Department of Mathematics & Natural

Sciences

MIC101

GENERAL
MICROBIOLOGY

Lecture 07
Scope of Microbiology
in Human Welfare
 • Bread (Saccharomyces cerevisae)- produces CO2 helps the dough
to rise.
• Cheese (Lactobacillus, Propionobacterium, Penicillium)-ferment
lactose (milk sugar) to produce lactic acid, assist with coagulation,
provide distinct flavor and textural characteristics
• Yogurt (Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus) -to
ferment lactose (milk sugar) to produce lactic acid. The increase
in lactic acid decreases pH and causes the milk to clot
• Sausage (Paediococcus)-microbes convert the sugars in food into
Food and other compounds such as acids, gases and alcohols, giving the
meat its unique flavor.
Beverages • Coffee (Erwinia, Saccharomyces)
• Soy sauce (Aspergillus, Streptomyces, Lactobacillus)-
fermentation
• Alcoholic beverage (Saccharomyces) Microbes ferments the
sugars, coming from different sources, e.g., grapes for wine,
barley for beer, to alcohol and carbon dioxide
• Vinegar (Acetobacter, Gluconobacter)
• Citric Acid (Acetobacter, Clostridium)
• Mushroom (Agaricus)
Agriculture
• Microbes maintain soil fertility by decomposing the dead body of
animals, plants and releasing amines, sugars, vitamins, minerals and
fatty acids and small molecules.
• Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen is taken from its
molecular form (N2) in the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen
compounds useful for other biochemical processes.
• Microbes can produce organic Nitrogen compounds from
elementary Nitrogen. (Azotobacter, Beijerinkia, Cyanobacteria,
Clostridium) and symbiotic microbes Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium
do it.
• The crystals (toxin) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis can kill insect
larvae (pests).
• Controlled production of compost from garbage, microbes and
earthworm is the best fertilizer
Industry
• Commodity ethanol (3.8 billion litres in US) by Candida,
Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces
• Protease, Amylase, esterase from Bacillus for detergent and
textile (Lipases break down fats and oils, while proteases
work to break down protein chains. Their ability to break
down these compounds makes them excellent for stain
removal.)
• DNA polymerase in biological research
• Methanococcus for production of methane in fuel industry.
It has the ability to convert CO2 and H2 into a useful cleaner
energy fuel (CH4)
Health and Sanitation

• Wastewater/ Sewage
• Screen out solid parts
• Sediment insoluble parts
• Oxidation of organic waste using bacteria,
algae and protozoa
• Repeat oxidation and biological degradation
for cleaner water
• Disinfection by filtration or chlorination
• Check the different parameters to see if
everything is in good condition
• Release into natural water
Pollution Control

Petroleum spill in a bay in

Chlorinated pesticides
Canada was cleaned by
were degraded by
mixed population of
Pseudomonas and
microbes. Oil-degrading
Alkaligenes in agricultural
bacteria were added to
fields
break it down.
 • Production of insulin from
engineered E. coli
• Production of antibiotics
Medicine and • Preparation of vaccine (vaccincia
virus for pox vaccine)
Therapy • Production of diagnostic antibodies
• In future viruses can be used for
gene therapy
Thank you