Micro

Organisms
Viruses,
Bacteria, Fungi

Microbes
are Roles

Non-cellular Cellular
consists of Classified as
Virus
Infects Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Made up of Consist of
Nucleic Acid Host Cells are Fungi
Which is either Bacteria
By taking over its
DNA or RNA are either have
are either
are
Surrounded by
Biochemical System Unicellular Mycellium
Multicellular
Protein coat To replicate have contains consisting of
have Parasitic
Viral material Unicellular hyphae
Cell Cytoplasm e.g. Cell protected by
Resulting in lysis of Saprophytic
membrane with Yeast membrane Chitinous
No
sometimes Cell
Membrane carry
surrounded by surrounded by wall
-bound out
have Cell wall organelles Cell wall
contains Extra-
Shapes thus cellular
Such as has Cytoplasm
digestion
No true with
spherical Rod-like Spiral-like nuclei Membrane
can
e.g. e.g. e.g. Can be classified by but bound
contains organelles Reproduce
Influenza Tobacco Bacteriophage Types Circular e.g. e.g. either
virus mosaic According to
DNA Penicillium True
virus
nuclei asexual Sexual
Shape O 2 requirement with
can via
Such as DNA via
yes no Reproduce gametes
helix
Aerobic Anaerobic by
Cocci Bacilli Spirrilli
with flagella
Prokaryotic budding spores
Spores Conjugation
Vibrio- fission
gamma

1
 Viruses

Viruses: Introduction
Pathogens in bacteria, plants & animals
Small, about 0.2 um
Only visible under electron microscope
(Max. magnification: x 250 000)

2
Viruses: Shape
Spherical:
Influenza virus
Rod-shaped:
Tobacco mosaic
virus
Tadpole-
shaped:
Bacteriophages

Viruses: Structure
Internal core: Nucleic acid (DNA/RNA)
Protein coat
Envelope

3
Viruses: Not cells
No protoplasm
Only reproduce inside host
cells
Cannot generate
energy/synthesize proteins
Inert outside of host cells
Behave like living organism
inside host cell

Viral Diseases
Influenza
Chicken pox
Dengue haemorrhagic
fever
Herpes
AIDS
SARS

4
Viral Diseases
Viruses can only be destroyed by
antibodies produced by our white blood
cells
Antibiotics, used to kill bacteria, are NOT
effective against viruses

Bacteria
5
Bacteria: Introduction
Living cells
Barely visible under light microscope
Larger than viruses, about 0.005 mm

Bacteria: Structure
Bacterium: Single-celled organism
Cell wall of peptidoglycan, proteins, fats,
carbohydrates
No chloroplasts
Glycogen granules
Lipid droplets
Slime capsule

6
Bacteria: Structure
No nuclear envelope
Single circular loop of DNA
Bacteria chromosome
contains genes
Plasmids in cytoplasm
Transfer genes btwn. species
Non-motile/Motile
Flagellum

Bacteria: Shapes
Cocci (S: coccus):
Spherical shaped
Bacilli (S: bacillus):
Rod shaped
Spirilla (S: spirillum):
Spiral shaped

7
Bacteria in the environment
Found in:
Air
Water (fresh &
salt)
Hot springs
Soil
Bodies of
animals (esp.
in the
intestines)

Bacteria: Nutrition
Saprophytic
Feeding on decaying organic matter
Parasitic
Feeding on living hosts
Causing diseases in plants & animals
Autotrophic
Making own food with sunlight &
inorganic compounds

8
Bacteria: Reproduction
Binary fission:
The bacterial cell
copies the DNA it
contains and
then splits in half
to form two new
cells

Bacteria: Respiration
Aerobic: Require oxygen for
respiration
Anaerobic: Surviving in the
absence of oxygen
Some can live in the presence or
absence of oxygen

9
Bacteria: Spore formation
Formation of spores
Adverse conditions
Thick wall
Resistant to cold and
heat
Suitable medium:
Grow and multiply

Fungi
10
Fungi: Introduction
Some live as saprophytes
Decaying organic matter
Some as parasites of plants &
animals
Can be:
Unicellular
Multicellular

Unicellular Fungi
Eg. Yeast
May
reproduce by
budding

11
Multicellular Fungi
Bread mould / rhizopus
Mushrooms
Penicillium (produces
antibiotic penicillin)

Bread mould
Consists of a mesh of fine, thread-like
hyphae (singular: hypha)
Collectively known as mycelium
Each hypha is non-septate
Without cross-walls
Many nuclei in the cytoplasm

12
Bread mould
Cell wall is composed of chitin
(complex carbohydrate)
Carbohydrate store: Glycogen

Mould: Reproduction
Reproduction: By spores
Minute
Resistant to adverse
conditions (eg. drought)
Dispersed by wind
Grow into mycelia when
they settle on suitable
medium

13
 Fungi: Nutrition
Digestion is extracellular
Hyphae secrete enzymes
(amylase, maltase, protease)
Digest organic food substances
outside their bodies
Digested food (glucose &
amino acids are absorbed
by diffusion into the hyphae
Such activities of fungi enable
them to play a role as
decomposers

Comparisons between Micro-organisms

Features Viruses Bacteria Fungi Protozoa

Cells No Yes (Unicellular) Yes (Unicellular - Yes (Unicellular)
yeasts
Multicellular –
moulds)
Diameter (um) 0.02-0.2 1-5 3-10 (yeasts) 15-25
Nucleic Acid Either DNA or RNA Both DNA & RNA Both DNA & RNA Both DNA & RNA
Nucleus None Prokaryotic (No nuclear Eukaryotic (Nuclear Eukaryotic
envelope, single envelope (Nuclear
circular present, linear envelope
chromosome made chromosomes present,
of DNA) made of DNA) linear
chromosomes
of DNA)
Organelles* Absent Absent Present Present
Outer Surface - Protein coat - Cell wall - Cell wall (made of - Cell membrane
(capsid) (made of peptidoglycan) chitin)
- Envelope - Cell membrane - Cell membrane
(may not be present)
Method of Dependent on host Binary fission Budding (yeast) Mitosis
Replication cell machinery Mitosis (moulds)

14
 Comparisons between Micro-organisms

Features Viruses Bacteria Fungi Protozoa

Diseases Influenza, chicken Pneumonia, cholera, Athlete’s foot, Malaria (caused
caused pox, dengue syphilis, leprosy, thrush, potato blight by Plasmodium),
haemorrhagic fever, tuberculosis, tetanus (in plants) sleeping sickness
herpes, AIDS ,
SARS
Usefulness Genetic engineering: In nature: As In nature: As
As vectors decomposers decomposers
Genetic engineering: Biotechnology:
As vectors, as well as to - Production of
produce human insulin cheese
Biotechnology: - Yeast:
Production of yoghurt Production of bread
and cheese, single-cell & alcohol
protein - Penicillium:
Sewage treatment Production of
penicillin (an
antibiotic)
- Fusarium:
Production of
mycoprotein (single-
cell protein)

Microbes Topic 4.2

in Decomposition

15
 Decomposition
Decomposers
play an
essential role
in the cycling
of nutrients in
nature

Decomposers
Fungi and certain bacteria
Carry out saprophytic nutrition
Feed on dead, decaying organisms & faeces

16
 Decomposers
Secrete enzymes onto their food source
Break down complex organic
compounds into simple, soluble or
gaseous inorganic compounds
Absorb only a small amount of energy
and nutrients for own use
Most of the energy is lost as heat

Decomposers
Remaining nutrients are released
into surrounding air, soil, and water
Gases: Carbon dioxide, hydrogen
sulphide, water vapour
Salts: Nitrates, sulphates, phosphates
and potassium ions
Reused by green plants
Photosynthesis
Synthetic processes
Eg. Protoplasm building

17
 Importance
Recycling of nutrients between
living organisms & environment.
Prevent the accumulation of remains
& wastes of living organisms on earth.

Sewage Treatment I
Sewage is decomposed by
saprophytic microorganisms
Passed through filters to remove
large objects

18
 Sewage Treatment II
Drained into large setting tanks
Bacteria present secrete enzymes
Digest the solid organic matter into
soluble, harmless substances
Carbon dioxide is produced

Sewage Treatment
The liquid that results from digestion
Filtered
Pathogens removed (treated with
chlorine)
Discharged into the rivers & seas

19
Sewage Treatment
The digested solid, called sludge
Removed from the tank
Dried
Used as fertilizers

Sewage Treatment

20
 T4.3 Biotechnology

Explain the role of yeast in the production

of bread and alcohol
Outline the role of bacteria in yoghurt and
cheese production
Describe the use of fermenters for large-
scale production of antibiotics and single
cell protein
Describe the role of the fungus
Penicillium in the production of penicillin.

Role of Yeast
Bread making: Yeast is added to the dough. Lack of
oxygen inside the dough causes the yeast to respire
anaerobically, fermenting the maltose to alcohol
and carbon dioxide.
Alcohol: Yeast is used in brewing, to convert the
sugar present food substances (barley, or grapes) into
alcohol and carbon dioxide during anaerobic
respiration (fermentation).
Grape juice is used in the making of wine.
The Japanese sake is produced from fermentation of
rice.
In spirit-based drinks, like whisky, the alcohol is
separated from the fermented liquors or mashes (e.g.
malt barely) by distillation.

21
 Role of bacteria
Yoghurt: Streptococcus is added to the milk to
remove oxygen, thereby creating an anaerobic
condition. In the absence of oxygen, the Lactobacillus
respires anaerobically to break down lactose (milk
sugar) to lactic acid. This acid causes the milk
protein, casein, to curdle (coagulate, semi-solid
state).
Cheese: Bacteria and Fungi
Lactobacillus is used to ferment milk sugar to lactic
acid. The acid curdles milk protein.
The curdled protein, together with the fats in the milk, is
removed and acted upon by a mixture bacteria and fungi,
which will partly digest them to fatty acids and amino acids.

Role of the fungus Penicillium

Penicillin is a byproduct excreted by the fungus
Penicillium. It is an antibiotic, used mainly in
the treatment of bacterial diseases.

Initially, when the nutrient level is high, there is rapid

growth of the fungus; but the penicillin production is low.
When nutrient level becomes low, growth rate slows down
and penicillin production increases.

Involves the use of giant fermenters

22
Industrial Biotechnology

Choice of microorganisms used in

Biotechnology
Fermenters: For large-scale, rapid production of
microorganisms and their products

Cooling system
Aeration system

2 types of operating systems

Batch operating system used in
penicillin production
Continuous operating system used
in SCP production

Single-cell Protein (SCP)

Proteins made from microorganisms such as

bacteria and yeast, are called single-cell proteins.
Advantage of SCP – high protein and fibre, low
fat, rich in vitamins.
Eg, Mycoprotein is a food made for human
consumption from the fungus called Fusarium.

In mycoprotein production, it is the fungal cells that are

harvested, and the protein contents within the cells are
extracted. In penicillin production, it is the excretory
product of the fungus Penicillium that is extracted from
the nutrient medium.

23
 Types Microbes
have roles in

Ecosystem Biotechnology
e.g.
Have processes such as

Parasitism Symbiosis Decomposition Food production Industrial process

E.g. e.g. by Involves use
Decomposers
Fermentation Makes use of Fermenters
Mycorrhizae Lichens Such as to produce

Bacteria Fungi Yoghurt Cheese Bread Alcohol

Whitespot Ringworm
in fish on man by by by
Which are involved in
Bacteria: Bacteria Fungus:
Nutrient Cycling Lactobacillus And Yeast
In which and Fungus
Complex organic substances Streptococcus
Are broken down to for
large-scale
Simple inorganic substances production of
Used in
Speeds up
Antibiotics Single celled proteins
Other synthetic e.g. Used in
Sewage Treatment Photosynthesis
processes
Streptomycin Penicillin Animal feed Human food
from from
Prevents e.g. e.g.
To
Prevents Bacteria Fungus
Maintain life Pruteen Mycoprotein
Waste accumulation Streptomyces Penicillium
processes from from
Bacteria fungus
Involves

24