Microorganism
Microorganism
Microorganism
Microorganisms
a) Microorganisms are microscopic organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
b) These organisms are usually unicellular in nature.
Bacteria
Probiotics
a) Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially the digestive
system.
Fungi
Fermentation
Protozoa
a) Protozoa are single-celled microscopic animals which include flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans
and many other forms.
b) Few examples are: amoeba, paramecium, euglena, plasmodium, etc.
Viruses
a) Viruses are organisms that possess nucleic acid but lack the replicating machinery.
b) Thus, a virus cannot survive without a living cell.
c) Viruses are also considered to be on the borderline between living and nonliving entities.
d) A few examples are: influenza virus, HIV, Rabies virus, poliovirus, tobacco mosaic virus, etc
Vaccines
A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a disease.
a) Vaccines are usually made for viral diseases.
b) A few examples are Salk vaccine for Polio, Influenza vaccine, Rabies vaccine, etc.
Antibiotics
Pathogens
Carrier
a) Carrier is a person or organism infected with an infectious disease agent but displays no
symptoms of it.
b) They can spread the infection since they already have the pathogen in their bodies.
Vector
a) Vector is an organism, which is a biting insect or tick that can transmit a disease or parasite
from one animal or plant to another.
b) Common examples are mosquitoes.
c) Aedes mosquito spreads dengue virus, Anopheles mosquito spreads the malarial parasite.
Airborne diseases
Waterborne diseases
a) The diseases that spread through water are called waterborne diseases.
b) Contaminated water is host to several pathogens.
c) Typhoid is the best example of waterborne disease.
Plant diseases
a) Certain pathogens can cause diseases in plants. Just like humans, plants can be attacked by
bacteria or virus.
b) Several micro-organisms cause diseases in plants like rice, potato, wheat, sugarcane, orange,
apple and others.
Food poisoning
a) When food contaminated with pathogens or toxins are consumed, it causes food poisoning.
b) The most common symptom is a pain in the stomach.
c) In severe cases, food poisoning can also cause death.
Food preservation
Chemical methods
a) Chemical preservatives are used in food preservations by major food industries as they are
harmless to humans.
b) Sodium meta-bisulphate and sodium benzoate are commonly used chemical preservatives.
Preservation by Sugar
a) Many food preparations like pickles are preserved by adding either oil or vinegar to them.
b) Bacteria cannot grow in such medium.
Pasteurization
a) Dry fruits and many vegetables are preserved in airtight/air sealed containers.
b) The absence of air prevents the growth of bacteria or fungi.
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is a biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into various
chemical forms as it circulates among the atmosphere and terrestrial and marine ecosystems