In 250 words describe one way that microbes or their product

In 250 words, describe one way that microbes or their products are used by humans.

Solution

The following are the different ways by which humans use microbes.

1). The large intestine secretes bicarbonate ions that decrease the acidity and allow the growth of a wide variety of healthy microbes. These microbes allow the synthesis of essential vitamins such as vitamin K and biotin.

2). Bacterial probiotics are used in the treatment of problems of the digestive tract such as poor absorption of nutrients. Chorismic acid produced by E.coli is the precursor of folic acid, tryptophan, phenylalanine, ubiquinol, menaquinol etc.

3). Some of the bacteria and fungi are capable of degrading the hydrocarbons (of oils) and convert them into water and carbon dioxide.

Oil spill pollution impacts the plant and animal life found in marine biomes in several ways. The main source of marine oil spills includes ships. As crude oils last for several years in the ocean, they cause many of the marine animals to suffer from suffocation and some may die due to this cause.

4). By a process called BioBricking, certain bacterial strains are used to locate the landmines. When these bacteria are sprayed over the suspected areas of landmine, they form green patches and begin to glow if these is any mine. It is a safer way of detecting landmines.

5). Bacteria are used in the production of biofuels. For example, the bioengineered E.coli is used to produce biodiesel from the cellulose.

6). Soil bacteria play an important role in carbon cycle as decompose the dead plants and animals.

One specific application of microbial products is, using them as antibiotics. Antibiotics are those that are produced by one microbe, which prevent the growth of the other microbes. It is a protective mechanism of microbes. Particularly, certain bacteria and fungus produces antibiotics that are used in the treatment of different infectious diseases. Also, bacteria are used as vectors to produce hormones such as insulin by biotechnology process. For example, insulin produced by biotechnology process can be used in humans for the treatment of diabetes.

A bacterial vector is chosen into which the isolated human gene coding for insulin is inserted. Along with the gene, the promoter gene essential for the synthesis of insulin is also inserted into the vector. These recombinant bacteria are now grown in nutrition broths. As the bacteria grows, they also produce insulin as they are inserted with the human insulin coding gene. This insulin is not used by bacteria so; we can extract the insulin.