Ch.

10 MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS-

1. Fermentors – vessels required for growing microbes for the production of beverages and antibiotics on
an industrial scale.

2. Antibiotics- chemical substances, which are produced by some microbes and can kill or retard the growth
of other (disease-causing) microbes.

3. Primary treatment- The treatment step of sewage for physical removal of particles – large and small –
from the sewage through filtration and sedimentation.

4. Secondary treatment or Biological treatment- After primary treatment, the primary effluent is passed into
large aeration tanks where it is constantly agitated mechanically and air is pumped (associated with
fungal filaments to form mesh like structures).

5. BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) - refers to the amount of the oxygen that would be consumed if all the
organic matter in one liter of water were oxidised by bacteria

6. Activated sludge- the sediment that is formed by sedimentation of bacterial ‘flocs’ in a settling tank from
primary effluent after passing the BOD of sewage or waste water is reduced significantly.

7. Anaerobic sludge digesters- large tanks to which major part of the sludge is pumped into for its break
down by the action of anaerobic bacteria and the fungi.

8. Methanogens- bacteria, which grow anaerobically on cellulosic material, produce large amount of
methane along with CO2 and H2.

9. Biocontrol- refers to the use of biological methods (using biological agents for natural predation ) for
controlling plant diseases and pests , rather than using chemicals .

10. Biofertilizers- are the organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of the soil.

11. Organic farming –Agriculture by using only biofertilizers.

12. Mycorrhiza- symbiotic association of fungi with the roots of higher plants.

13. Cyanobacteria- autotrophic microbes widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments many of
which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, e.g. Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria, etc.

IMPORTANT POINTS, PRINCIPLES AND THEORY-

MICROBES IN HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS-

• Micro-organisms such as Lactobacillus and others commonly called lactic acid bacteria (LAB) grow in milk
and convert it to curd. LAB produce acids that coagulate and partially digest the milk proteins. It also
improves its nutritional quality by increasing vitamin B12. In our stomach too, the LAB play very beneficial
role in checking disease causing microbes.

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• The dosa and idli is also fermented by bacteria. The dough, which is used for making bread, is fermented
using baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). A number of traditional drinks and foods are also made by
fermentation by the microbes. ‘Toddy’, a traditional drink of some parts of southern India is made by
fermenting sap from palms.

• Microbes are also used to ferment fish, soyabean and bamboo shoots to make foods.

• Cheese, is one of the oldest food items in which microbes were used. The large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’ are
due to production of a large amount of CO2 by a bacterium named Propionibacterium sharmanii. The
‘Roquefort cheese’ is ripened by growing a specific fungus on them, which gives them a particular flavour

MICROBES IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS-

• In industry, microbes are used to synthesize a number of products valuable to human beings. Beverages
and antibiotics are some examples. Production on an industrial scale requires growing microbes in very
large vessels called fermentors.

• Fermented Beverages-

• Microbes like yeast are used for the production of beverages like wine, beer, whisky, brandy or rum.

• The same yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae used for bread-making and commonly called brewer’s yeast is
used for fermenting malted cereals and fruit juices, to produce ethanol.

• Wine and beer are produced without distillation whereas whisky, brandy and rum are produced by
distillation of the fermented broth.

• Antibiotics-

• Anti is a Greek word that means ‘against’, and bio means ‘life’, together they mean ‘against life’ (in the
context of disease causing organisms); whereas with reference to human beings, they are ‘pro life’ and
not against.

• Antibiotics are chemical substances, which are produced by some microbes and can kill or retard the
growth of other (disease-causing) microbes.

• Alexander Fleming while working on Staphylococci bacteria, once observed a mould growing in one of his
unwashed culture plates around which Staphylococci could not grow. He found out that it was due to a
chemical produced by the mould and he named it Penicillin after the mould Penicillium notatum. Its full
potential as an effective antibiotic was established by Ernest Chain and Howard Florey. This antibiotic was
extensively used to treat American soldiers wounded in World War II. Fleming, Chain and Florey were
awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945, for this discovery.

• Antibiotics have greatly improved our capacity to treat deadly diseases such as plague, whooping cough
(kali khansi), diphtheria (gal ghotu) and leprosy (kusht rog), which used to kill millions all over the globe.
Today, we cannot imagine a world without antibiotics.

• Chemicals, Enzymes and other Bioactive Molecules-

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• Aspergillus niger (a fungus) produces citric acid,

• Acetobacter aceti (a bacterium) produces acetic acid;

• Clostridium butylicum (a bacterium) produces butyric acid

• Lactobacillus (a bacterium) produces lactic acid.

• Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used for commercial production of ethanol.

• Enzymes like Lipases are used in detergent formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains from the
laundry.

• The bottled juices are clarified by the use of pectinases and proteases.

• Streptokinase produced by the bacterium Streptococcus and modified by genetic engineering is used as a
‘clot buster’ for removing clots from the blood vessels of patients who have undergone myocardial
infarction leading to heart attack.

• Cyclosporin A that is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients is produced by the

fungus Trichoderma polysporum.

• Statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus have been commercialized as blood-cholesterol
lowering agents. It acts by competitively inhibiting the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cholesterol.

MICROBES IN SEWAGE TREATMENT-

• The municipal waste-water including human excreta is also called sewage. It contains large amounts of
organic matter and microbes. Many of which are pathogenic.

• This cannot be discharged into natural water bodies like rivers and streams directly .Before disposal,
hence, sewage is treated in sewage treatment plants (STPs) to make it less polluting. Treatment of waste
water is done by the heterotrophic microbes naturally present in the sewage. This treatment is carried out
in two stages:

• Primary treatment: steps of this treatment basically involve physical removal of particles – large and small
– from the sewage through filtration and sedimentation. These are removed in stages; initially, floating
debris is removed by sequential filtration. Then the grit (soil and small pebbles) are removed by
sedimentation. All solids that settle form the primary sludge, and the supernatant forms the effluent. The
effluent from the primary settling tank is taken for secondary treatment.

• Secondary treatment or Biological treatment: The primary effluent is passed into large aeration tanks,
where it is constantly agitated mechanically and air is pumped into it. This allows vigorous growth of
useful aerobic microbes into flocs (masses of bacteria associated with fungal filaments to form mesh like
structures). While growing, these microbes consume the major part of the organic matter in the effluent.
This significantly reduces the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) of the effluent. BOD refers to the
amount of the oxygen that would be consumed if all the organic matter in one liter of water were
oxidized by bacteria. The sewage water is treated till the BOD is reduced. The BOD test measures the rate

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 of uptake of oxygen by micro-organisms in a sample of water and thus, indirectly, BOD is a measure of the
organic matter present in the water. The greater the BOD of waste water more is its polluting potential.
Once the BOD of sewage or waste water is reduced significantly, the effluent is then passed into a settling
tank where the bacterial ‘flocs’ are allowed to sediment. This sediment is called activated sludge. A small
part of the activated sludge is pumped back into the aeration tank to serve as the inoculums.

• The remaining major part of the sludge is pumped into large tanks called anaerobic sludge digesters.
Here, other kinds of bacteria, which grow anaerobically, digest the bacteria and the fungi in the sludge.
During this digestion, bacteria produce a mixture of gases such as methane, hydrogen sulphide and
carbon dioxide. These gases form biogas and can be used as source of energy as it is inflammable.

MICROBES IN PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS-

• Biogas is a mixture of gases (containing predominantly methane) produced by the microbes and which
may be used as fuel.

• Certain bacteria, which grow anaerobically on cellulosic material, produce large amount of methane along
with CO2 and H2. These bacteria are collectively called methanogens, and one such common bacterium is
Methanobacterium.

• These bacteria are found in the anaerobic sludge during sewage treatment. These bacteria are also
present in the rumen (a part of stomach) of cattle. A lot of cellulosic material present in the food of cattle
is also present in the rumen. In rumen, these bacteria help in the breakdown of cellulose and play an
important role in the nutrition of cattle. Thus, the excreta (dung) of cattle, commonly called gobar, is rich
in these bacteria. Dung can be used for generation of biogas, commonly called gobar gas.

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 A TYPICAL BIOGAS PLANT

• The biogas plant consists of a concrete tank (10-15 feet deep) in which bio-wastes are collected and slurry
of dung is fed. A floating cover is placed over the slurry, which keeps on rising as the gas is produced in
the tank due to the microbial activity. The biogas plant has an outlet, which is connected to a pipe to
supply biogas to nearby houses. The spent slurry is removed through another outlet and may be used as
fertilizer. Cattle dung is available in large quantities in rural areas where cattle are used for a variety of
purposes. So biogas plants are more after build in rural areas. The biogas thus produced is used for
cooking and lighting.

• The technology of biogas production was developed in India mainly due to the efforts of Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

MICROBES AS BIOCONTROL AGENTS-

• Biocontrol refers to the use of biological methods for controlling plant diseases and pests. Use of
chemicals like insecticides and pesticides causes a great harm.

• These chemicals are toxic and extremely harmful, to human beings and animals alike, and have been
polluting our environment (soil, ground water), fruits, vegetables and crop plants. Our soil is also polluted
through use of weedicides to remove weeds.

• Biological control of pests and diseases: It is a method of controlling pests that relies on natural predation
rather than introduced chemicals. A key belief of the organic farmer is that biodiversity furthers health.

• The organic farmer works to create a system where the insects that are sometimes called pests are not
eradicated, but instead are kept at manageable levels by a complex system of checks and balances within
a living and vibrant ecosystem.

• This is a holistic approach that seeks to develop an understanding of the webs of interaction between the
myriad of organisms that constitute the field fauna and flora.

• The very familiar beetle with red and black markings – the Ladybird, and Dragonflies are useful to get rid
of aphids and mosquitoes, respectively.

• An example of microbial Biocontrol agents that can be introduced in order to control butterfly caterpillars
is the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (often written as Bt ). These are available in sachets as dried spores
which are mixed with water and sprayed onto vulnerable plants such as brassicas and fruit trees, where
these are eaten by the insect larvae. In the gut of the larvae, the toxin is released and the larvae get killed.

• A biological control being developed for use in the treatment of plant disease is the fungus Trichoderma.
Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are very common in the root ecosystems.

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 • Baculoviruses (genus Nucleopolyhedro virus) are pathogens that attack insects and other arthropods.
These viruses are excellent candidates for species-specific, narrow spectrum insecticidal applications.

• The beneficial insects are being conserved to aid in an overall integrated pest management (IPM)
programme, or when an ecologically sensitive area is being treated.

MICROBES AS BIOFERTILISERS-

• Biofertilizers are organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of the soil. The main sources of biofertilizers
are bacteria, fungi and cyanobacteria.

• The nodules on the roots of leguminous plants formed by the symbiotic association of Rhizobium also act
as biofertilizers. These bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms, which is used by the plant as
nutrient. Other bacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen while free-living in the soil (examples Azospirillum
and Azotobacter), thus enriching the nitrogen content of the soil.

• Fungi are also known to form symbiotic associations with roots of higher plants (mycorrhiza). Many
members of the genus Glomus form msycorrhiza. The fungal symbiont in these associations absorbs
phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant. Plants having such associations show other benefits also,
such as resistance to root-borne pathogens, tolerance to salinity and drought, and an overall increase in
plant growth and development.

• Cyanobacteria are autotrophic microbes widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments many
of which can fix atmospheric nitrogen, e.g. Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria, etc. In paddy fields,
cyanobacteria serve as an important biofertilizers. Blue green algae also add organic matter to the soil
and increase its fertility. Currently, in our country, a number of biofertilizers are available commercially in
the market and farmers use these regularly in their fields to replenish soil nutrients and to reduce
dependence on chemical fertilizers.

Question Bank

1 mark

1) Drinks like Whisky and Rum are more intoxicating than wine. Why?

2) Can we imagine a world without antibiotics? Explain briefly.

3) Bottled juices are clearer compared to homemade juice. Give reason.

4) Which one of these is a pertinacious infecting agent?

a) Viroids, b) prions, c) protern, d) wat.

5) An organic farmer requires a bio control agent which is species specific and has no negative impact on non-
target organism. Suggest the name of such a bio control agent.

6) Scientists have succeeded in introducing toxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis into plants like cotton. What
purpose is achieved through this action? 1

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7)A small amount of curd was added to cold milk for converting it into curd. But milk did not get curdled. Why?

8) Consuming curd keeps the gastro-intestinal tract in tact. Give reason.

9) On fermentation the dough of idli and dosa puffs up. Which metabolic pathway is responsible for this process?

10) How do lactic acid bacteria help in increasing the nutritional quality of curd?

11) The excreta of cattle do not contain any cellulose but human excreta may

contain cellulose. Why?

12) Antibiotics are always sold in combination with lactobacillus. Why?

13) Why are some microbes useful in detergent formulation?

14) Microbes release gases during metabolism. How will it help in the production of energy?

15) Why does 'Swiss-cheese' contain large holes?.

16) In what way the relationship between BOD and organic matter in Sewage will be useful in ecology?

17) Why do bottled fruit juices appear clearer than the home made ones?

18) What is the principle behind the conversion of milk into curd and partial digestion of milk protein performed by
Lactic Acid Bacteria?

19) Wine and beer are different from whisky and brandy though they are all alcoholic beverages. What is the name
of the process that brings out this difference?

20) Name the group of bacteria that are capable of living at high temperature above 1000C. How does it become
possible by these bacteria?(1/2+1/2)

21) Why do doctors prescribe Streptokinases for brain hemorrhage patients? Mention the source of industrial
production of this biomolecule.(1/2 + ½)

22) How are the holes produced in bread and cheese?

23.) Three water samples namely river water, untreated sewage water and secondary effluent discharge from a
sewage treatment plan were subjected to BOD test. The samples were labeled A, B and C but the lab attendant did
not note which BOD is for which water. The BOD values of three samples A, B and C were recorded as 20mg/L,
8mg/L and 400mg/L respectively. Which sample of the water is most polluted? Can you assign the correct label to
each, assuming that the river water is relatively clean.

24.) What are prions?

25.) What is an antibiotic?

26.) 11Identify the microbe grown on nutritive media in the given figure.

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27.) Why there are large holes in ‘Swiss cheese’? Name the bacterium used for this.
28.) Give reasons why Staphylococci could not grow in unwashed culture plates of Alexander Fleming experiment?
29.) Which bioactive molecule used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients?
30.) What role do LAB play in our stomach?
31.) What is toddy?
32.) What are flocs?
33.) Name the two plans initiated by Ministry of Environment and Forests to save major rivers of our country from
pollution.
34.) Which antibiotic was extensively used to treat American soldiers wounded in World War II ?
35.) Name the free-living fungi that are very common in the root ecosystems which are effective biocontrol agents
of several plant pathogens.
2 marks

1) A farmer was suggested to apply certain microbial culture in his field to increase the yield. Suggest the types of
microbes he could use in his paddy field and how do they help in increasing the yield.

2) It was observed that certain plant roots are infected by fungus, in spite of this infection the plant showed
increased growth and development. Give reason.

3) Arrange the steps in sewage treatment in proper sequence.

a) Anaerobic sludge digestion

b) 'Floc' formation

c) Primary effluent in aeration tank

d) Formation of biogas

e) Constant agitation in presence of oxygen.

f)Digestion by anaerobic bacteria

4) Bacteria that convert effluent into activated sludge play one more beneficial side. Mention the role

5) In the given figure label X & Y and explain the functioning of the below plant.

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6) How does Monascus help in lowering blood-cholesterol?

7) Complete the given table

Name of the organism Product/Enzyme/Bioactive molecule

Aspergillus niger (i)

(ii) Ethanol

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 (iii) Cyclosporin-A

(iv) Acetic acid

Streptococcus (v)

Monascus purpureus (vi)

8. Name two alcoholic beverages produced in each of the following: (i) with distillation (ii) without
distillation.
9. Student tested the three water samples for BOD from different areas and he got following results.

50

40

30
mg/L
20

10

0
Sample A Sample B Sample C

Answer the following based on above graph:-

(i) Which water sample has more BOD?

(ii) Which sample of the water is most polluted?
10. How Cyanobacteria increase fertility of soil?

11. What are the disadvantages of ‘conventional’ farming practices? How Biocontrol helps in this regard?

12. State the role of following enzymes where they are used;
(i) Lipases (ii) Streptokinase

13. Name the scientist who shared the nobel prize in 1945 for the discovery of antibiotic. From which

fungus that antibiotic was extracted?

14.Fill in the blanks in the different columns of the table given below:

Organic Acid Source Microbe

a Lactobacillus

Acetic acid B

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 c Clostridium butylicum

Citric acid D

15. What is the puffed up appearance of dosa due to? Which metabolic pathway involved in it?

16. What is the role of Baculoviruses in IPM? Name one of them used in this programme.

17. List the common uses of microbes in human welfare.

3 marks

1) For what significant properties the Baculoviruses are considered as best Biological control agent?. Mention its
importance in organic farming.

2). Give one example and one use of the following:-

i) Free living fungi

ii) Symbiotic fungi

iii) Free living bacteria

3. How do biofertilizers enrich the fertility of the soil?

4. What is biological treatment? How it helps in treatment of effluents?

5. What are statins? Where are they produced from? How are they useful to man?

6. (i) Why is cow dung used in the generation of biogas?

(ii) What are the major components of biogas?

(iii) Name the common bacterium involve in biogas formation

5 Marks

1. Why organic farming is favoured these days? Describe the methods employed in the process.

2. Describe the treatment of sewage before it is discharged into a water body like a river.

3. (i) Why crystals of Bt not kill bacteria it self? How they kill insects?

(ii) Do you think microbes can also be used as source of energy? If yes, how?

4. With the help of labeled diagram explain the production of biogas in your locality.

Questions with hints of model answer

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Section - A: 1 Mark Questions [To be answered in one word or in one sentence]

1. Expand the following (each of 1 mark)

i. STP

Answer: Sewage Treatment Plant

ii) BOD
Answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand.

iii) IPM

Answer: Integrated Pest Management

iv. IARI

Answer: Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

v. LAB

Answer: Lactic Acid Bacteria

xiv) IVRI

Answer: Indian Veterinary Research Institute

2. Why there is a big hole in Swiss cheese?

Answer: The large holes in “Swiss cheese” are due to production of a large amount of CO2 by a bacterium.

ii) Ratna

3. Write the name of micro-organism responsible for production of citric Acid and Butyric Acid.
Answer: i) Aspergillus niger (Fungus) – Citric Acid.

ii) Clostridium butylicum (a bacterium) – butyric Acid

4. Name the fungus which is very commonly found in the root ecosystem used in treatment of plant
diseases.
Answer: Trichoderma.

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 5. Which fungus is effective bio control agents of several Plants Pathogens?.
Answer: Trichoderma

Section – B: 2 Marks Questions [To be answered in 20-30 words approximately]

1. Define “bioactive molecules”. Name two such molecules and give their sources.
Answer: Bioactive molecules are those organic compounds which are produced on commercial scale by
the microbes and are useful in the human welfare.

Cyclosporin A - produced by fungus

Statins - produced by yeast.

2. What is activated sludge?

Answer: It is a measure for secondary treatment of sewage water. In this measure sludge is used which
contain bacteria & algae.

3. Name a bioactive molecule used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant patients also
mention its source.
Answer: Bioactive molecule – Cyclosporin A

Source – Trichoderma polysporum(Fungus)

4. What is mycorrhiza? How is it useful to some plants?

Answer: Fungal association with the roots of some higher plants are known as mycorrhiza.

It increase phosphorous absorption from the soil.

Section – C: 3 Marks Questions [To be answered in 30-50 words approximately]

1. What are antibiotics? Give two examples. What is their significance?

Answer: Antibiotics : - are the chemical substances produced by certain microbes, that can kill or retard
the growth of other disease causing microbes.

e.g – Penicillin, Streptomycin

Significance: -

Antibiotics are used in the treatment of many human, animal and plant diseases.

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 2. Give the name of the microbes from which cyclosporine A and statins are obtained. How cyclosporine A
and status are useful to man?

Answer:

Cyclosporin A is produced by the fungus

Trichoderma polysporum

Statins are produced by a yeast, Monascus purpureus.

Uses – Cyclosporin A is used as an immuno suppressive agent during organ

transplantation. Statins are used for lowering the levels of blood cholesterols, as it acts as a competitive
inhibitor of the enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.

3. Name any three organic acids and the bacteria that produce them.

Answer:

Organic Acids Bacteria

i) Acetic Acid Acetobacter aceti

ii) Butyric acid Clostridium butylicum

iii) Lactic acid Lactobacillus delbrueckii

Section – D: 5 Marks Questions [To be answered in 80 -120 words approximately]

1. How do biofertilisers enrich the fertility of the soil?

Answer:

Biofertilizers are the organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of soil.

Bacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi are the three groups of organisms used as biofertilizers.

i) Bacteria
a) symbiotic bacteria Rhizobium.
b) Free living bacteria Azospirillum & Azotobactor.
c) They fix the atmospheric nitrogen and enrich soil nutrients.
ii) Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are autotrophic microbes widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial
environment. Many of them can fix atmospheric nitrogen and increase the organic matter of the soil
through their photosynthetic activity.

In paddy field cyanobacteria serves as important biofertilizers. Commercially farmers use these
cyanobacteria in their fields to replenish soil nutrients and to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers.

Important examples are Anabaena, Nostoc and Oscillatoria.

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iii) Fungi/ Mycorrhiza
Fungi are also known to develop symbiotic relationship with plant roots. Such a relationship is
called mycorrhiza. Many members of the genus Glomus form mycorrhizae. The fungus absorbs
phosphorus from the soil and passes it to the plant.

Plants having such association show other benefits also-

a) Resistance to root borne pathogens

b) Tolerance to salinity.
c) Tolerance to drought
d) Overall increase in the plant growth and development.

*****

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