Medicinal Uses of Microorganisms
Category : 8th Class
Medicinal Uses of Microorganisms
It is used for the production of antibiotics, which can kill the microorganisms causing diseases. It is prepared by growing a specific type of microorganisms. Some of the common types of antibiotic are penicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline. The first antibiotic was extracted from fungus in 1929 by Alexander Fleming. Antibiotics are very effective in curing many diseases caused by bacteria and fungus. However, they are not effective in treating disease caused by virus.
Vaccine
Vaccine is a special kind of medicine, which is used to provide immunity against a particular disease. It is given to the healthy person, so that they get protected from certain types of diseases. A vaccine contains the dead or weakened, but alive microorganism of a disease. When it is introduce into the body of a healthy person, the body of the person responds by producing some substance called antibodies, in blood. The antibodies kills any 'alive' disease causing microorganisms present in the vaccine. In this way the vaccine provides immunity from the disease. The various diseases, which can be prevented by vaccination of children at the proper age are polio, smallpox, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, T.B., tetanus, measles, rabies, diphtheria and pertussis. The vaccine for smallpox was discovered by Edward Jenner in 1798.
Increasing Soil Fertility
Some bacteria fixes nitrogen by converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate, there by increasing the nitrogen content of the soil. This in turn increases the fertility of the soil. Blue green.algae fix atmospheric nitrogen. Rhizobium bacteria, present in the root nodules of leguminous plant, helps in nitrogen fixation.
Vaccines are the special kind of medicine given to the healthy person to prevent certain types of diseases. In particular, it is given to the children during early age to protect against certain types of disease. Name the person who discovered the vaccine for the small pox?
(a) Alexander Fleming
(b) Louis Pasture
(c) A.Thomas
(d) Edward Jenner
(e) None of these
Answer: (d)
Explanation
Different vaccine were developed by different scientists, the vaccine for small pox was developed by Edward Jenner.
Therefore, option (d) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect.
Some of the antibiotics are prepared from the microorganism and they are used for making vaccination. The first ever antibiotics prepared by Alexander Fleming in 1929 is:
(a) Streptomycin
(b) Tetracycline
(c) Penicillin
(d) Soframycine
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
Explanation
The first ever antibiotic prepared was penicillin.
Harmful Microorganisms
Microorganisms are also harmful and they cause disease in human and animals. Those microorganisms are called pathogens. They can be bacteria, virus, fungi, protozoa, etc. Some of the disease caused by microorganisms are given in the table below:
| Human disease | Causative microorganisms | Mode of transmission | Preventive measure |
| (1) TB | Bacteria | Air | Should be kept in complete isolation |
| (2) Measles | Viru | Air or physical contacts | Personal belongings should be kept away |
| (3) Chickenpox | Virus | Air or water | Should consult a doctor |
| (4) Polio | Virus | Air or water | Should be vaccinated at the proper age |
| (5) Cholera | Bacteria | Water or contaminated food | Maintenance of hygienic ness |
| (6) Typhoid | Bacteria | Water | Eat and drink clean food and boiled water |
| (7) Hepatitis B | Virus | Water | Vaccination at proper age and drink boiled water |
| (8) Malaria | Protozoa | Mosquito | Prevent mosquito breeding |
| (9) Dengue | Virus | Mosquito | Use net at night and prevent mosquito breeding |
Disease Causing Microorganism in Animals
The microorganisms also cause disease in animals. For example, foot and mouth is caused by virus, in which cattle get blister on feet and mouth. Anthrax is caused by bacteria, which was discovered by Robert Koch in 1876 and aspergillus is caused by fungus, particularly in birds.
Disease Causing Microorganism in Plants
Like in animals, these microorganisms also cause disease in plants. Some of the plants diseases are rust of wheat, citrus canker and yellow vein mosaic in bhindi.
The disease, which is caused by bacteria, due to the contamination of water and lack of hygiene is:
(a) Cholera
(b) Malaria
(c) Dengue
(d) Measles
(e) None of these
Answer: (a)
The microorganism also causes disease to animals. Anthrax is a animal disease caused by bacteria. Who discovered the anthrax bacteria?
(a) Marie curie
(b) Robert Koch
(c) James Hopkins
(d) Jennifer dough
(e) None of these
Answer: (b)
Explanation
There are some bacteria, which cause disease to the animals. The Anthrax is caused by bacteria and it was discovered by Robert Koch.
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