Role of bacteria in Industry and Medicine

It describes positive and negative roles of bacteria in Industry and Medicine. It is a part of Microbiology syllabus in Botany (Hons) as per CBCS system

1. Importance of bacteria – Industry & Medicine (CC-1 CBCS) Ref: Hait , Bhattacharya & Ghosh Vol I Microbiology & Cell Biology – (RN Bhattacharya) Microbiology by Peltzar Dr Rita Som Paul Associate Professor Siliguri College Siliguri West Bengal India

2. Industrial importance Dairy Industry – LAB (Lactic acid bacteria) used in fermented milk products like sour cream ( Streptococcus lactis ), yogurt ( Lactobacillus bulgaricus ), cheeze ( Lactobacillus, Streptococcus) Vinegar – transformation of alcohol produced by yeast (carbohydrate to alcohol)into acetic acid ( by Acetobacter & Glucobacter ) Fermented vegetables – pickles with high NaCl conc. (Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Strepto . Faecalis , Lactobacillus plantarum )

3. Enzyme production – 1. Amylase breaks down starch to glucose – used for removal of spots, sizing, syrup industry Eg Bacillus subtilis 2. Protease break down proteins into peptides and amino acids – used in modern detergents, in leather industry Eg B. licheniformis

4. Amino acids Lysine – essential a.a . Eg Corynebacterium glutamicum Glutamic acid Eg Corynebacterium glutamicum

5. Acetone and butanol Produced by anaerobic fermentation : Clostridium acetobutyricum Starch -------------  Acetone C. saccharoacetobutyricum Carbohydrates -------------Acetone + butanol

6. 1.

7. Biochemical pathway of lactic acid production

8. 2. Cheese production

9. 3. Vinegar production

10. Frings Method

11. Orleans Method

12. Role in Industry Ref : Peltzar Ch:Indistrial Microbiology Product Microorganism Uses Acetone- butanol Clostridium acetobutyricum solvents 2,3-butanediol Bacillus polymixa , Enterobacter aerogens Solvent,chemical intermediate Lactic acid Lactobacillus bulgaricus , L. delbrueckii Textile,laundry,leather industry Bacterial amylase Bacillus subtilis Sizing paper, desizing textiles Bacterial protease Bacillus subtilis Spot remover,bating hides etc Lysine Micrococcus glutamicus Animal feed additive Bioinsecticide Bacillus thuringiensis Control of insect pests Vinegar Acetobacter spp Food industry Tobaccoo , tea leaf Proteus vulgaris , Bacillus curing Jute Bacillus sibtilis retting Oil spill cleaning Pseudomonas putida Oil spill cleaning

13. Role in Medicine Product Microorganism Uses Cobalamine ( Vit B12) Streptomyces olivaceus Pseudomonas denitrificans Treating perenicious anaemia, food supplement Streptokinase- streptodornase Streptococcus equisimilis Dissolving blood clots Insulin, interferon Recombinant DNA varieties of E.coli Human therapy probiotics LAB Restoring stomach microflora Vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria Toxoids of Clostridium tetani (tetanus tox in) and Pneumococcus diphtheriae vaccination Antibiotics Cephalosporin – Cephalosporium acremonium

14. Vaccines and serums These are substances which are used to develop immunity to various diseases in man. Serums are used in advance as a therapeutic measure. They are also used when a person actually suffers from a disease. Diphtheria, lockjaw, pneumonia, etc. are the diseases in which the serums are effective. In the preparation of serums, small doses of bacterial toxins are injected into the blood of animals such as horses. To combat or neutralize the bacterial poisons, the body of the animal produces antibodies. The blood of the animal is then withdrawn. Impurities such as blood corpuscles and other solid matter are removed from the blood. The clear blood serum containing the antibodies is used as weapon to combat diseases caused by these bacteria.

15. Vaccines Vaccines are commonly used to make people immune to diseases like typhoid, small-pox, cholera, scarlet fever, etc. To produce vaccines dead or weakened disease producing bacteria or their diluted poisons (antigens) are directly injected into a man to cause a disease in a mild form. As a reaction the host is stimulated to form antibodies. The latter may remain for years in the body of the host imparting immunity against the same type of bacteria which may later enter his body.

16. Antibiotics The milder antibiotics of bacterial origin are tyrothricin , subtilin , polymyxin B, and bacitracin . Bacillius subtilis is the source of subtilin . Bacitracin is obtained from a stain very much like B. subtilis var Tracy. The actinomycetes which are filamentous, bacteria-like organisms produce more powerful antibiotics such as streptomycin, aureomycin and terramycin . Cephalosporin is produced by Cephalosporium acremonium  

17. Negative role (harmful activities) of bacteria 1. Food spoilage – caused by proteolytic activity of Eg Proteus sp , Alkaligens , Clostridium, Pseudomonas; lipolytic – Achromobacter lipolyticum 2.Plant diseases 3.Human diseases

18. Plant Diseases

19. Human diseases