Microbes in Human Welfare

Microbes in Household Products

Microbes like Lactobacillus (LAB) convert milk into curd, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer's yeast) is used for fermenting dough to make bread and south Indian foods like idli and dosa.

Microbes in Industrial Production

Large-scale production involves fermenters where microbes synthesize valuable products such as beverages (wine, beer using yeast) and antibiotics like penicillin (produced by Penicillium notatum).

Microbes in Sewage Treatment

Municipal wastewater treatment involves primary physical filtration followed by secondary biological treatment using aerobic and anaerobic microbes to reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

Microbes as Biofertilisers

Microorganisms like Rhizobium, Azospirillum, and Mycorrhiza enrich the nutrient quality of soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and mobilizing phosphorus without causing environmental pollution.

Microbes as Biocontrol Agents

Environment-friendly methods of pest and disease control utilize natural predators or pathogens, such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control butterfly caterpillars and Trichoderma against plant pathogens.