Introduction
Bacteria are single-celled organisms and are found in large numbers in our environment. Some types of bacterias are hazardous in nature , but many of them are beneficial. They are utilised in industrial and therapeutic activities, and they support many forms of life, both plant and animal.
Bacteria are supposed to be the earliest species to appear on the planet, which happened roughly 4 billion years ago. The earliest known fossils are bacteria-like organisms.
Uses of Bacteria
Bacteria are typically assumed to be harmful, but many of them are beneficial. We wouldn't exist if it weren't for them. The oxygen we breathe is most likely produced by bacteria. Human survival is possible:
Many microorganisms in the human body play a crucial role in survival. In the digestive system, bacteria break down nutrients like complex carbohydrates into forms that the body can utilise.
Non-pathogenic bacteria also help to prevent disease by occupying sites where disease-causing bacteria would like to grow. By combating pathogens, some microorganisms protect us from disease.
Fixation of Nitrogen: Bacteria consume nitrogen and release it when they die, allowing plants to use it. Plants need nitrogen in the soil for their survival, but they can't make it themselves. To ensure this, many plant seeds contain a small container of bacteria that is used when the plant emerges.
Food Science and Technology: Lactic acid bacteria are of two types Lactobacillus and Lactococcus, as well as yeast and moulds, or fungi, are used to manufacture cheese, soy sauce, natto (fermented soy beans), vinegar, yoghurt, and pickles.
Fermentation is not only important for preserving foods, but it may also provide health advantages.
Some fermented meals, for example, include bacteria that are comparable to those associated with gastrointestinal health. Some fermentation processes produce novel chemicals, such as lactic acid, that have anti-inflammatory properties.
To validate the health advantages of fermented foods, more research is needed.
Bacteria in the workplace and in research: Bacteria have the ability to degrade organic molecules. This is useful for tasks like garbage processing and oil spill and toxic waste cleanup.
Bacteria are used in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors to make specific compounds.
Because bacteria can grow quickly and are relatively easy to manipulate, they are utilised in molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetic studies. Bacteria are used by scientists to investigate how genes and enzymes function.
Antibiotics require bacteria to be produced.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterium that can be used instead of insecticides in agriculture. It doesn't have the negative environmental implications that pesticide use does.
There are many disadvantages of using this method.
Food poisoning is a condition caused primarily by the poisons generated by bacteria. Generally, bacteria causes food poisoning.
Rotting of vegetables, fruits, meat, and other foods is caused by saprotrophic bacteria, which are always present in the air and settle down in exposed food.
Spoilage of Domestic Articles Bacteria such as Cellulomonas attack textiles, leathers, canvas, and wood articles, causing them to degrade…
Denitrification occurs when bacteria such as PSEUDOMONAS, which live in waterlogged soil, take oxygen from the nitrates and convert them to gaseous nitrogen forms. They have the negative consequence of reducing the amount of usable nitrogen in the soil.
Water pollution Some bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella Typhi, can rapidly proliferate in water and pollute it.
FAQs on Role of Bacteria in Industry
1. What is the fundamental importance of bacteria in industrial microbiology?
The fundamental importance of bacteria in industrial microbiology lies in their diverse and highly efficient metabolic capabilities. They act as microscopic biochemical factories or biocatalysts to produce a vast range of valuable commercial products through processes like fermentation. Industries harness these natural processes to create everything from medicines and foods to biofuels and enzymes on a large scale.
2. What are some key examples of bacteria's role in the food and beverage industry?
Bacteria are essential in producing many common foods and beverages. Their primary role is in fermentation, which alters the flavour, texture, and preservation of the food. Key examples include:
- Lactobacillus species are used to ferment milk to produce curd, yoghurt, and cheese.
- Propionibacterium shermanii is responsible for the large holes and characteristic flavour of Swiss cheese.
- Acetobacter aceti is used to produce vinegar (acetic acid) from ethanol.
3. How are bacteria used in the pharmaceutical industry to produce antibiotics and other medicines?
In the pharmaceutical industry, bacteria are indispensable for producing life-saving drugs. Certain bacteria naturally produce antibiotics to compete with other microbes. For example, Streptomyces is a genus famous for producing a wide range of antibiotics like Streptomycin. Furthermore, with recombinant DNA technology, bacteria such as E. coli are genetically engineered to produce therapeutic human proteins like insulin, which they do not naturally make.
4. What is the role of bacteria in agriculture and environmental management?
Bacteria play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture and environmental health. In agriculture, they function as:
- Biofertilisers: Bacteria like Rhizobium (in legume root nodules) and free-living Azotobacter fix atmospheric nitrogen, enriching soil fertility naturally.
- Biopesticides: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) produces a protein toxic to certain insect larvae, serving as a natural, targeted pesticide.
5. How has genetic engineering expanded the industrial applications of bacteria?
Genetic engineering has revolutionised the industrial use of bacteria by allowing scientists to modify their genetic makeup to produce novel or high-value substances. By inserting specific genes into a bacterium's plasmid, it can be programmed to act as a living factory. The most classic example is the production of human insulin by genetically modified E. coli, which has made diabetes treatment widely accessible and safer.
6. Since many bacteria cause diseases, why is it essential to use them in industry instead of avoiding them?
This is a common misconception. While a small fraction of bacteria are pathogenic (disease-causing), the vast majority are harmless or incredibly beneficial. We use specific, non-pathogenic strains in industry because their unique metabolic pathways are highly efficient for producing desired products. The benefits, such as producing antibiotics, vitamins, and enzymes, far outweigh the risks, which are managed under sterile, controlled industrial conditions. Eliminating all bacteria would collapse ecosystems and halt these vital industries.
7. What are industrial fermenters or bioreactors, and why are they important for using bacteria?
Industrial fermenters, or bioreactors, are large vessels (up to thousands of litres) designed to provide the optimal environment for growing microbes like bacteria on a massive scale. They are important because they allow for precise control over growth conditions such as temperature, pH, substrate, and oxygen levels. This control maximises the yield of the desired product (e.g., an antibiotic or an enzyme) and ensures the process is efficient, sterile, and commercially viable.
8. How do the industrial uses of bacteria compare to those of fungi like yeast?
Both bacteria and fungi (like yeast) are industrial workhorses, but they often have different specialities. Yeast, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is famous for alcoholic fermentation to produce bread and beverages like beer and wine. Bacteria, however, offer a much broader range of metabolic products, including various organic acids (lactic, acetic, butyric), a wider spectrum of enzymes, and most commercially produced antibiotics. Bacteria's genetic simplicity also makes them easier to modify for producing complex proteins through genetic engineering.
9. Can you provide specific examples of industrial enzymes produced by bacteria?
Yes, bacteria are a major source of industrial enzymes used in various sectors. For example:
- Proteases and Amylases from Bacillus species are used in detergent formulations to break down protein and starch stains.
- Streptokinase from Streptococcus is used as a 'clot-buster' medicine to dissolve blood clots in patients who have had a heart attack.
- Lipases are used in detergents and also for flavour enhancement in the cheese industry.
