ENVIRONMENTAL &

INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY
AHBS 1211 Principles of Microbiology
Asst. Prof Dr Norsyuhada Alias
norsyuhada_alias@iium.edu.my
012-6270209
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Describe the processes by which microorganisms cycle carbon, nitrogen,
sulfur and phosphorus.
2. Identify five factors affecting microbial abundance in soils.
3. Compare the characteristics and microbial populations of freshwaters and
marine ecosystems.
4. List the applications of microbiology in various industries.
5. Explain the applications of microbiology in health industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROBES ARE UBIQUITOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY

Study of microbes in their natural habitats

Microbial diversity – study of the different types of
microbes in an environment
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
 When a microbe makes some
product it may suppress the
growth of other microbes

THE ROLE OF ADAPTATION IN Best adapted microbes gets

MICROBIAL SURVIVAL
better nutrient, reproduce
and adaptation to changes
Living together
in harmony
 Thermophiles Barophiles

Psychrophiles Halophiles

Acidophiles Xerophiles
 THE ROLES OF MICROORGANISMS
IN BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Production of Consumption
new biomass of existing
biomass
Decomposition of
Biogeochemical cycles dead biomass
Processes by which microorganisms
convert elements from one form •Carbon cycle
to another - unusable form to •Nitrogen cycle
Major
usable forms by the activities of •Sulfur cycle Biogeochemical
microorganisms •Phosphorus cycle Cycles
 1
4 2 3
5

Carbon cycle
ABUNDANCE OF CO 2 CAUSE
Climate change
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
 1 Must be incorporated
into organic cpds by
4 nitrogen-fixing
Azotobacter, microorganisms
• Nitrate is oxidized to N2 anaerobic sp. of
• Anaerobic respiration Rhizobium, Bacillus &
Clostridium
Ammonia

2iii
2i
• Anaerobic ammonium oxidation
• Nitrite & ammonium can be converted
Decomposition 2ii directly to N2
(bacteria/fungi)

Removal of amino group

3
Nitrate Nitrite Ammonium
2 1 ion

Soluble &
non-toxic
Nitrobacter Nitrosomonas Nitrogen cycle
 1
Sulfur cycle
Sulfur-containing amino
acids

Bacteria
decompose dead
organisms

Usable form
of sulfur for
plants & algae
Perform anaerobic
respiration

3
Anaerobic respiration

2 Desulfovibrio Sulfate Thiobacillus,

Beggiatoa
Main inorganic
constituents
Hydrogen Sulfur
sulfide
 PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
•Involves the:
• movement of phosphorus from insoluble to soluble
form
• conversion of phosphorus from organic to inorganic
form

•Too much phosphorus can be a problem in a habitat.

•For eg. Fertilizers -- rich in phosphate enter into rivers
and lakes – microbes overgrowth = eutrophication
•Oxygen depleted aerobic organisms
killedAnerobic microbes take over the water system
production of hydrogen sulfide bad odour
SOIL MICROBIOLOGY
Role of organisms living in soil
(Some are pathogens, most are harmless & bring
benefit)
 THE NATURE OF SOIL
Nutrient
Surface
decrease with
depth

Topsoil
> Organic material
Heterogenous
Major layers
Azotobacter,
anaerobic sp. of
Rhizobium Subsoil
< Organic material

Bedrock
< Organic material
FACTORS AFFECTING MICROBIAL ABUNDANCE IN
SOILS
Moisture and oxygen
•Possess connection with each other in soils.
•Oxygen dissolves poorly in water.
•Excessive water = microbes diversity declines, anaerobes predominate
•Wheather influence moisture and dissolved oxygen content.

pH
•pH of the soil will determine whether it is rich in fungi or bacteria
•Highly acidic and highly basic soils = fungi
•Neutral pH = bacteria

Temperature
•Most soil organisms are mesophiles, prefer temp of 20 to 50°C.

Nutrient = The amount of organic material influence the size of a microbial community in the soil. E.g.
agricultural land.
 Soilborne Diseases of
Humans and Plants
May come from direct contact, ingestion or
inhalation of microbes in soil via animal or
human faeces or urine.

Soil contains more plant pathogens than human

pathogens – diseases spread by spores, roots,
insects.

Example of human diseases (derived from soil

& water environment):
• Anthrax
• Leptospirosis
• Melioidosis
• Histoplasmosis
 Biofilm sampling
Biofilms allow
microbes to
concentrate
nutrients

Water ecosystem supports

fewer microbes
(Nutrients are diluted)

AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY
TYPES OF AQUATIC HABITATS
Freshwater ecosystems Marine ecosystems

•Low salt content (0.05%) •High salt content (3.5%)

•Includes: •Includes:
•Groundwater • Open ocean
•Wells • Coastal waters such as bays,
•Lakes estuaries and lagoons.
•Streams
•Rivers
•Springs
 FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS: VERTICAL ZONATION IN DEEP
LAKES

Photoautotroph live here

Limnetic Zone The
classification
is based on:

Temperature
Light
Nutrient
Photosynthetic microbes live here,
eg. purple & green sulfur bacteria

Deep water & sediments. Anaerobic bacteria live here

 -Nutrient poor, dark & subject to greater pressure
MARINE ECOSYSTEM -Photoautotrophs, flagellates and algae
-Extreme environment, high salt-extremophiles

Freshwater zonation

Hydrothermal vents
(provide nutrient and energy source for
thermophilic autotrophic anaerobes) Marine zonation
 INDUSTRIAL
MICROBIOLOGY
Industrial Microbiology is a branch of applied
microbiology in which microorganisms are used to
produce important substances
APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIOLOGY IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
•Health industry
•Pharmaceutical
•Medical
•R&D
•Food industry
•Agriculture industry
•Detergent industry
•Cosmetic industry
•Biofuel industry
 APPLICATIONS OF
MICROBIOLOGY IN HEALTH
INDUSTRY
Industrial Microbiology is a branch of applied
microbiology in which microorganisms are used to
produce important substances
 VACCINE
• A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves
immunity to a particular disease.
• A vaccine contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism,
and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins or
one of its surface proteins.
• The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as
foreign, destroy it, and "remember" it, so that the immune system can more
easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later
encounters.
ANTIBIOTICS
• Antibiotics are the substance that can destroy or inhibit the
growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms.
• They are produced industrially by a process of fermentation,
where the source microorganism is grown in large containers
containing a liquid growth medium.
• Antibiotics are the secondary metabolites of microorganisms.
VITAMINS
• Vitamins are naturally synthesized in microorganisms and are
essential for the metabolism of all living organisms.
• Vitamin B12 and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is the main that are
produced by microbial fermentations.
PROBIOTICS
• Probiotics are live microorganisms promoted with claims that
they provide health benefits when consumed, generally by
improving or restoring the gut flora.
• Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria are the most
common types of microbes used as probiotics, but certain
yeasts and bacilli may also be used.
 ENZYMES
• Enzymes as drugs.
• Two important features that distinguish them from all other types of drugs.
• enzymes often bind and act on their targets with great affinity and specificity.
• enzymes are catalytic and convert multiple target molecules to the desired products.

• These two features make enzymes specific and potent drugs that can
accomplish therapeutic biochemistry in the body that small molecules
cannot.
• These characteristics have resulted in the development of many enzyme
drugs for a wide range of disorders.
END OF SLIDE Thank You