1.2 Useful Microorganisms
Microorganisms are not merely harmful pathogens; many play vital and beneficial roles in our everyday life. From producing food and life-saving medicines to aiding animal digestion and maintaining soil fertility, beneficial microorganisms are fundamental to multiple industries.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the roles and applications of useful microorganisms in industry, agriculture, and medicine.
- Understand the potential use of microorganisms in green biotechnology and environmental sustainability.
- Explain the production and characteristics of eco enzyme cleaning solutions compared to chemical cleaning substances.
- Describe the uses of Lactobacillus sp. bacterial serum in wastewater treatment and environmental management.
Mind Map of Useful Microorganisms & Eco Enzyme Comparison
A summary of the three main fields of useful microorganisms and the comparative advantages of eco enzyme cleaning solutions versus chemical cleaning substances.
Short Explanation
What are useful microorganisms?
Useful microorganisms are microorganisms that provide essential services across diverse human activities, including industry, agriculture, medicine and environmental sustainability.
Microorganisms provide essential services across diverse human activities:
Industry
Yeast ferments dough for bread, Lactobacillus bulgaricus produces cultured dairy drinks, and bacteria like Lactobacillus subtilis and Bifidobacteria sp. are used to treat leather.
Agriculture
Nitrifying bacteria (Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrobacter sp.) convert nitrogen compounds in the soil, while Bifidobacteria sp. supports animal digestive health.
Medicine
Recombinant E. coli produces human insulin, Penicillium chrysogenum yields penicillin, and modified pathogens like Poliovirus and Salmonella sp. produce protective vaccines.
Environmental biotechnology
Fermenting fruit and vegetable peels yields natural eco enzymes that break down grease without scrubbing, clogging drains, or causing pollution. Lactobacillus sp. bacterial serum effectively digests sewage sludge, neutralises foul odours, generates compost, and supports aquaculture and livestock.
Applications of Useful Microorganisms in Daily Life
Microorganisms are applied extensively across three major fields.
A. Industry
| Application | Microorganism |
|---|---|
| Food | Yeast is used in food production, such as bread. |
| Beverages | Lactobacillus bulgaricus is used in producing beverages, such as cultured milk or yoghurt. |
| Leather goods | Bifidobacteria sp. and Lactobacillus subtilis are utilized in the processing and preparation of leather goods. |
B. Agriculture
| Application | Microorganism |
|---|---|
| Animal digestion | Bifidobacteria sp. aids in animal digestion. |
| Nitrifying bacteria | Soil bacteria such as Nitrobacter sp. and Nitrosomonas sp. act as nitrifying bacteria to enhance soil nitrogen content and support plant growth. |
C. Medicine
| Application | Microorganism |
|---|---|
| Hormones | Recombinant DNA of Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used to produce hormones like insulin. |
| Antibiotics | Penicillium chrysogenum (a fungus) is used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin. |
| Vaccines | Microorganisms such as Rotavirus, Salmonella sp., and Poliovirus are used in the preparation of vaccines. |
Green Biotechnology and Environmental Sustainability
Advancements in biotechnology enable microorganisms to support a cleaner environment.
Advancements in biotechnology, particularly green biotechnology, enable the use of microorganisms to:
- Produce eco enzymes from the fermentation of agricultural waste.
- Treat sewage and wastewater in drainage systems naturally.
Eco Enzyme Cleaning Solution
A natural product from fermented agricultural waste.
Definition
Eco enzyme is a natural product obtained from the fermentation of agricultural waste such as fruit or vegetable waste.
The use of eco enzyme as a cleaning solution for oily substances is recognized as a Green Technology application in the Waste and Wastewater Management Sector.
| Aspects | Eco enzyme cleaning solution | Chemical cleaning substance |
|---|---|---|
| Production process | Fermentation of agricultural waste | Use of chemical substances |
| Action on fat and grease | Enzymes decompose fat and grease into smaller molecules | Surfactants emulsify fat and grease into foam |
| Ease of use | Need not scrub as fat and grease are easily removed | Need to scrub hard |
| Clog drainage | The small molecules produced by enzymes do not clog drainage | Foam produced by surfactants clogs drainage |
| Cost | Low | High |
| Waste production | Less | More |
| Environment | Environmentally friendly | Pollutes the environment |
Lactobacillus sp. Bacterial Serum
A beneficial biological culture for wastewater and environmental management.
Lactobacillus sp. bacterial serum is used to treat wastewater and sludge instead of hazardous chemicals.
Key Uses of Lactobacillus sp. Bacterial Serum
- Treats sewage
- Removes odour
- Facilitates animal digestion
- Makes compost
- Improves the fishing industry
- Produces enzymes
Try to Answer First
Answer in your mind, then press “Check Answer”.
What is an eco enzyme, and how is it produced?
Name two nitrifying bacteria that are useful in agriculture.
State two reasons why an eco enzyme cleaning solution is more environmentally friendly than a chemical cleaning substance.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the action of eco enzymes with chemical detergents: Eco enzymes rely on biological enzymes to decompose fat and grease into smaller molecules, whereas chemical detergents rely on synthetic surfactants that emulsify fat into foam.
- Mixing up the roles of specific bacteria: Thinking E. coli naturally produces human insulin on its own, rather than recognizing that genetically modified recombinant DNA of E. coli is used.
- Stating that eco enzymes require intense physical scrubbing: In reality, eco enzyme solutions remove grease easily without the need to scrub hard.
Concept Misunderstandings
All bacteria and viruses are harmful and cause diseases.
Many microorganisms are beneficial; for example, attenuated or inactivated viruses like Poliovirus and Rotavirus are crucial for making life-saving vaccines, and bacteria like Lactobacillus sp. are essential for gut digestion, food fermentation, and sewage treatment.
Eco enzyme is just another chemical detergent that produces high amounts of soapy foam to clean grease.
Eco enzymes contain no synthetic surfactants and do not emulsify grease into thick lather or foam; they break down fats enzymatically into small soluble molecules.
Summary
- Industry: Yeast (food/bread), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (beverages/yoghurt), Bifidobacteria sp. and Lactobacillus subtilis (leather goods).
- Agriculture: Bifidobacteria sp. (animal digestion), Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrobacter sp. (nitrifying bacteria for soil).
- Medicine: Recombinant DNA of E. coli (hormones like insulin), Penicillium chrysogenum (antibiotics like penicillin), Rotavirus/Salmonella sp./Poliovirus (vaccines).
- Eco Enzyme: Fermentation product of fruit/vegetable waste; decomposes fat into smaller molecules, low cost, non-clogging, environmentally friendly.
- Lactobacillus sp. Bacterial Serum: Used in wastewater/sludge treatment, odour removal, composting, enzyme production, animal digestion, and fishing industry improvements.
Short Activity
A. Objective Quiz
1 Which of the following microorganisms is used in medicine to produce the antibiotic penicillin?
2 Why does an eco enzyme cleaning solution prevent drainage clogging compared to chemical cleaning substances?
B. Fill in the Blanks
3 Recombinant DNA of is used in the medical field to synthesize hormones like insulin.
4 Eco enzyme is a natural cleaning product produced through the fermentation of agricultural waste such as or vegetable waste.
C. Drag and Drop: Match the Microorganism to Its Application
Drag each useful microorganism to its correct application in daily life. On a phone, tap an answer first, then tap a matching box. Tap the Answer Choices area to return a selected item.
C. Match the Microorganism to Its Application
Write the correct microorganism next to each application.
| Application / Field | Microorganism |
|---|---|
| 1. Used in industry to produce fermented beverages such as yoghurt. | |
| 2. Acts as a nitrifying bacterium in agriculture to enhance soil fertility. | |
| 3. Facilitates animal digestion in agriculture and aids leather goods processing. | |
| 4. Used in medicine for the preparation of vaccines. |
Answer choices: Lactobacillus bulgaricus • Nitrosomonas sp. • Bifidobacteria sp. • Poliovirus
