Microbes in Human Welfare

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Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by some microbes that can kill or slow down the growth of other microbes. A major example is penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered.

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Alexander Fleming observed a mould growing on a culture plate of Staphylococci, and the bacteria could not grow around it. The mould was Penicillium notatum, which produced penicillin. Later, Ernest C…

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Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered and it was a chance discovery. It became one of the most useful medicines for treating bacterial infections and was extensively used during World War II.

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Lactobacillus belongs to lactic acid bacteria. It grows in milk, produces acids, and converts milk into curd by coagulating and partially digesting milk proteins. Curd formation also improves nutritio…

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Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with a mixture of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus at 40°C.

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Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also called baker's yeast, ferments sugar in bread dough and releases carbon dioxide. The gas makes the dough rise and gives bread its soft, porous texture.

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Propionibacterium shermanii produces a large amount of carbon dioxide. This gas forms the characteristic large holes in Swiss cheese. It is also used in direct fermentation production of vitamin B12.

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Roquefort cheese is produced using Penicillium roqueforti, while Camembert cheese is produced using P. camemberti. Both are ripened cheeses, but they use different fungal species.