microbiology

• A microbe is an organism that is too small to be seen with the unaided eye.
• 4 major groups of microbes: bacteria, virology, fungi, parasites
• Microbes are 99% harmless and 1% harmful
• Bacteriology is the study of bacteria
• Virology is the study of viruses
• Mycology is the study of fungi
• Parasitology is the study of parasites
• An example of bacteria is E. coli
• An example of a virus is HIV, Covid-19, and Herpes
• An example of fungi is yeast and mold
• An example of parasites are protozoans and worms
• Mold grows in cold environments
• Yeast grows in heated environments
• Mold is multicellular
• Yeast is unicellular
• Parasites ALWAYS causes harm to the host
• There are four important roles of microbes: Key ecological roles, bioremediation, commercial uses, and applications in medicine
• Key ecological roles are natural processes
• Bioremediation are artificial processes
• Commercial uses of microbes are involved in food and beverages
• Applications of medicine are microbes used for medicine
• Natural processes of microbes are decomposers of organic waste, photosynthesis, and nitrogen fixation
• Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. They benefit humans by breaking down waste and recycling elements back into nature
• Cyanobacteria (bacteria) and algae (protozoa) do photosynthesis. They benefit humans by producing oxygen
• Bacteria does nitrogen fixation. Bacteria capture free atmospheric nitrogen (n2). They benefit humans by producing nitrates which plants use for development
• Nitrogen is a gas not useful or harmful to humans
• n2 is accessible to bacteria in soil
• Bioremediation are artificial processes developed by human needs
• In bioremediation, certain bacteria can use pollutants (toxic waste) as an energy source or produce enzymes that break down toxic wastes
• 2 examples of bioremediation: oil spills and drain clogs
• Bacteria are introduced into the ocean to remove toxic wastes from the ocean, such as oil spills
• Bacterial enzymes are found in drain cleaners to remove clogs without adding harmful chemicals to the environment
• By removing clogs, bacteria can use that source of energy
• Bacteria and fungi are used for commercial uses
• Bacteria makes dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt
• Bacteria are used for cosmetic procedures, such as botox
• Fungi yeast makes alcoholic beverages, such as wine and beer
• Fungi yeast makes bread
• Some microbes produce substances that are used today as antibiotics
• Antibiotics can kill harmful bacteria