🦠 Microbes in Human Welfare –Masterclass
🧠 Starter Mnemonic: “HI-SE-BIO-BIO-BIO”
Helps recall the 6 modules:
  • H → Household Products
  • I → Industrial Products
  • SE → Sewage Treatment
  • BIO → Biogas Production
  • BIO → Biocontrol Agents
  • BIO → Biofertilisers
🏡 1. Microbes in Household Products
🔄 Key Roles of Microbes:
🧠 Mnemonic: "Ladies Bake Delicious Treats with Cheese"
  • Lactobacillus → Curd
  • Bacteria → Dosa/Idli
  • Dough → Bread
  • Toddy → Fermented drink
  • Cheese → Swiss & Roquefort
🏭 2. Microbes in Industrial Products
🍷 2.1 Fermented Beverages
Metabolic Pathway: Glucose → Pyruvate → Ethanol + CO₂
(Anaerobic respiration / alcoholic fermentation)
🔍 Classroom Tip: Sketch out this pathway on the board!
💊 2.2 Antibiotics
  • Penicillin
  • Discovered by Alexander Fleming
  • Source: Penicillium notatum
  • Stops bacterial cell wall formation
Key Milestones:
✅ Used to treat: plague, diphtheria, leprosy, whooping cough
⚗️ 2.3 Chemicals, Enzymes & Bioactive Molecules
🔬 Organic Acids:
🧪 Enzymes:
💉 Bioactive Molecules:
🚰 3. Microbes in Sewage Treatment
🧱 A. Primary Treatment
  • Physical filtration → remove solids
  • Forms primary sludge
  • Supernatant → secondary treatment
⚗️ B. Secondary Treatment
  • Aeration tank → microbes grow in flocs
  • They consume organic matter
  • Reduces BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)
📌 More BOD = More pollution
🧪 C. Anaerobic Digestion
  • Activated sludge → goes to digesters
  • Bacteria produce gases → CH₄, CO₂, H₂S
🧠 Mnemonic: “Please Send Awesome Biogas Soon”
  • Primary sludge
  • Secondary flocs
  • Activated sludge
  • BOD testing
  • Sewage disposal
🔥 4. Microbes in Biogas Production
🔋 Methanogens
  • Microbe: Methanobacterium
  • Anaerobic bacteria → digest cellulose
💩 Rumen Role
  • Found in cattle stomachs
  • Breaks down grass, producing methane
🔧 Biogas Plant Structure:
🧠 Mnemonic: "Cattle Dig Gobar for Energy"
  • Cattle → Rumen microbes
  • Dig → Digest cellulose
  • Gobar → Dung
  • Energy → Biogas output
🐞 5. Microbes as Biocontrol Agents
✅ Natural Control:
  • Avoid chemicals → use living organisms
  • Promotes biodiversity
🌿 Examples:
🧠 Mnemonic: “Tiny Bugs Terminate Caterpillars Boldly”
  • Trichoderma → Fungus fighters
  • Bt → Butterfly caterpillars
  • Baculovirus → Bug-specific virus
🌱 6. Microbes as Biofertilisers
💚 Goal:
  • Reduce chemical fertilisers
  • Improve soil health naturally
🌾 Key Organisms:
🧠 Mnemonic: “Real Amazing Growth Needs Oxygen”
  • Rhizobium
  • Azotobacter
  • Glomus
  • Nostoc
  • Oscillatoria
✅ Final Summary Flash Points
Not all microbes are harmful
many are life-enriching.
Fermented foods, antibiotics, enzymes
= everyday gifts from microbes.
Microbes = eco-friendly sewage purifiers
and bioenergy producers.
Biological pest control and biofertilisers
= sustainable agriculture.
Microbes are the invisible pillars
of human welfare.
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