Microbes in Human Welfare

Azolla is a water fern that has a symbiotic association with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae, which enriches the rice fields with nitrogen.

Crotalaria juncea (sunn hemp) and Alhagi maurorum are well-known plants used as green manure to improve soil fertility in agricultural fields.

Azolla and blue-green algae (like Anabaena) are both widely used as biofertilizers in agriculture, particularly in rice cultivation.

Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, is an invasive weed that grows rapidly and is recommended for use in biogas production due to its high biomass.

Biogas is a mixture of gases, primarily methane (50-70%), carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. 55.8% falls within the standard range.

Pseudomonas putida is a well-known species used in bioremediation to break down hydrocarbons in oil spills.

Trichoderma species are free-living fungi that are effective as biological control agents against several plant pathogens.

Activated sludge consists of a mass of bacteria and fungi that settle quickly. This allows a portion of it to be recycled back into the aeration tank as an inoculum for further treatment.

Sewage rich in organic waste promotes the growth of microorganisms that consume dissolved oxygen, leading to a decrease in oxygen levels and the subsequent death of fish.

Human insulin is produced using transgenic Escherichia coli bacteria engineered with the human insulin gene. The E. coli fermentation system allows mass production of pure human insulin (Humulin). Rhizobium and Mycobacterium are not used for commercial insulin production. Note: Options A and B are duplicates.

Baculoviruses, specifically those in the genus Nucleopolyhedrovirus, are used as biological control agents. They are highly specific to certain insect species, making them narrow-spectrum insecticidal agents that do not harm beneficial insects or other organisms.

Aspergillus niger is a fungus widely used in industrial biotechnology for the large-scale production of citric acid through fermentation processes.

Primary treatment involves physical removal of particles. Secondary treatment is a biological process where microorganisms in an oxidation tank or aeration tank break down organic matter in the effluent.

Proteases are the most widely used enzymes in detergents because they effectively break down protein-based stains like blood, grass, and food.

E. coli is a coliform bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. Its presence in water is a standard indicator of fecal contamination and potential water pollution.

Secondary sludge, or activated sludge, consists of a mass of bacteria and other microorganisms that consume the organic waste present in the sewage during the secondary treatment stage.

Streptokinase is an enzyme produced by certain strains of Streptococcus bacteria. It is used medically to dissolve blood clots in patients suffering from myocardial infarction.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, typically by improving the balance of gut microbiota.

Pasteurization is a heat treatment process used to kill pathogens in food products. The classic 'low temperature long time' (LTLT) method involves heating to 60-63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

Penicillin acts by interfering with the synthesis of peptidoglycan, which is a critical component of the bacterial cell wall. Without a functional cell wall, bacteria cannot maintain their integrity and die.

While fungi like Penicillium are famous for antibiotic production, the vast majority of clinically used antibiotics are derived from soil bacteria, particularly the Actinomycetes group (e.g., Streptomyces).

Acetic acid (vinegar) is produced through the oxidation of ethanol by bacteria of the genus Acetobacter.

The fungus Ashbya gossypii is industrially used for the commercial production of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) through fermentation.