Bacteria have lived on planet Earth for more than 3.5 billion years. During this time they learned a lot and adapted to a lot. Now they help people. Bacteria and humans have become inseparable. The total mass of bacteria is enormous. It is about 500 billion tons.
Beneficial bacteria perform two of the most important environmental functions - they fix nitrogen and participate in the mineralization of organic residues. The role of bacteria in nature is global. They are involved in the movement, concentration and dispersion of chemical elements in the earth's biosphere.
The importance of bacteria beneficial to humans is great. They make up 99% of the entire population that inhabit his body. Thanks to them, a person lives, breathes and eats.
Important. They completely ensure his life.
Bacteria are quite simple. Scientists suggest that they were the first to appear on planet Earth.
Beneficial bacteria in the human body
The human body is inhabited by both useful and. The existing balance between the human body and bacteria has been refined over centuries.
Scientists have calculated that the human body contains from 500 to 1000 different types of bacteria or trillions of these amazing residents, which amounts to up to 4 kg of total weight. Up to 3 kilograms of microbial bodies are found only in the intestines. The rest of them are found in the genitourinary tract, on the skin and other cavities of the human body. Microbes fill the body of a newborn from the first minutes of his life and finally form the composition of the intestinal microflora by the age of 10-13 years.
The intestines are inhabited by streptococci, lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, enterobacteria, fungi, intestinal viruses, and non-pathogenic protozoa. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria make up 60% of the intestinal flora. The composition of this group is always constant; they are the most numerous and perform the main functions.
Bifidobacteria
The importance of this type of bacteria is enormous.
- Thanks to them, acetate and lactic acid are produced. By acidifying the habitat, they suppress the growth of bacteria that cause rotting and fermentation.
- Thanks to bifidobacteria, the risk of developing food allergies in babies is reduced.
- They provide antioxidant and antitumor effects.
- Bifidobacteria take part in the synthesis of vitamin C.
- Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli take part in the absorption of vitamin D, calcium and iron.
Rice. 1. The photo shows bifidobacteria. Computer visualization.
Escherichia coli
The importance of bacteria of this species for humans is great.
- Particular attention is paid to the representative of this genus Escherichia coli M17. It is capable of producing the substance cocilin, which inhibits the growth of a number of pathogenic microbes.
- With the participation of vitamins K, group B (B1, B2, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12), folic and nicotinic acids are synthesized.
Rice. 2. The photo shows E. coli (three-dimensional computer image).
The positive role of bacteria in human life
- With the participation of bifido-, lacto-, and enterobacteria, vitamins K, C, group B (B1, B2, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12), folic and nicotinic acids are synthesized.
- Thanks to this, undigested food components from the upper intestines are broken down - starch, cellulose, protein and fat fractions.
- Intestinal microflora maintains water-salt metabolism and ion homeostasis.
- Thanks to the secretion of special substances, the intestinal microflora suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria that cause rotting and fermentation.
- Bifido-, lacto-, and enterobacteria take part in the detoxification of substances that enter from the outside and are formed inside the body itself.
- Intestinal microflora plays a big role in restoring local immunity. Thanks to it, the number of lymphocytes, the activity of phagocytes and the production of immunoglobulin A increase.
- Thanks to the intestinal microflora, the development of the lymphoid apparatus is stimulated.
- The resistance of the intestinal epithelium to carcinogens increases.
- Microflora protect the intestinal mucosa and provide energy to the intestinal epithelium.
- They regulate intestinal motility.
- The intestinal flora acquires the skills to capture and remove viruses from the host’s body, with which it has been in symbiosis for many years.
- The importance of bacteria in maintaining the body's thermal balance is great. The intestinal microflora feeds on substances undigested by the enzymatic system, which come from the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a result of complex biochemical reactions, a huge amount of thermal energy is produced. Heat is carried through the bloodstream throughout the body and enters all internal organs. This is why a person always freezes when fasting.
- Intestinal microflora regulates the reabsorption of bile acid components (cholesterol), hormones, etc.
Rice. 3. The photo shows beneficial bacteria - lactobacilli (three-dimensional computer image).
The role of bacteria in nitrogen production
Ammonifying microbes(causing decay) with the help of a number of enzymes they have are able to decompose the remains of dead animals and plants. When proteins decompose, nitrogen and ammonia are released.
Urobacteria decompose urea, which humans and all animals on the planet excrete every day. Its quantity is huge and reaches 50 million tons per year.
A certain type of bacteria is involved in the oxidation of ammonia. This process is called nitrophification.
Denitrifying microbes return molecular oxygen from the soil to the atmosphere.
Rice. 4. The photo shows beneficial bacteria - ammonifying microbes. They subject the remains of dead animals and plants to decomposition.
The role of bacteria in nature: nitrogen fixation
The importance of bacteria in the life of humans, animals, plants, fungi and bacteria is enormous. As you know, nitrogen is necessary for their normal existence. But bacteria cannot absorb nitrogen in the gaseous state. It turns out that blue-green algae can bind nitrogen and form ammonia ( Cyanobacteria), free-living nitrogen fixers and special . All these beneficial bacteria produce up to 90% of fixed nitrogen and involve up to 180 million tons of nitrogen in the soil nitrogen pool.
Nodule bacteria coexist well with legumes and sea buckthorn.
Plants such as alfalfa, peas, lupine and other legumes have so-called “apartments” for nodule bacteria on their roots. These plants are planted on depleted soils to enrich them with nitrogen.
Rice. 5. The photo shows nodule bacteria on the surface of a root hair of a legume plant.
Rice. 6. Photo of the root of a legume plant.
Rice. 7. The photo shows beneficial bacteria - cyanobacteria.
The role of bacteria in nature: the carbon cycle
Carbon is the most important cellular substance of the animal and plant world, as well as the plant world. It makes up 50% of the dry matter of the cell.
A lot of carbon is contained in the fiber that animals eat. In their stomach, fiber decomposes under the influence of microbes and then gets out in the form of manure.
Decompose fiber cellulose bacteria. As a result of their work, the soil is enriched with humus, which significantly increases its fertility, and carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere.
Rice. 8. Intracellular symbionts are colored green, and the mass of processed wood is yellow.
The role of bacteria in the conversion of phosphorus, iron and sulfur
Proteins and lipids contain large amounts of phosphorus, the mineralization of which is carried out You. megatherium(from a genus of putrefactive bacteria).
Iron bacteria participate in the processes of mineralization of organic compounds containing iron. As a result of their activity, large amounts of iron ore and ferromanganese deposits are formed in swamps and lakes.
Sulfur bacteria live in water and soil. There are a lot of them in manure. They participate in the process of mineralization of sulfur-containing substances of organic origin. During the decomposition of organic sulfur-containing substances, hydrogen sulfide gas is released, which is extremely toxic to the environment, including all living things. As a result of their vital activity, sulfur bacteria convert this gas into an inactive, harmless compound.
Rice. 9. Despite the apparent lifelessness, there is still life in the Rio Tinto River. These are various iron-oxidizing bacteria and many other types that can only be found in this place.
Rice. 10. Green sulfur bacteria in Winogradsky’s column.
The role of bacteria in nature: mineralization of organic residues
Bacteria that take an active part in the mineralization of organic compounds are considered the cleaners (sanitors) of the planet Earth. With their help, the organic substances of dead plants and animals are converted into humus, which soil microorganisms convert into mineral salts, so necessary for the construction of root, stem and leaf systems of plants.
Rice. 11. Mineralization of organic substances entering the reservoir occurs as a result of biochemical oxidation.
The role of bacteria in nature: fermentation of pectin substances
The cells of plant organisms are bonded to each other (cemented) by a special substance called pectin. Some types of butyric acid bacteria have the ability to ferment this substance, which, when heated, turns into a gelatinous mass (pectis). This feature is used when soaking plants containing a lot of fiber (flax, hemp).
Rice. 12. There are several ways to obtain trusts. The most common is the biological method, in which the connection between the fibrous part and surrounding tissues is destroyed under the influence of microorganisms. The process of fermentation of pectin substances in bast plants is called retting, and soaked straw is called trust.
The role of bacteria in water purification
Bacteria that purify water, stabilize its acidity level. With their help, bottom sediments are reduced and the health of fish and plants living in the water improves.
Recently, a group of scientists from different countries discovered bacteria that destroy detergents found in synthetic detergents and some medications.
Rice. 13. The activity of xenobacteria is widely used to clean up soils and water bodies contaminated with oil products.
Rice. 14. Plastic domes that purify water. They contain heterotrophic bacteria that feed on carbon-containing materials, and autotrophic bacteria that feed on ammonia- and nitrogen-containing materials. A system of tubes keeps them on life support.
Use of bacteria in ore dressing
Ability thione sulfur-oxidizing bacteria used for enrichment of copper and uranium ores.
Rice. 15. The photo shows beneficial bacteria - Thiobacilli and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (electron micrograph). They are capable of extracting copper ions to leach waste that is formed during the flotation concentration of sulfide ores.
The role of bacteria in butyric acid fermentation
Butyric acid microbes are everywhere. There are more than 25 types of these microbes. They take part in the process of decomposition of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Butyric acid fermentation is caused by anaerobic spore-forming bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium. They are capable of fermenting various sugars, alcohols, organic acids, starch, and fiber.
Rice. 16. The photo shows butyric acid microorganisms (computer visualization).
The role of bacteria in animal life
Many species of the animal world feed on plants, the basis of which is fiber. Special microbes, located in certain parts of the gastrointestinal tract, help animals digest fiber (cellulose).
The importance of bacteria in animal husbandry
The vital activity of animals is accompanied by the release of huge amounts of manure. From it, some microorganisms can produce methane (“swamp gas”), which is used as fuel and raw material in organic synthesis.
Rice. 17. Methane gas as fuel for cars.
Use of bacteria in the food industry
The role of bacteria in human life is enormous. Lactic acid bacteria are widely used in the food industry:
- in the production of curdled milk, cheeses, sour cream and kefir;
- when fermenting cabbage and pickling cucumbers, they take part in soaking apples and pickling vegetables;
- they give a special aroma to wines;
- produce lactic acid, which ferments milk. This property is used for the production of curdled milk and sour cream;
- when preparing cheeses and yoghurts on an industrial scale;
- During the brining process, lactic acid serves as a preservative.
Lactic acid bacteria include milk streptococci, creamy streptococci, Bulgarian, acidophilus, grain thermophilic and cucumber bacilli. Bacteria of the genus streptococci and lactobacilli give products a thicker consistency. As a result of their vital activity, the quality of cheeses improves. They give the cheese a certain cheesy aroma.
Rice. 18. The photo shows beneficial bacteria - lactobacilli (pink), Bulgarian bacillus and thermophilic streptococcus.
Rice. 19. In the photo there are beneficial bacteria - kefir (Tibetan or milk) fungus and lactic acid sticks before being directly added to milk.
Rice. 20. Fermented milk products.
Rice. 21. Thermophilic streptococci (Streptococcus thermophilus) are used in the preparation of mozzarella cheese.
Rice. 22. There are many varieties of mold penicillin. The velvety crust, greenish veins, unique taste and medicinal ammonia aroma of the cheeses are unique. The mushroom taste of cheeses depends on the place and duration of ripening.
Rice. 23. Bifiliz is a biological product for oral administration containing a mass of living bifidobacteria and lysozyme.
Use of yeast and fungi in the food industry
The yeast species mainly used in the food industry is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. They carry out alcoholic fermentation, which is why they are widely used in baking. The alcohol evaporates during baking, and carbon dioxide bubbles form a bread crumb.
Since 1910, yeast began to be added to sausages. Yeast of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used for the production of wines, beer and kvass.
Rice. 24. Kombucha is a friendly symbiosis of a vinegar stick and yeast fungi. It appeared in our area back in the last century.
Rice. 25. Dry and wet yeast are widely used in the baking industry.
Rice. 26. View of yeast cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae under a microscope and Saccharomyces cerevisiae - “real” wine yeast.
The role of bacteria in human life: acetic acid oxidation
Pasteur also proved that special microorganisms take part in acetic acid oxidation - vinegar sticks, which are widely found in nature. They settle on plants and penetrate ripe vegetables and fruits. There are many of them in pickled vegetables and fruits, wine, beer and kvass.
The ability of vinegar sticks to oxidize ethyl alcohol to acetic acid is used today to produce vinegar, used for food purposes and in the preparation of animal feed - ensiling (canning).
Rice. 27. The process of ensiling feed. Silage is a succulent feed with high nutritional value.
The role of bacteria in human life: production of medicines
Studying the life activity of microbes has allowed scientists to use some bacteria to synthesize antibacterial drugs, vitamins, hormones and enzymes.
They help fight many infectious and viral diseases. Most often antibiotics are produced actinomycetes, less often – non-micellar bacteria. Penicillin, obtained from mold fungi, destroys the cell membrane of bacteria. Streptomycetes produce streptomycin, which inactivates the ribosomes of microbial cells. Hay sticks or Bacillus subtilis acidify the environment. They inhibit the growth of putrefactive and opportunistic microorganisms due to the formation of a number of antimicrobial substances. Bacillus subtilis produces enzymes that destroy substances that are formed as a result of putrefactive tissue decay. They are involved in the synthesis of amino acids, vitamins and immunoactive compounds.
Using genetic engineering technology, today scientists have learned to use for the production of insulin and interferon.
A number of bacteria are supposed to be used to produce a special protein that can be added to livestock feed and human food.
Rice. 28. In the photo, spores of Bacillus subtilis (colored blue).
Rice. 29. Biosporin-Biopharma is a domestic drug containing apathogenic bacteria of the genus Bacillus.
Using bacteria to produce safe herbicides
Today the application technique is widely used phytobacteria for the production of safe herbicides. Toxins Bacillus thuringiensis secrete Cry-toxins that are dangerous to insects, which makes it possible to use this feature of microorganisms in the fight against plant pests.
Use of bacteria in the production of detergents
Proteases or break down the peptide bonds between the amino acids that make up proteins. Amylase breaks down starch. Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) produces proteases and amylases. Bacterial amylases are used in the production of washing powder.
Rice. 30. Studying the life activity of microbes allows scientists to use some of their properties for the benefit of humans.
The importance of bacteria in human life is enormous. Beneficial bacteria have been constant companions of humans for many millennia. The task of humanity is not to disturb this delicate balance that has developed between microorganisms living inside us and in the environment. The role of bacteria in human life is enormous. Scientists are constantly discovering the beneficial properties of microorganisms, the use of which in everyday life and in production is limited only by their properties.
Articles in the section "What do we know about microbes"Most popularHow will you react if you learn that the total weight of bacteria in your body is from 1 to 2.5 kilograms?
This will most likely cause surprise and shock. Most people believe that bacteria are dangerous and can cause serious harm to the body. Yes, this is true, but in addition to dangerous ones, there are also beneficial bacteria, which, moreover, are vital for human health.
They exist inside us, taking a huge part in various metabolic processes. Actively participate in the proper functioning of life processes, both in the internal and external environment of our body. These bacteria include bifidobacteria Rhizobium And E. coli, and many more.
Beneficial bacteria for humans
The human body has millions of all kinds of beneficial bacteria that take part in various functions of our body. As you know, the number of bacteria in the body ranges from 1 to two and a half kilograms; this volume contains a huge number of different bacteria. These bacteria can be present in all accessible parts of the body, but are mainly found in the intestines, where they help in digestion processes. They also play a very important role in helping to prevent bacterial infections of the genitals, and also yeast (fungal) infections.
Some beneficial bacteria for humans are regulators of the acid-base balance and are involved in maintaining pH. Some are even involved in protecting the skin (barrier function) from many infections. They are necessary and useful both as active workers in the processes of vitamin K production and in the normal functioning of the immune system.
Environment and beneficial bacteria
The name of one of the most beneficial bacteria in the external environment is Rhizobium. These bacteria are also called nitrogen-fixing bacteria. They are present in the root nodules of plants and release nitrogen into the atmosphere. Considered to be very beneficial for the environment.
Other equally important jobs performed by bacteria for the environment involve digesting organic waste, which helps maintain soil fertility. Azotobacters are a group of bacteria that are involved in the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrates, which are used further down the chain by Rhizobium - nitrogen-fixing microbes.
Other functions of beneficial bacteria
Bacteria are beneficial by participating in fermentation processes. Therefore, in many industries that are associated with the production of beer, wine, yoghurt and cheese, they cannot do without the use of these microorganisms to carry out fermentation processes. Bacteria used in fermentation processes are called Lactobacillis.
Bacteria play an important role in wastewater treatment. They are used to convert organic matter into methane. Hence, they are used in many industries. Some bacteria are also useful in cleaning and eliminating oil spills on the surface of the Earth's water basins.
Other bacteria are used in the production of antibiotics such as tetracycline and streptomycin. Streptomyces are soil bacteria used in the industrial production of antibiotics in the pharmaceutical industry.
E.coli, are bacteria that are present in the stomach of animals such as cows, buffaloes, etc. Help them digest plant foods.
Along with these beneficial bacteria, there are quite dangerous and harmful bacteria that can lead to infections, but they are few in number.
Bacteria live almost everywhere - in the air, in water, in soil, in living and dead tissues of plants and animals. Some of them benefit humans, others do not. Most people know harmful bacteria, or at least some of them. Here are some names that justifiably evoke negative feelings in us: salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, vibrio cholerae, plague bacillus. But few people know the beneficial bacteria for humans or the names of some of them. Listing which microorganisms are beneficial and which bacteria are harmful would take more than one page. Therefore, we will consider only some of the names of beneficial bacteria. .png" alt="Bacteria mod microscope" width="400" height="351" srcset="" data-srcset="https://probakterii.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/bakterii-pod-mikroskopom-300x263..png 700w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px">!}
Microorganisms with a diameter of 1-2 microns (0.001-0.002 mm) usually have an oval shape, as can be seen in the photo, which can vary from spherical to rod-shaped. Representatives of the genus Azotobacter live in slightly alkaline and neutral soils throughout the planet, up to both polar regions. They are also found in fresh water bodies and brackish marshes. Able to survive unfavorable conditions. For example, in dry soil these bacteria can survive up to 24 years without losing viability. Nitrogen is one of the essential elements for plant photosynthesis. They do not know how to separate it from the air on their own. Bacteria of the genus Azotobacter are useful because they accumulate nitrogen from the air, converting it into ammonium ions, which are released into the soil and are easily absorbed by plants. In addition, these microorganisms enrich the soil with biologically active substances that stimulate plant growth and help cleanse the soil of heavy metals, in particular lead and mercury. data-lazy-type="image" data-src="https://probakterii.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/bakterii-azotobacter-289x300.png" alt="Azotobacter under a microscope" width="385" height="400" srcset="" data-srcset="https://probakterii.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/bakterii-azotobacter-289x300..png 700w" sizes="(max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px"> Эти бактерии полезны человеку в таких областях, как:!}
- Agriculture. In addition to the fact that they themselves increase soil fertility, they are used to produce biological nitrogen fertilizers.
- Medicine. The ability of representatives of the genus to secrete alginic acid is used to obtain drugs for gastrointestinal diseases that depend on acidity.
- Food industry. The already mentioned acid, called alginic acid, is used in food additives to creams, puddings, ice cream, etc.
Bifidobacteria
These microorganisms, 2 to 5 microns long, are rod-shaped, slightly curved, as seen in the photo. Their main habitat is the intestines. Under unfavorable conditions, bacteria with this name quickly die. They are extremely useful for humans due to the following properties:
- supply the body with vitamin K, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), nicotinic acid (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), amino acids and proteins;
- prevent the development of pathogenic microbes;
- protect the body from toxins from the intestines;
- accelerate the digestion of carbohydrates;
- activate parietal digestion;
- help the absorption of calcium, iron, and vitamin D ions through the intestinal walls.
If dairy products have a prefix to the name “bio” (for example, biokefir), this means that it contains live bifidobacteria. These products are very useful, but do not last long.
Recently, drugs containing bifidobacteria have begun to appear. Be careful when taking them, because, despite the undoubted benefits of these microorganisms, the usefulness of the drugs themselves has not been proven. The research results are quite contradictory.
Lactic acid bacteria
The group with this name includes more than 25 species of bacteria. They are predominantly rod-shaped, less often spherical in shape, as shown in the photo. Their size varies greatly (from 0.7 to 8.0 µm) depending on the habitat. They live on the leaves and fruits of plants, in dairy products. In the human body, they are present throughout the gastrointestinal tract - from the mouth to the rectum. The vast majority of them are not at all harmful to humans. These microorganisms protect our intestines from putrefactive and pathogenic microbes. .png" alt="Lactic acid bacteria under a microscope" width="400" height="250" srcset="" data-srcset="https://probakterii.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/molochnokislye-bakterii-300x188..png 700w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"> Свою энергию они получают от процесса молочнокислого брожения. Полезные свойства этих бактерий известны человеку давно. Вот лишь некоторые области их применения:!}
- Food industry – production of kefir, sour cream, fermented baked milk, cheese; fermentation of vegetables and fruits; preparing kvass, dough, etc.
- Agriculture – fermentation of silage (silage) slows down the development of mold and promotes better preservation of animal feed.
- Traditional medicine – treatment of wounds and burns. That is why it is recommended to lubricate sunburns with sour cream.
- Medicine – production of drugs to restore intestinal microflora and the female reproductive system after infection; receiving antibiotics and a partial blood substitute called dextran; production of drugs for the treatment of vitamin deficiencies, gastrointestinal diseases, to improve metabolic processes.
Streptomycetes
This genus of bacteria consists of almost 550 species. Under favorable conditions, they form threads with a diameter of 0.4-1.5 microns, reminiscent of mushroom mycelium, as can be seen in the photo. They live mainly in the soil. If you have ever taken medications such as erythromycin, tetracycline, streptomycin or chloramphenicol, then you already know how these bacteria are useful. They are manufacturers (producers) of a wide variety of drugs, including:
- antifungal;
- antibacterial;
- antitumor.
Png" alt="Streptomycetes under a microscope" width="400" height="327" srcset="" data-srcset="https://probakterii.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Streptomicety-300x246..png 700w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"> В промышленном производстве лекарств стрептомицеты используются с сороковых годов прошлого века. Кроме антибиотиков, эти полезные бактерии продуцируют следующие вещества.!}
Many types of bacteria are useful and are successfully used by humans.
Firstly, beneficial bacteria are widely used in the food industry.
In the production of cheeses, kefir, and cream, it is necessary to coagulate milk, which occurs under the influence of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced by lactic acid bacteria, which are part of starter cultures and feed on the sugar contained in milk. Lactic acid itself promotes the absorption of iron, calcium, and phosphorus. These beneficial elements help us fight infectious diseases.
When making cheese, it is pressed into pieces (heads). The cheese heads are sent to ripening chambers, where the activity of the various lactic acid and propionic acid bacteria that make up the cheese begins. As a result of their activity, the cheese “ripens” - acquires a characteristic taste, smell, pattern and color.
To produce kefir, a starter containing lactic acid bacilli and lactic acid streptococci is used.
Yogurt is a tasty and healthy fermented milk product. Milk for yogurt production must be of very high quality. It should contain a minimum amount of harmful bacteria that can interfere with the development of beneficial yogurt bacteria. Yogurt bacteria convert milk into yogurt and give it its distinctive flavor.
Rice. 14. Lactobacilli – lactic acid bacteria.
Lactic acid and yoghurt bacteria entering the human body with food help fight not only harmful bacteria in the intestines, but also viruses that cause colds and other infections. In the process of their life activity, these beneficial bacteria create such an acidic environment (due to the excreted metabolic products) that only a microbe very adapted to difficult conditions, such as E. coli, can survive next to them.
The activity of beneficial bacteria is used in the fermentation of cabbage and other vegetables.
Secondly, bacteria are used to leach ores in the extraction of copper, zinc, nickel, uranium and other metals from natural ores. Leaching is the extraction of minerals from ore that is not rich in them using bacteria, when other methods of extraction (for example, smelting ore) are ineffective and expensive. Leaching is carried out by aerobic bacteria.
Third, beneficial aerobic bacteria are used to purify wastewater from cities and industrial enterprises from organic residues.
The main goal of such biological treatment is the neutralization of complex and insoluble organic substances in wastewater, which cannot be removed from it by mechanical treatment, and their decomposition into simple water-soluble elements.
Fourth, bacteria are used in the production of silk and leather processing, etc. The raw materials for the production of artificial silk are produced by special transgenic bacteria. Technical lactic acid bacteria are used in the tanning industry for swelling and deashing (processing of raw materials from solid compounds), in the textile industry, as an auxiliary for dyeing and printing.
Fifth, bacteria are used to control agricultural pests. Agricultural plants are treated with special preparations that contain certain types of bacteria. Insect pests, consuming parts of plants treated with biological preparations, ingest bacterial spores with food. This leads to the death of pests.
Sixth, bacteria are used to produce various medications (for example, interferon) that kill viruses and support human immunity (defense).
And lastly, harmful bacteria also have beneficial properties.
Decay bacteria (coprophytic bacteria) destroy the corpses of dead animals, leaves of trees and shrubs that have fallen to the ground, and the trunks of dead trees themselves. These bacteria are a kind of orderlies for our planet. They feed on organic matter and turn it into humus - a fertile layer of soil.
Soil bacteria live in the soil and also provide many benefits in nature. Mineral salts produced by soil bacteria are then absorbed from the soil by plant roots. One cubic centimeter of the surface layer of forest soil contains hundreds of millions of soil bacteria.
Rice. 15. Clostridia are soil bacteria.
Bacteria also live in the soil and absorb nitrogen from the air, accumulating it in their bodies. This nitrogen is then converted into proteins. After the bacterial cells die, these proteins are converted into nitrogenous compounds (nitrates), which act as fertilizer and are well absorbed by plants.
Conclusion.
Bacteria are a large, well-studied group of microorganisms. Bacteria are found everywhere and people encounter them in their lives all the time. Bacteria can be beneficial to humans, or they can become a source of dangerous diseases.
Studying the properties of bacteria, combating their harmful manifestations and using the beneficial properties of the life activity of bacteria is one of the main tasks for humans.
Student of 6th grade B _________________________________ / Yaroslav Shchipanov /
Literature.
1. Berkinblit M.B., Glagolev S.M., Maleeva Yu.V., Biology: Textbook for grade 6. – M.: Binom. Knowledge Laboratory, 2008.
2. Ivchenko, T. V. Electronic textbook “Biology: 6th grade. Living organism". // Biology at school. - 2007.
3. Pasechnik V.V. Biology. 6th grade Bacteria, fungi, plants: Textbook. for general education textbook establishments, - 4th ed., stereotype. – M.: Bustard, 2000.
4. Smelova, V.G. Digital microscope in biology lessons // Publishing House “First of September” Biology. - 2012. - No. 1.
On February 26, 1878, the French philologist and philosopher, author of the explanatory dictionary Emile Littre, in response to a written request from the French scientist Charles Sedillot to find a suitable name for microorganisms that are too small to see with the naked eye, proposed using the word “microbe”.
The discoverer of the world of microbes was Antony Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist of the 17th century, who first created a perfect magnifying microscope that magnifies objects 160–270 times.
What is a microbe?
Microbes- the most ancient group of organisms currently existing on Earth. The first bacteria probably appeared more than 3.5 billion years ago and for almost a billion years they were the only living things on the planet.
Most microorganisms consist of a single cell, but there are also multicellular microorganisms. The sizes of individual microbes are usually measured in several microns, and sometimes in tenths of a micron (1 micron is equal to 1/1000 mm).
Reference
Microbe- the smallest living creature, a single-celled organism.
What types of microbes are there?
All microorganisms differ from each other in size, shape, size, structure, mobility, relation to the external environment (temperature, humidity, etc.), the nature of nutrition and respiration. Some microbes require oxygen, while others (anaerobes) do not.
All microbes are divided into 3 large groups:
bacteria;
mold - thread-like cells that usually form large clusters (colonies);
yeast are large round or oval cells.
Reference
Microorganisms- the name of a group of living organisms that are too small to be visible to the naked eye (their characteristic size is less than 0.1 mm). Microorganisms include various bacteria and protozoa, as well as microscopic algae and fungi. Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogenic or pathogenic.
Where do microbes live and what benefit/harm do they bring?
Microorganisms are ubiquitous, living wherever there is water, including hot springs, the bottom of the world's oceans, and also deep inside the earth's crust. The only exceptions are the craters of active volcanoes and small areas at the epicenters of exploded atomic bombs.
Microbes in the soil:
-convert humus into various minerals, which can then be absorbed from the soil by plant roots;
-absorb nitrogen from the air, releasing nitrogen compounds, and thus enrich the soil and help increase yield.
Microbes in water:
- oxidize hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid and prevent fish from dying;
- purify water from various wastes.
Germs in the air:
-pathogenic microbes can be dangerous, as they can serve as a source of infectious disease.
In the human body:
- lactobacilli are able to convert carbohydrates into lactic acid, which prevents the development of harmful microbes;
- supply the human body with natural antibiotics;
- take part in the synthesis of various vitamins;
- have a beneficial effect on bowel function;
- have a stimulating effect on the body's immune system.
How dangerous are microbes?
Various microorganisms can cause serious diseases in humans (tuberculosis, anthrax, sore throat, food poisoning, gonorrhea, etc.), animals and plants. Pathogenic bacteria enter the body by airborne droplets, through wounds and mucous membranes, and the digestive tract. Natural and synthetic medicines (penicillin, etc.) help humans in the fight against microbes.
Microbes are also the culprits of food spoilage. Almost all natural, unprocessed food products - meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, milk - cannot be stored for a long time at room temperature and after a few days, and sometimes even hours, they spoil due to the influence of bacteria. To stop reproduction, products are pasteurized, stored in the cold, dried, salted or pickled.
Since childhood, we have become accustomed to the idea that germs are evil. This means they need to be destroyed. But recently scientists have discovered that very often we are at war not with individual mindless cells, but against a united army.
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