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Chapter- Microorganisms:
Friend and Foe
Topics Topics in the Chapter Introduction • Where do microorganisms live • Classifications of microorganisms • Importance of microorganisms → In food industry → In beverage industry → In medicine production → In vaccine production → In increasing soil fertility → In cleaning the environment • Harmful microrganisms • Food Preservation • Methods of food preservation → Chemical methods → Heat and cold Treatments → Storage and Packing • Nitrogen cycle • Examples of carriers • Diseases in humans, animals and plants by microorganisms Introduction Those living organisms around us which we cannot be seen with naked eyes are called microorganisms or microbes. Some of these can be seen with a magnifying glass while some cannot be seen without the help of a microscope. That is why these are called microorganisms or microbes. Where do Microorganisms live Microorganisms are classified into four major groups. These groups are bacteria, fungi, protozoa and some algae. (i) Bacteria Single-celled organisms Mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or heterotrophic(saprophytic or parasitic) Size can be from 0.2 to 100 microns(1 micron=1/100 mm) Found in wide range of habitats ranging from glaciers to deserts and hot springs Mode of reproduction is binary fission For example: curd bacteria (Lactobacillus) Microorganisms and Us: Some of Microorganisms are beneficial in many ways while some others are harmful and cause diseases. Useful Microorganisms: Microorganisms are used for various purposes. (i) Some microorganisms are used in the production of curd, bread and cake. (ii) Some microorganisms have been used for the production of alcohol since ages. (iii) They are also used in cleaning up of the environment as composers. For example, the organic wastes (vegetable peels, remains of animals, faeces, etc.) are broken down into harmless and usable substances by bacteria. (iv) In agriculture fields, microorganisms are used to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen Commercial Use of Microorganisms: (i) For large scale production of alcohol, wine and acetic acid (Vinegar) Microorganisms are used (ii) For commercial production of alcohol and wine yeast is grown on natural sugars present in grains like barley, wheat, rice and crushed fruit juices, etc. Medicinal Use of Microorganisms: (i) Whenever we fall ill the doctor may give us some antibiotic tablets, capsules or injections like peenicillin which are made up of microorganism. (ii) These days the medicines produced from Bactria and fungi kill or stop the growth of the disease-causing microorganisms. Such medicines are called antibiotics. (iii) Streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin medicines which are made from fungi and bacteria are some of the commonly known antibiotics. (iv) The antibiotics are made by growing specific microorganisms and are used to cure a variety of diseases. Antibiotics should be taken only on the advice of a qualified doctor. (v) Antibiotics are even added with the feed of livestock and poultry for checking microbial infection in animals. (vi) Microorganisms are also used to control many plant diseases. Vaccine: (i) When a disease-carrying microbe enters our body, the antibodies produced by our body fight with the invader. If microbes enter again, the body also remembers that how to fight with the microbes. (ii) If dead or weakened microbes are injected in a healthy body, the body fights and kills them by producing suitable antibodies. (iii) The antibodies remain in the body for protecting from the disease causing microbes. This is how a vaccine works. (iv) Several diseases like cholera, tuberculosis, smallpox and hepatitis can be prevented by vaccination. Increasing Soil Fertility: (i) Some bacteria and blue green algae are able increase the fertility of soil by fix nitrogen from the atmosphere to enrich soil with nitrogen. These microbes are commonly called biological nitrogen fixers. Cleaning the Environment: At the time of making manure, we collect wastes of plants, vegetables and fruits from nearby houses and gardens. They put them in a pit meant for waste disposal. After some time, it decomposed by microorganisms and gets converted to manure. By this method environment is cleaned. Harmful Microorganisms: (i) Some of microorganisms are harmful in many ways. (ii) In human beings, plants and animals, some of the microorganisms cause diseases. Such disease-causing microorganisms are called pathogens. (iii) Food, clothing and leather are spoiled due to some harmful microorganisms. Disease— causing Microorganisms in Humans: (i) Pathogens enter our body through the different way like air when we breathe, the water when we drink or the food when we eat. They can also get transmitted by direct contact with an infected person or carried through an animal. . (ii) Microbial diseases such as cholera, common cold, chicken pox and tuberculosis that can spread from an infected person to a healthy person through air, water, food or physical contact are called communicable diseases. (iii) There are some insects and animals which act as carriers of disease causing microbes. For example housefly is one such carrier that flies sit on the garbage and animal excreta etc. Pathogens stick to their bodies. When these flies sit on uncovered food they transfer the pathogens. Whoever eats the contaminated food is likely to get sick. Some more examples of carrier microbes are the female Anopheles mosquito, which carries the parasite of malaria. Female Aedes mosquito acts as carrier of dengue virus. (iv) All mosquitoes breed in water. So, one should not let water collect anywhere like in coolers, tyres, flower pot etc. By keeping the surroundings clean and dry we can prevent Some Questions