Microbes with benefits

Shamshad Ali AfridiMicrobiologist

BREAD, AND WINE!

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

CHEESE AND YOGURT!

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

SOYA SAUCE AND VINEGAR!

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ANTIBIOTICS AND VITAMINS!

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ENZYMES AND HORMONES!

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

INSECT PEST CONTROL!

Bacillus thuringiensis Burkholderia cepacia

PROLIFE PROBIOTICS!

Lactobacillus reuteri

DRAIN OPENERS!

Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp.

GOLD-MINING MICROBES

Ralstonia metallidurans

COPPER- EXTRACTING MICROBES

Thiobacillus and Sulfolobus

PLASTICS MADE PERFECT

Granules of PHB in the bacterium Azotobacter chroococcum

ARCHITECTURE-PRESERVING BACTERIA

Myxococcus xanthus

GLUE THAT STICK AN ELEPHANT TO A WALL

Caulobacter crescentus

A FRIEND IN HOT SPRINGS

Thermus aquaticus

A BIOTERRORIST WORM

The worm Steinernema kills, by infecting insects with lethal Xenorhabdus bacteria

OIL-EATING MICROBES TO THE RESCUE

Alcanivorax

A NUCLEAR-WASTE-EATING MICROBE?

Kineococcus radiotolerans

WHEN A BACTERIAL INFECTION IS A GOOD THING!

Bdellovibrio (pink) attacks E. coli (blue).

BOTULISM AND BOTOX

Purified type A botulinum toxin

FUNGI FOR RS. 300,000 PER HALF KG!

Tuber melanosporum

GLOWING VIRUSES

fluorescent phages

HARD TO SWALLOW!

Anti listeria phages

PRESCRIPTION BACTERIOPHAGES?

Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophages

Some Industrial Uses of Microbes

Product or Process Contribution of Microorganism

Artificial sweetener Amino acids synthesized by bacteria from sugar

Bread Rising of dough produced by action of yeast; sour dough results from bacteria-produced acids

CheeseFlavoring and ripening produced by bacteria and fungi; flavors dependent on the source of milk and the type of Microorganism

Sour cream Produced by bacteria growing in cream

Alcoholic beverages Alcohol produced by bacteria or yeast by fermentation of sugars in fruit juice or grain

Soy sauce Produced by fungal fermentation of soybeans

Vinegar Produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar

Yogurt Produced by bacteria growing in skim milk

Some Industrial Uses of Microbes

Product or Process Contribution of Microorganism

Antibiotics Produced by bacteria and fungi

Human growth hormone, human Insulin

Produced by genetically engineered bacteria

Laundry enzymes Isolated from bacteria

Vitamins Isolated from bacteria

Pest control chemicals Insect pests killed or inhibited by bacterial pathogens

Drain opener Protein-digesting and fat-digesting enzymes produced by bacteria

Diatomaceous earth (used in polishes and buffing Compounds)

Composed of cell walls of microscopic algae

Thank you !