Study Of Microbiology in

      Different Biocomputational Technology

Microbiology is a branch of Science which has emerged after discovery of Microscope. Microbiology is the study of tiny microorganisms which can’t be viewed by naked eye. Most of the microorganisms can be called as biological terrorists as they cause dreadful diseases to human beings, animals and plants. But there are many microbes which help us to fight with the causes of diseases of human beings  and plants. 

Microbiology includes the study of Bacteria (Bacteriolgoy), Algae Phycology), Fungi (Mycology) and Viruses (virology). These organisms are unicellular i.e. a single cell performs all metabolic functions like respiration, nutrition, excretion, reproduction. Some of them may be multicellular but no organ development is seen. Society benefits from microorganisms in many ways. Man has improved his knowledge to modify these microorganisms  for the benefit of humans.

The science is developing fast and it has become possible to make good use of every creation of GOD. New branches in Science are arising often, keeping in phase with the developments in technology.  Microbiology, which was a new branch of Science in 19th century, is now a major branch of Science which has its several branches, each branch is now studied as distinguished subject by itself.

  The following (applications) branches of Microbiology need individual concentration of study today, for making good use of their fruits for human life.

1.      Industrial Microbiology

2.      Microbes in food and dairy industry

3.      Medical Microbiology

4.      Biotechnology

5.      Environmental microbiology

6.      Pollution Microbiology

7.      Agricultural Microbiology

8.      Bioinformatics

Industrial Microbiology :”Invention of facts about the presence of microbes in the processing of some bio-products” has thrown light on simplification of industrial processes. The production cost is lessened. With low investment, we are able to produce an optimum quantity of quality product. There are variety of microorganisms which are used in many Bio-related industrial products. By using genetically engineered microorganisms we are able to improve the quantity of products viz., Enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, antibiotics, organic acids and alcohols. 

List of some organic acids produced by Microorganisms :

Microbes in food and dairy industry : Apart from using Microbes as food directly,   they can also be used in producing a large variety of food. Yeast is one among them which is having good value in bakery products. Many flavoring agents and preservatives r also produced from microorganisms.

Medical microbiology : Some microorganisms produce “substances which are lethal towards other organisms” as secondary metabolites. Such substances are called ‘antibiotics’. These antibiotics gained great importance in the field of medicine. By using microorganisms, the manufacturing cost also came down in the production of antibiotics. Semisynthetic antibiotics are derivatives of these biologically produced antibiotics.

List of some Antibiotics produced by Microorganisms:

Biotechnology: Molecular techniques for manipulating genetic information called “Genetic engineering” and use of such microorganisms in industrial processes called Biotechnology.  By using techniques like genetic engineering we are able to improve the microbial strains and change them in such a way that they can be used for maximum extent. Genetically engineered microorganisms are used to produce insulin, human growth factor, vaccines etc., By using Biotechnology we are producing replica of same gene in large number (up to billions) for further use. We are able to produce viral, bacterial and protozoan antigens for protecting human against various diseases.

Environmental Microbiology: Study of microorganisms which are present in  environment is called Environmental Microbiology. Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature. They are present from deep sea to soil, volcanoes to ice burgs. They take a major role in sustaining the environment by maintaining the atmospheric gases.

Carbon is produced from microbial degradation. Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic microorganisms can convert organic carbon into CO2 . Methane is generated by methanogenic archaeobacteria. Nitrogen fixing bacteria reduce nitrogen gas to ammonia required for plant growth.

Pollution Microbiology: Viruses that infect all the biological grouping have bearing on water pollution problems. The water contaminated by microorganisms can cause a havoc in human life. At the same time bacteriophages may help in controlling the bacterial population by lyses of the bacterial cells. Biological sewage treatment and self- purification is extensively used phenomenon, which results in mineralisation of organic pollutants and utilization of dissolved oxygen.

Microorganisms can cleave the hydrocarbons into simpler molecules by a process called bioremediation. The importance of bioremediation in oil spill of marine environment is widely studied.

            Organisms like Pseudomons, different Cyanobacteria, various Corynebacteria and mycobacteria are able to degrade petroleum products. Pseudomonas putida utilizes complex chemical compounds and is called ‘super bug’. Bioleaching process allows us recovery of minetals from low grade ores. ex: Cupper can be obtained by using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Agicultural Microbiology: Agiculture is the prime source of getting food & fodder for sustaining the life. In countries like India about 25% of cultivation is getting spoiled by different types of diseases. Using chemical pesticides and ferilisers are having lots of side effects on products and also on environment. We can overcome this challenge by using Biopesticides and Biofertilizers. Azatobacter, Rhizobium, Azospirillum, are some of the biofertilizers often used by farmers. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), lepidoptera, diptera are some of the insecticides used to control the growth of unwanted microbes. These microbes are eco-friendly and don’t cause any significant side effects.

Bioinformatics: It is the combination of biological sciences and computer sceience.  Bioinformatics has opened doors for new inventions in biological sciences in lesser time. Matching of genetic sequences of one organism or animal with those another and relating them appropriately is simplified by the advent of Bioinformatics. The genetic sequences of each and every organism or animal are stored in “gene bank” or “gene card’. Whenever those sequences are needed one can retrieve and use them based on his own interests.

 By identification of Genes responsible for a particular disease, we can forecast that a particular person whose genetic code is known is likely to suffer from so and so disease in future. By knowing the genetic sequence of patient we can identify the disease and the part, which got effected also. With the advent of Bioinformatics, it became possible to easily and quickly analyse the causes of diseases like Cancer, Diabetes etc. The genes which are responsible for a trait or character can be identified and they can be modified in to desired directions.

                                                                                                 K.Sahitya..

                                                                                       sahi_rat@yahoo.co.in