Micro Topic3 Importance

IMPORTANCE OF
MICROBES
* 1.Microbes are important
as decomposers or
saprophytes since they aid
in fertilization by returning
inorganic nutrients into the
soil
(FERTILE SOIL)
Saprophyte- a plant, fungus, or
microorganism that lives on dead
or decaying organic matter.
Saprophytes , fungi like
mushrooms, Bacteria, Worms,
snails, slugs act as decomposers.
Bacillus
subtilis and Pseudom
onas fluorescens are
examples of
decomposer bacteria.
Slug, or land slug, is a common name for

any apparently shell-less terrestrial
gastropod mollusc.
 When plants and animals die, they become
food for decomposers like bacteria, fungi and
earthworms .Decomposers or saprotrophs
recycle dead plants and animals into
chemical nutrients like carbon and
nitrogen that
are released
back into the
soil, air and
water.
The organisms that
feed on the dead and
decaying
organisms are called
saprotrophs.
Importance of Microbes
Microbes
 2.
are used in
bioremedia-
tion to
clean up or
decompose
industrial
wastes like
oil spills
 Bioremediation is the process by
which microbes (generally bacteria)
or plants transform a harmful water
contaminant into a non-harmful
substance, much as we turn sugar
into carbon dioxide and
water. Bioremediation can
help clean up ground water
contaminated with gasoline,
solvents, and other contaminants.
 Oil-eating microbes — with names
like Alcanivorax borkumensis — are some of the
smallest living things on earth, but they can have a
powerful impact. The bacteria occur naturally
in water and, when they come in contact with oil,
they eat it,
producing the
byproducts
carbon dioxide
and water
 3. Microorganisms are involved
in elemental cycles [carbon,
nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and
phosphorus]
 Microbial Role in
Biogeochemical Cycling. Nutrients
move through the ecosystem
in biogeochemical cycles.
 A biogeochemical cycle is a pathway
by which a chemical element (such
as carbon or nitrogen) circulates
through the biotic (living) and the
abiotic (non-living) factors of an
ecosystem.
Why are cycles so important?
 The biogeochemical
cycles transport and
store
these important
elements so that they
can be used by living
organisms.
 4. Microbes serve as food for
smaller animals; important
part of the food chain
Why are microbes/microorganisms
needed in the food chain?
 The decomposers (fungi and soil
bacteria) obtain their energy and
nutrients from the dead bodies and
waste products of other organisms.
As dead bodies and waste products
break down, they release essential
nutrients into the soil.
 - 5. Microbes aid in food digestion
and some produces beneficial
substances or solutions
How do microbes help in digestion?
 Gut Bacteria Help Digest and Absorb
Foods.... Lactobacillus helps ferment
indigestible carbohydrates and,
supports the breakdown of sugars in
dairy products, which are a common
source of food sensitivities. As a
byproduct of its fermentation process,
Lactobacillus bacteria produce lactic
acid.
Why are the bacteria not digested
along with food?
 Your teeth mash up the food,
your stomach digests it, and
your intestines absorb the
nutrients. ...
Those bacteria help your body
to break down
big food molecules into useable
fuel. The bacteria also produce
vitamins and help protect the
body from diseases.
Probiotic
 6. Microbes are used in various
industries such as food,
beverage, chemical and
antibiotic industries.
It is known as BIOTECHNOLOGY
[examples are yogurt, yakult
drink, wine and cheese]
small bacteria and fungi
produce antibiotics
Antibiotic industries
fermentation
 7. Microbes
are used
in genetic
engineering
Escherichia coli (E. coli) and
Agrobacterium tumefaciens. E. coli
is one of the most important
bacteria used in the field of
biotechnology and genetic
engineering.
Salmon
 8. Microbes are used as cell models
Why are microbes used as
model organisms?
 Microbes make great model
organisms because they have a
short generation time, they are
easy and inexpensive to culture in
the lab, they are highly amenable
to genetic manipulation, and a
wealth of genetic information
(such as whole genome
sequencing) is freely available.
9. Microbes
cause either
infection
diseases or
intoxication
The meaning of INTOXICATION is the
condition of having physical or mental
control markedly diminished by the effects
of alcohol or drugs.
FINISH

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IMPORTANCE OF

Slug, or land slug, is a common name for

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