Microbes in Human Welfare

Microbes include the organisms invisible to our naked eyes. They may be protozoan, bacteria, fungi, viruses and, viroid and virions which are proteinaceous infectious agents. Not all the microbes are pathogenic, several of them are useful to human beings in various ways. Microbes have varied uses and play an important role in the welfare of human society.

Lactic Acid Bacteria are responsible
for turning milk into yoghurt.

A group of bacteria called Lactic Acid bacteria (LAB) grow in milk to convert it into yogurt. The dough, which is used to make bread, is leavened by a type of yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Certain foods such as ‘Idli’ and ‘Dosa’ are made from dough leavened by microbes. Bacteria and fungi like Penicillium roquefortii, P. Camembertii, etc. are used to impart particular texture and to generate characteristic flavour on cheese. Bacterial genus like Lactobacillus spp and Acetobacter spp are employed in industries for production of industrial products like lactic acid and acetic acid (vinegar), which are used in various industrial processes as well. Antibiotics like ‘Penicillium’ produced by useful microbes are used to kill disease causing harmful microbes. Antibiotics have played a major role in controlling diseases like Diphtheria, Whooping cough and Pneumonia. Microbes are now widely being used in sewage (waste water) treatment by the process of ‘activated sludge formation’ and this ultimately helps in recycling of water into nature. Another group of microbes, Methanogens, produce methane (biogas) by the degradation of organic wastes. Biogas produces by microbes is used as a source of energy in rural areas. Microbes can also be used to kill and control harmful pests, and the process called Bio-control and is vastly used in organic farming. Microbes are thus used in human welfare in numerous ways.

(Content provided by Ujwal Labh for IATSOM blog. He is currently pursuing Master's Degree in Medical Microbiology at St. Xavier's College, affiliated to Tribhuvan University, Nepal. You can find Ujwal Labh on Facebook.)