Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc.
Microbiology FY Sem 1
Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc. Microbiology FY Sem 1
Introduction:
The microbial world refers to a vast group of microscopic organisms that include bacteria, archaea, protozoa,
algae, fungi, and viruses. These organisms are found in every environment on Earth, including soil, water, air,
extreme heat, salinity, acidity, and even within the bodies of plants, animals, and humans.
They are crucial to life on Earth - performing roles in nutrient cycling, food production, biotechnology,
medicine, and ecological balance. While many microbes are beneficial, some also act as pathogens, causing
diseases in humans, animals, and plants.
Major Groups of the Microbial World:
1. Bacteria
General Characteristics:
- Unicellular, prokaryotic organisms.
- Lack membrane-bound organelles.
- DNA is circular, located in a region called the nucleoid.
- Cell wall is made of peptidoglycan.
- Reproduce asexually by binary fission.
- Some bacteria have flagella for movement.
Classification Based on Shape:
- Cocci - Spherical (e.g., Streptococcus)
- Bacilli - Rod-shaped (e.g., Escherichia coli)
- Spirilla - Spiral-shaped (e.g., Spirillum)
- Vibrio - Comma-shaped (e.g., Vibrio cholerae)
Beneficial Roles:
- Lactobacillus - used in curd formation.
- Rhizobium - nitrogen fixation in legume roots.
- Streptomyces - produces antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin).
Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc. Microbiology FY Sem 1
- Pseudomonas - used in bioremediation.
Harmful Effects:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis - causes tuberculosis.
- Salmonella typhi - causes typhoid.
- Clostridium tetani - causes tetanus.
2. Archaea (Archaebacteria)
General Characteristics:
- Prokaryotic like bacteria but genetically and biochemically different.
- Cell wall does not contain peptidoglycan.
- Have ether-linked lipids in their cell membranes.
- Capable of living in extreme environments (extremophiles).
Classification Based on Habitat:
- Methanogens: Produce methane gas; found in swamps and guts of ruminants.
- Halophiles: Thrive in high-salt environments.
- Thermoacidophiles: Live in hot, acidic environments like hot springs.
Importance:
- Used in biogas production.
- Enzymes from thermophiles (e.g., Taq polymerase) used in PCR.
- Insight into early evolution and possible extraterrestrial life.
3. Fungi
General Characteristics:
- Eukaryotic, unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (molds, mushrooms).
- Cell wall made of chitin.
- Heterotrophic - absorb nutrients from organic matter.
- Reproduce by spores, both sexually and asexually.
Major Types:
Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc. Microbiology FY Sem 1
- Yeast - Unicellular (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
- Molds - Multicellular, filamentous (e.g., Rhizopus, Aspergillus).
- Mushrooms - Large fruiting bodies of fungi (e.g., Agaricus).
Applications:
- Yeast - used in baking and brewing.
- Penicillium notatum - source of penicillin.
- Aspergillus niger - produces citric acid.
- Trichoderma - used in biocontrol.
Diseases:
- Candida albicans - causes candidiasis.
- Dermatophytes - cause ringworm, athlete's foot.
- Plant diseases: rusts, smuts, blights.
4. Protozoa
General Characteristics:
- Unicellular, eukaryotic, mostly motile.
- Lack cell walls.
- Nutrition: Heterotrophic, some parasitic.
- Reproduce by binary fission or conjugation.
Classification Based on Locomotion:
- Amoeboids - move with pseudopodia (Amoeba proteus).
- Ciliates - move with cilia (Paramecium caudatum).
- Flagellates - move with flagella (Trypanosoma).
- Sporozoans - non-motile; obligate parasites (Plasmodium).
Importance:
- Some protozoa help in ecological balance by controlling bacteria.
- Used in research (e.g., Tetrahymena in gene studies).
Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc. Microbiology FY Sem 1
Diseases:
- Plasmodium vivax - malaria.
- Entamoeba histolytica - amoebic dysentery.
- Trypanosoma brucei - sleeping sickness.
5. Algae (Microscopic Algae)
General Characteristics:
- Unicellular or multicellular, eukaryotic.
- Contain chlorophyll and perform photosynthesis.
- Mostly aquatic - found in both freshwater and marine environments.
- Cell wall made of cellulose (diatoms have silica).
Types of Algae:
- Green algae (Chlorella, Spirogyra)
- Brown algae (mainly multicellular, e.g., Fucus)
- Red algae (Polysiphonia)
- Diatoms - silica cell wall, major producers in ocean.
Importance:
- Oxygen production via photosynthesis (especially Chlorella).
- Spirulina - rich protein source.
- Used in biofuels, cosmetics, fertilizers, and as food additives.
- Diatoms - form diatomaceous earth, used in filtration and insulation.
6. Viruses
General Characteristics:
- Acellular, non-living outside host, but obligate parasites.
- Made up of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and protein coat (capsid).
- Some have lipid envelope.
- Lack cellular structure; do not grow or reproduce independently.
Classification Based on Host:
Members of the Microbial World - B.Sc. Microbiology FY Sem 1
- Bacteriophages - infect bacteria (T4 phage).
- Plant viruses - Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV).
- Animal viruses - Influenza, HIV, COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2).
Uses:
- Vaccine development (e.g., mRNA vaccines).
- Gene therapy vectors.
- Research in molecular biology.
Diseases:
- Human: HIV (AIDS), Coronavirus (COVID-19), Herpes, Rabies.
- Plants: Leaf curl, mosaic disease.
- Animals: Foot and mouth disease.
Other Acytological Agents:
Viroids:
- Small, circular RNA molecules.
- No protein coat.
- Infect plants (e.g., Potato spindle tuber viroid).
Prions:
- Infectious protein particles.
- No nucleic acid.
- Cause neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
Conclusion:
The microbial world is rich, diverse, and essential to life. Microorganisms:
- Recycle nutrients.
- Maintain ecological balance.
- Contribute to health, industry, agriculture, and environment.
Understanding them is fundamental to microbiology and crucial for advances in biotechnology, medicine,
genetic engineering, and environmental science.
