IMPORTANCE OF BACTERIA

Bacteria are economically important as these microorganisms are used by humans for many purposes.

1. Human Uses of Bacteria:

❑ Fermentation processes, such as brewing, baking, and cheese, yogurt and butter manufacturing.
❑ Chemical manufacturing, such as the production of ethanol, acetone, organic acids, enzymes, and perfumes.
❑ Pharmaceuticals, such as the manufacture of antibiotics, vaccines, and steroids. Most antibiotics are made
by bacteria that live in soil. Actinomycetes such as Streptomyces produce tetracyclines, erythromycin, streptomycin
and rifamycin etc.
2. Important in agriculture for the compost and fertilizer production.
3. Bacteria help to digest substances that the human body cannot break down, like many carbohydrates and things called
short chain fatty acids. It is important that we keep this population healthy. Eating probiotics can help to replenish good
gut bacteria.
4. The bacteria in our bodies help degrade the food we eat, help make nutrients available to us and neutralize toxins. Also,
the microbiota play an essential role in the Défense against infections by protecting the colonized surfaces from
invading pathogens.
5. Bacteria play an essential role in recycling nutrients, for example fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil.
6. Beneficial in making biogas, such as methane.
7. Used for cleaning up oil spills and toxic wastes.
8. Killing plant pests.
9. Bacteria are useful in transferring normal genes to human cells in gene therapy.
10. There are number of useful bacteria that play important role in Food processing, Biotechnology, Genetic engineering,
Pest control, Bioremediation, Digestion and Tanning of Leather.
11. Bacteria are used to make a wide range of food products. The most important bacteria in food manufacturing are
Lactobacillus species, also referred to as lactic bacteria.