Microbes and Household Products:
Lactic Acid Bacteria: Ferments milk, leading to curd formation.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Used in dough fermentation for bread-making.
Trichoderma: Produces enzymes that soften cellulose fibers in textiles.
Microbes in Industrial Products:
Fermented Beverages: Production involves fermentation by yeasts.
Antibiotics: Products like penicillin (from Penicillium) used as drugs against bacterial infections.
Chemicals: Microbes used to produce citric acid, acetic acid, etc.
Enzymes: Lipase, protease, etc., used in detergents and other industries.
Microbes in Sewage Treatment:
Primary Treatment: Physical removal of particles.
Secondary Treatment (Biological Treatment): Bacteria break down organic matter; flocs (bacterial clumps) are allowed to sediment and further processed.
Treated water is then released into water bodies.
Microbes in Production of Biogas:
Methanobacterium helps in converting organic waste into methane-rich biogas.
Microbes as Biocontrol Agents:
Bacterial Pesticides: Safe for plants and non-target animals (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis).
Fungi: Trichoderma is used against plant pathogens.
Viruses: Specific to insect pests and hence can be used in pest control.
Microbes as Biofertilizers:
Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria: Rhizobium, Frankia (fix atmospheric nitrogen in leguminous plants’ roots).
Mycorrhiza: Fungus that forms symbiotic relationships with plants, helping them absorb essential nutrients from the soil.
Cyanobacteria: Fix atmospheric nitrogen and can be used to fertilize paddy fields.
Microbes and Pollution Control:
Bioremediation: Using microbes to reduce pollution or degrade harmful substances. For instance, several bacteria can degrade oil spills.
Microbes in Human Health:
Probiotics: Microbes used to replenish beneficial gut microflora in humans.