L-Microorganism in Human Welfare, Topics With QS and Ans.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS -LESSON MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE
TOPIC-1. Household Products

 Curd- The bacteria Lactobacillus produces lactic acid that partially coagulates the milk protein. It also
increases vitamin B12 content. These bacteria are also present in the gut and check the growth of other
microbes
 Fermented dough to make South Indian delicacies, e.g. Idli and dosa. The dough is fermented due to
CO2 production by bacteria
 Bread production by using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
 Toddy is made by fermenting Palm sap
 Microbes are used to ferment soybeans, fish and bamboo-shoots to prepare delicacies
 Different kinds of cheese having different taste and texture, are prepared using specific microorganisms.
E.g. Swiss cheese having large holes- Propionibacterium shermanii

Roquefort cheese- Penicillium roqueforti
Camembert cheese- Penicillium camemberti
Q.Why are there big holes in ‘Swiss cheese’?
A.It is because of the bacterium named Propionibacterium shermanii that releases large amounts of carbon dioxide
TOPIC- MICROBES IN INUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
c) Enzymes and chemicals

Various chemicals, organic acids are produced using microorganisms. Some examples are:
Citric acid- Aspergillus niger
Acetic acid- Acetobacter aceti
Lactic acid- Lactobacillus
Butyric acid- Clostridium butylicum
Ethanol- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Enzymes are also produced by microorganisms and are used commercially for various purposes.
E.g. Streptococcus produces an enzyme called streptokinase, which is genetically modified and used
as a clot-buster for removing clots from the blood vessels.
Q. Name the bacteria which is used as a clot buster. Mention about its mode of action.
A.Bacterium Streptococcus secretes Streptokinase which is used as a clot buster. It has a fibrinolytic action which
breaks down the clots that are formed in the blood vessels of patients that undergo myocardial infarction which
prevents heart attack in such patients that can otherwise occur because of occlusion by clots.
Lipases- used in detergents and form removal of oily stains
Proteases and pectinases- used to clarify bottled juices
Some bioactive molecules are prepared and are used for various purposes.
Cyclosporin A- produced by Trichoderma polysporum (fungus). It is a suppressor of the immune
system, used in organ transplant patients
Statins- produced by Monascus purpureus (yeast). It lowers the blood cholesterol level by inhibiting
cholesterol synthesis
3. Sewage Treatment
It is important to treat wastewater before disposal because it contains organic matter and pathogenic
bacteria. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are used for this purpose. Microbes (heterotrophic), which
are present naturally in the sewage water are used.
Primary treatment
In the first step, filtration and sedimentation are performed to remove floating debris and grit, i.e. soil
and small pebbles, respectively. Primary sludge is the solid that settles down and primary effluent is
the supernatant liquid.
Secondary treatment
It is also called biological treatment. The growth of aerobic microbes is facilitated into large aeration
tanks by mechanically agitating the effluent and pumping the air into it. This decreases biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD). BOD refers to the rate of oxygen uptake by microorganisms and tells the
amount of organic matter present in the sample.
After significantly reducing BOD, the effluent is allowed to settle in the settling tank. The bacterial
flocs (bacterial mass forming a mesh-like structure in association with fungal filaments) sediment and
it is known as activated sludge.
The activated sludge is digested in an anaerobic sludge digester. Some of the sludge is allowed to
move back to the aeration tank and serves as an inoculum. Biogas (a mixture of gases, e.g.
methane, CO2, H2S, etc.) produced from digested sludge, can be used as a fuel.
The secondary effluent is released into rivers and streams. We can keep our rivers less polluted by
releasing only treated sewage water into them. The Government has initiated the Ganga and Yamuna
action plan for this purpose.
Q.a) What is the consequence of discharging larger volumes of sewage that is untreated into a river?
b) What is the significance of anaerobic sludge digestion in sewage treatment?
A. a) If water is untreated and dispensed directly into rivers it will lead to adverse water pollution with pathogenic
bacteria, protozoa and organic matter. If this water is consumed, it would lead to outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
b) Anaerobic bacteria digest the aerobic bacteria and the fungi that are present in the sludge and the residual
organic matter in anaerobic sludge digestion. During this digestion, a mixture of gases is produced such as
hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon dioxide. These biogases can be utilized as a source of energy as it is
inflammable.
Q.For the execution of massive volumes of waste waters rich in organic matter, why is aerobic degradation
more important than anaerobic degradation?
A.It is because facultative and aerobic microbes that occur naturally such as protozoa, fungi, bacteria etc residing in
the wastewater can rapidly oxidize soluble organic and nitrogenous compounds. The process if further accelerated
due to mechanical addition of oxygen hence eliminating most of the pathogenic content of the effluent.
4. Biogas Production
Methanogens, e.g. methanobacterium are present in the anaerobic sludge and produce biogas in
sewage treatment, i.e. predominantly methane and a mixture of other gases. These bacteria are also
present in the rumen of cattle and help in the digestion of cellulose.
Gobar gas is produced from the dung of the cattle and is used in villages for various purposes.
IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) and KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission)
have put in lots of effort in developing the technology for biogas production.
Q. Name the class of bacteria found both in the sludge of sewage treatment and in the rumen of cattle.
A. Methanogens(Methanobacterium)
5. Biocontrol of pest and diseases

Chemical pesticides and insecticides kill both harmful and useful organisms. By understanding
natural predation and interacting webs, an appropriate method of biocontrol can be developed.
Dragonflies and ladybugs help in controlling mosquitoes and aphids.
Bacillus thuringiensis is used to control caterpillars and insect larvae. Some plants have been
genetically modified and the gene coding for the toxin has been introduced in the plant genome. E.g.
Bt-cotton is resistant to pests.
Trichoderma (a fungus) is used to biocontrol various plant pathogens. The fungus is commonly
present in the roots.
Baculoviruses of the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus are excellent biocontrol agents. They attack
arthropods but are not harmful to plants and other animals such as birds, fish and mammals.
Q. State the use of Nuclear Polyhedro Virus.

A.They are excellent candidates for narrow-spectrum, species-specific insecticidal applications which have shown to
have no negative impact on mammals, plants, birds, fish or even non-target insects that is desirable when beneficial
insects are being conserved to promote the Integrated Pest Management(IPM) programme.
6. Biofertilizers
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers is linked to pollution and harmful effects. Use of microorganisms
as biofertilizers is highly recommended.
Fungi, bacteria and cyanobacteria are the main sources of biofertilizers.
Rhizobium is present in the root nodules of leguminous plants. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Growing
leguminous plants alternatively helps in increasing the nitrogen content of the soil.
Azotobacter and Azospirillum are free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in the soil.
Fungal association in mycorrhiza also enriches the nutrient content of the soil. Fungi of the
genus Glomus absorbs phosphorus for the plant.
These symbiotic associations not only benefit by enriching the nutrient content but also provide
disease resistance and tolerance to drought and salinity.
Most of the cyanobacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen, e.g. Nostoc, Anabaena, Oscillatoria, etc.
Cyanobacteria are extensively used in paddy fields as a biofertilizer. Blue-green algae are autotrophic
and present everywhere in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. They increase soil fertility by adding
organic matter.
Q. How are cyanobacteria used in the fields of paddy?
A.They fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and supplement organic matter to increase the fertility of the soil.
Examples – Nostoc, Anabaena, Oscillatoria.
Q. Roquefort cheese is obtained from which of the species of Penicillin?
A. Fungi Penicillium roqueforti
Q. Name an immunosupressive agent.
A.The fungus Trichodermapolysporum produces Cyclosporin-A which is used as an immunosuppressive agent in
organ transplant patients.

L-Microorganism in Human Welfare, Topics With QS and Ans.

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L-Microorganism in Human Welfare, Topics With QS and Ans.

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

L-Microorganism in Human Welfare, Topics With QS and Ans.

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PRACTICE QUESTIONS -LESSON MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE

TOPIC-1. Household Products

E.g. Swiss cheese having large holes- Propionibacterium shermanii

TOPIC- MICROBES IN INUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

c) Enzymes and chemicals

5. Biocontrol of pest and diseases

Q. State the use of Nuclear Polyhedro Virus.

You might also like