrete the growth promoting substances. S10. (c) Methanogens are anaerobic chemoautotrophs.
They grow in anaerobic condition and
S6. (d) Statins produced by the yeast Monascus
breakdown cellulose rich food.
purpureus have been commercialised as blood-
S11. (b) In 1928, Alexander Fleming was investigating the S22. (c) The activated sludge which are useful aerobic
properties of Staphylococci. One day, he observed that microbes while growing, consume the major
the culture of Staphylococci was contaminated with part of the organic matter in the effluent.
fungus and that colonies of the culture surrounding
S23. (c) Biofertilisers enrich the quality of soil, the main
the fungus had been destroyed.
source of biofertilisers are bacteria, fungi and
S12. (d) cyanobacteria.
S13. (a) The Bt toxin protein exists as an inactive toxin and is S24. (b) it is the secondary treatment where the primary
coverted into an active form due to the alkaline pH of effluent is passed into large aeration tanks
the alimentary canal that solubilities the crystals. The where it is constantly agitated mechanically and
activated toxin binds to the surface of midgut air is pumped into it.
epithelial cells and creates pores which cause cell S25. (b)
swelling and lysis and finally cause death of the insect. S26. (b)
S14. (b) S27. (c) Both organic matter and microbes are present in
S15. (c) actobacillus and others commonly called lactic high quantity in sewage waste water.
acid bacteria (LAB) grow in milk and convert it
to curd. During growth, the LAB produce acids S28. (c) the bacteria present in the sewage are
that coagulate and partially digest the milk heterotropic.
proteins. S29. (b) Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that
are very common in the root ecosystems. They
S16. (b) In our stomach too, the LAB play very beneficial are effective biocontrol agents of several plant
role in checking disease-causing microbes. pathogens.
S17. (d) The dough, which is used for making foods such S30. (a) Some bacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen
as dosa and idli is also fermented by bacteria. while free-living in the soil (examples
S18. (c) the sap for making ‘Toddy’ is obtained from Azospirillum and Azotobacter), thus enriching
palm. the nitrogen content of the soil.

S19. (c) yeast is a fungus. ASSERTION AND REASON

S20. (c) Wine and beer are produced without distillation S1. (b)
whereas whisky, brandy and rum are produced
by distillation of the fermented broth S2. (a)
S3. (c) Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used for
S21. (c) it is the cheese that gets partially degraded commercial production of ethanol.
concentrate of milk. S4. (a).