MICROBES IN HUMAN WELFARE:
CHAPTER AT A GLANCE
| Microbes | Group | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Acetobacter aceti | Bacterium | Acetic acid |
| 2. Aspergillus niger | Fungus | Citric acid |
| 3. Azospirillum | Bacterium | Nitrogen fixation, biofertilizer |
| 4. Azotobacter | Bacterium | Nitrogen fixation, biofertilizer |
| 5. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) | Bacterium | Biocontrol of butterfly caterpillar |
| 6. Baculoviruses (mainly nucleopolyhedrovirus) | Virus | Biocontrol of insects and other arthropods. Used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). |
| 7. Clostridium butylicum | Bacterium | Butyric acid |
| 8. Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) | Bacteria | Nitrogen fixation, biofertilizer |
| 9. Lactobacillus (LAB) | Bacterium | Lactic acid, milk to curd |
| 10. Methanobacterium (methanogens) | Bacterium | Biogas (CH4) production i.e., source of energy |
| 11. Monascus purpureus | Fungus (a yeast) | Statins (blood cholesterol lowering agents) |
| 12. Mycorrhiza (E.g. Glomus) + plant | Fungi | Biofertilizer |
| 13. Penicillium notatum | Fungus (mould) | Penicillin (First antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming). |
| 14. Penicillium roqueforti | Fungus | Roquefort cheese |
| 15. Propionibacterium shermanii | Bacterium | In Swiss cheese formation |
| 16. Rhizobium | Bacterium | Nitrogen fixation, biofertilizer |
| 17. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s yeast or Brewer’s yeast) | Fungus | Production of beverages, bread by fermenting dough, ethanol etc. |
| 18. Streptococcus | Bacterium | Streptokinase (a clot buster) |
| 19. Trichoderma polysporum | Fungus | Cyclosporine A (An immunosuppressive agent) |
| 20. Trichoderma sp | Fungus | Biocontrol |
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Lipases: Used in detergent to remove oily stains from the laundry.
•
Pectinases & Proteases: To clarify bottled juices.
STEPS OF SEWAGE TREATMENT:
•
STP: Sewage Treatment Plant.
•
BOD: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (amount of O2 needed to oxidize all organic compounds in 1 litre of water).
Technology of biogas production in India was developed by:
•
IARI: Indian Agricultural Research Institute
•
KVIC: Khadi & Village Industries Commission.
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