Role of Microbes in Human Welfare

Bacillus pumilus strain GB34 is used as an active ingredient in agricultural fungicides. Growth of the bacterium on plant roots prevents Rhizoctonia and Fusarium spores from germinating.

In production of soy sauce, a mixture of soybean and wheat flour is inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus soyae. These fungi digest complex starch and produce sugars, which facilitate the growth of bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria carry out fermentation to produce soy sauce.

Kefir is popular in Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries. This is easily digested alcoholic milk beverage that could improve immune response and is often given to immune-compromised patients like those suffering from AIDS, herpes or cancer.

Lactobacillus plantarum can prevent diarrhea; reduce inflammation, pain and constipation in inflammatory bowel disease. It also decreases bloating and flatulence. L. plantarum produces positive effect on immunity in HIV+ children.

 P. nalgiovense are used to ripen the surface of sausages. The mould cultures develop the aroma and improve the texture of the sausages. They also contribute to shortening of the ripening period and preserving the natural quality.

It was the first organic acid to be produced from the microbial fermen­tation in starchy and sugary medium. Lactic acid fermentation is carried out by both bacteria (e.g. Streptococcus lactis and Lactobacillus species) and fungi (e.g. Rhizopus). The acid de­rived from fungal sources is costlier but is of high purity.  

The material, which in healthy sludge is a brown floc, is largely composed of saprotrophic bacteria but also has an important protozoan flora mainly composed of amoebae, spirotrichs, peritrichs including vorticellids and a range of other filter feeding species.

Wild yeast can take up to a week to begin the fermentation because their initial populations are small compared to an inoculated fermentation.

Streptokinase (Tissue Plasminogen Activator or TPA) is an enzyme obtained from the cultures of some haemolytic bacterium Streptococcus and modified genetically to function as clot buster. It has fibrinolytic effect. Therefore, it helps in clearing blood clots inside the blood vessels through dissolution of intravascular fibrin.

It is the production of microbial biomass as supplementary food for humans and animals. The common SCP are Spirulina, Yeast and Fusarium graminearum. Processing is required. SCP is rich in high quality protein, vitamins and minerals but poor in fat, besides proving much needed proteins.

Nostoc can fix atmospheric nitrogen and are used as inoculations for paddy crop grown both under upland and low-land conditions.

Polishing ponds are similar to oxidation ponds but receive effluent from an oxidation pond or from a plant with an extended mechanical treatment. These ponds are dominated by zooplankton.

Azolla is a small, eukaryotic, aquatic fern having global distribution. Prokaryotic blue green algae Anabena azolla resides in its leaves as a symbiont. Azolla is an alternative nitrogen source. This association has gained wide interest because of its potential use as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Chlorella is very popular in Japan. It is also used as a nutritional supplement with possible effects on metabolic rate. It can reduce mercury levels in humans by chelation of the mercury to the cell wall of the organism.