Microorganisms

friend and foe

Microorganisms
A large number of living organisms can be seen around us, including
both plants and animals.We can see them with naked eyes. But there
is a still larger number of organisms around us and even inside our
body that we cannot see with naked eyes without a visual aid.These
organisms are called microorganisms.
In other words, the living organisms which cannot be seen with the
naked eyes and can only be observed through a microscope, are called
microorganisms or microbes.
The branch of science that deals with the study of microorganisms is
known as microbiology.
History
The study of microorganisms is called Microbiology (micro = small, bios = life,
logos = study). The microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae and
protozoans.
These microbes were seen for the first time in 1677 with the help of a simple type
of microscope developed by Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Common Features of Microbes
Most of them can reproduce independently. But others can grow only after
attaching themselves to other specific organisms that act as their hosts. 
They are very tough and can survive in extreme conditions of moisture and heat.
They have the property of forming a hard shell around themselves to survive till
favourable conditions reappear. 
Some microbes like bacteria are helpful to us also. But most of them cause diseases
like cold, fever, malaria, influenza and skin troubles. 
The microorganisms vary in size. The smaller ones are only a few microns (1 micron
= 10–6 m) and are microscopic. Their sizes range from 0.1 to 0.5 microns.
 There are some microbes like multicellular algae and multicellular fungi like
mushrooms which are visible to the naked eye, as their sizes range from a few
centimeters to meters. 
The microbes reproduce asexually and sexually.
Habitat of Micro-organisms
The place where the organisms are found is called habitat. Habitat is the
address of living organisms. Plants and animals have various habitats. 
Microorganisms are found everywhere i.e. in air, soil, water, hot springs, snow
food, sewage, wastes, etc. 
Microorganisms are able to bear the extremes of temperature and other
conditions. They are found everywhere from hot springs to snow of polar
region.
Some microorganism,dependent on other organisms, are called parasites, e.g.
Plasmodium (a parasite found in the blood of man and it causes malaria). 
Some microorganisms remain associated with other organisms and both of
them are mutually benefitted, are called symbionts.
Some microorganisms grow on dead decay matter, are called saprophytes
Who discover the first cell -
(A) Louise pasteur (B) Robert Hooke
(C) Alexander fleming (D) A.V. Leeuwanhoek
MAJOR GROUPS OF MICROORGANISMS
Virus
A virus is a small particle, composed of two types of substances, protein and nucleic
acid.
Credit for the discovery of viruses goes to the Russian botanist Ivanovsky (1892),
who found the cause of mosaic disease of tobacco.
Bacteriophages (viruses infecting bacteria) were discovered by Twort (1915) and
D’Herelle (1917).
Viruses are smaller than any known cell.
They are so small that they cannot be seen by a light microscope
Viruses show both living and non-living characters.
(i) Non-living characters of viruses are as follows : 
Cell wall, organelles, cytoplasm, etc. are absent.
 They cannot grow, metabolize food etc. when present freely in
environment. 
They cannot multiply on their own when present outside the host. 
They do not respire. 
They can be crystallized and stored for very long time period like other non-
living things. 
They require a living host cell to perform nearly every biological function
necessary for their survival.
(ii) The living characters of viruses are as follows:
 Like cells, they can mutate and change characteristics e.g., infective strength. 
They contain either DNA or RNA as genetic material. 
They respond to heat, chemical and radiations. 
They are transmitted from the diseased host to the healthy ones. 
They reproduce inside the host cell and produce copies of themselves. 
They show irritability (a character of only living organisms). 
Scientists regard viruses as a link between living and non-living.
They have been placed on the dividing line between the living and the non-
living.Because they can reproduce like living beings but only inside a living cell, not
on their own.
Viral diseases
Viruses reproduce only inside the cells of the host organism which may be a plant, an animal or
even a bacterium.
They cause several common ailments as well as serious diseases inside the host.
The viruses are highly specific.
They attack only one kind of host and only certain tissues. For example, common cold and cough
which is an ailment of human is not caught by rabbit.
Virus was discovered by -
(A) Twort
(B) D’Herelle
(C) Louise pasteur
(D) Ivanowasky

8._ Virus which infect bacteria is -

(A) Viroid
(B) Bactericide
(C) Bacteriophage
(D) Virucide
Bacteria
Bacteria is single celled (unicellular), organism.
They have cell wall thus are considered to be related more with plants than with animals.
They are included in the first Kingdom of living organisms i.e., Monera and are considered to be the
first living organisms that evolved on earth.
They are the simplest living organisms found on earth.
1. Size : Bacteria are very small organisms which are visible under the light microscope.
2. Shape : Bacteria occur in various shapes like - spherical, rod-like, spiral and comma shaped.
 Spherical bacteria are called cocci (singular coccus). 
Rod like bacteria are called bacilli (singular bacillus). 
Spiral shaped bacilli are called spirilla e.g.,
Comma (,) shaped bacteria like vibrio. 
The Blue green algae are also known as Cyanobacteria (prokaryotic) e.g. Nostoc, Anabaena,
Oscillatoria.These examples are of multicellular, filamentous and colonial forms.
 Structure
These are minute, microscopic, unicellular simple
microorganisms without any definite nucleus.
Chromatin material lie, scattered in cytoplasm
without any nuclear membrane. 
The organisms having such structures are called
prokaryotes. Study of bacteria is known as
bacteriology. 
There are many different types of bacteria. 
Many bacteria are surrounded by a capsule.
Beneath the capsule is a rigid cell wall which gives
shape to the cell. 
Many bacteria have filamentous appendages
called fimbriae or pili. 
Some bacteria have one, two or many flagella,
which may arise from one or both ends of the cell,
or may arise from all over the cell (peritrichous).
 Beneath the cell wall is a fine plasma membrane. Folded invaginations of the plasma
membrane, called mesosomes (function i.e. respiration similar to mitochondria), are present
in many bacteria. 
The nucleoid (primitive nucleus) is in the form of a highly folded DNA ring without a nuclear
envelope. 
The cytoplasm contains 70s ribosomes, an internal membrane system, storage granules and,
in photosynthetic bacteria, chromatophores.
(iv) Nutrition : Bacteria show either autotrophic or heterotrophic mode of nutrition
(v) Reproduction : Bacteria generally reproduce by asexual methods (Binary fission).In some
bacteria sexual reproduction also takes place.
Bacteria have nucleus
An organism which is very tough and can be found in diverse
habitat -
(A) Earthworm
(B) Honey bee
(C) Bacteria
(D) Alga

Bacillus anthracis was discovered by -

(A) Robert koch
(B) A.V. Leeuwanhoek
(C) Christain Gram
(D) Alexander flemming
Algae :
Algae are simple plants having no roots, stem and leaves.
Their plant body is called thallus.  Algae are eukaryotic, autotrophic non vascular
thallophytes. 
They are microscopic unicellular to large multicellular plants.
Word algae is derived from a Latin word (alga) means sea weeds.
Branch of botany which deals with the study of algae is called phycology or algology
(phycos-sea weeds, logos study or discuss) 
Algae occur in variety of habitats like fresh water, hot water streams, sea, on moist land (on
damp soil). 
Some alga live in symbiotic association with fungi called Lichens. Algae are also porous as
pond scum or silk. 
The algae are unicellular e.g. Chlamydomonas and multicellular Spirogyra.
Types of Algae
On the basis of the pigment they are divided into three catagories.
(A) Green algae : Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra.
(B) Brown algae : Sargassum, Fucus, kelp (
C) Red algae : Gelidium
(ii) Nutrition :
Algae are autotrophic.
They manufacture their own food by photosynthesis.
Some algae are also parasitic e.g.Cephaleuros which grows on tea, coffee etc.
(iii) Reproduction :
Algae show both sexual and asexual reproduction.
Spirogyra is unicellular algae
Which one of the following is an example of blue green
algae -
(A) Nostoc
(B) Oscillatoria
(C) Anabaena
(D) All of these
Fungi
Fungi (Singular : fungus) are non-green plants which lack chlorophyll and cannot synthesize
their own food.
Fungi may be unicellular or multicellular.
The outermost covering is cell wall which is made up of chitin.

(i) Types of Fungi : The fungi are mainly of four types :

(A) Yeast :
These are unicellular fungi that form colonies.
They are normally spherical, elliptical, ovoid
or cylindrical in shape., e.g. Candida,
Saccharomyces
(B) Mildews :
They are also unicellular fungi .Some of them are parasitic on plants such as potato, grape, wheat,
rose, etc.
(C) Moulds :
They are multicellular and form a network of branches known as hyphae on the substrate on
which they grow. e.g., moulds include Penicillium, Aspergillus etc.
(D) Mushrooms :
They are umbrella-shaped
structures which can be
seen on decaying wood and
grassy surfaces in the rainy
season.
Some mushrooms are used
as food by human beings
but some are poisonous
and even cause death e.g.,
Amanita. Agaricus is an
edible mushroom.
(ii) Nutrition :
Fungi are heterotrophic since they cannot prepare their own food like green plants.
Some of them, feed on dead and decomposed organic matter and are known as
saprophytes.
Some fungi are parasitic also.
(iii) Reproduction :
Fungi show both sexual as well as asexual reproduction
Example of an unicellular fungi -
(A) Yeast
(B) Penicillium
(C) Asperigillus
(D) Agaricus

Alcohol is produced with the help of

(a) sodium chloride
(b) yeast
(c) nitrogen
(d) carbon dioxide
Protozoa
These are single celled organisms called protozoa meaning literally ‘first animals’.
About 20,000 organisms, all single-celled or colonies of cells are found in this group.
They have animal characteristics but are not considered to be a real or true animals.
Protozoa mostly range in size from 2 to 200 microns.
Protozoa are usually found in ditches, ponds and on the surface of leaves of aquatic plants.
Examples are: amoeba, paramecium, euglenoids etc.

Amoeba :
The Amoeba is a protozoan that can change its shape.
It has an irregular or asymmetric body.
Under the microscope it looks like a mass of jelly and can easily be mistaken for a particle of non
living matter.
However, it moves, ingests food and grows. To move it sends out false feet or pseudopodia from
its body.
Amoeba is found in fresh water having a lot of vegetation, decaying matter and bacteria.
Amoeba
Paramecium
Euglena :
Euglena is unicellular flagellate protist which occurs in fresh water and damp soil.
The Euglena contains chlorophyll and can perform photosynthesis.
It is photosensitive.
It is mixotrophic, since it shows dual mode of nutrition (autotrophic as well as saprotrophic).

Paramecium
It is a slipper like organism.
Paramecium is free living which is found in fresh water ponds, pools etc. having decaying
matter.
It is abundant in water which has plenty of bacteria because bacteria is its chief food.
Euglena
(ii) Nutrition : 
The mode of nutrition in some is mixotrophic (e.g. Euglena) while others are heterotrophic (eg.
Amoeba, Paramecium etc.). 
Some of them live as parasites (e.g. Plasmodium) inside the body of animal and plants and cause
serious diseases.
Some live in the human blood stream, others in the gut or among the cell.
They can do a lot of harm to us.
(iii) Reproduction :
Protozoa reproduce both asexually and sexually. Asexual reproduction is generally by binary
fission (individual divides into two) or multiple fission (individual divides into many).
Protozoa are usually referred to as 'immortal' as they do not face death.
They keep on dividing and none of its part is wasted.
Harmful protozoans
Entamoeba
A parasitic protozoa which causes a number of diseases in human and other animals.
Sometimes, Entamoeba lives in the large intestine of humans and feeds on the lining and causes
bleeding and diarrhoea. This is called amoebic dysentery.

Plasmodium :
Malarial parasite which spreads through the bite of female Anopheles mosquito. It transfers the
malarial parasite (plasmodium) into the bloodstream of healthy persons. Mosquito net and
repellents should be used along with the spraying of insecticides to avoid malaria. Breeding of
mosquitoes should be controlled by not allowing water to collect in the surroundings.
Amoeba move using pseudopodia
FRIENDLY MICROORGANISM
Importance of Bacteria
Bacteria play a very important role in medicine, agriculture and several industries.

(i) In medicine :
(A) Antibiotics : Many well known antibiotics such as streptomycin, aureomycin, chloromycin
are obtained from bacteria.
(B) Vaccines : Bacteria are used in the preparation of serum and vaccines.

(ii) In agriculture
(A) Cleaning of environment : Bacteria act on dead bodies of animals and plants and convert
various complex organic compounds into simple inorganic substances. These simple
substance can easily mix with soil and increase the soil fertility. Thus, bacteria helps in
recycling of matter and cleaning the environment.(B) Vaccines : Bacteria are used in the
preparation of serum and vaccines.
(B) Nitrogen cycle :
Nitrogen is cycled naturally by living organisms through the 'nitrogen cycle. It is one of
the crucial natural processes to sustain living organisms.
When plants and animals die, bacteria and fungi present in the soil convert the
nitrogenous wastes into nitrogenous compounds to be used by plants again. Certain other
bacteria convert some part of them to nitrogen gas which goes back into the atmosphere.
As a result, the percentage of nitrogen in the atmosphere remains more or less constant.
Nitrogen constitutes 78% of our atmosphere. In living organisms, it is found in:
Proteins,
Nucleic Acids,
Chlorophyll, and
Vitamins.
It is important to note that microorganisms play an important role in each of these steps.

Atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by plants and animals. It gets fixed by
either lightning or natural nitrogen fixers.
 A step-by-step explanation of Nitrogen Cycle
1. Nitrogen Fixation: Atmospheric nitrogen is converted by lightning or certain bacteria like
Rhizobium, Azotobacter and blue-green algae (present in the soil) into compounds usable
by plants.
2. Nitrification: Ammonia conversion into nitrites by Nitrosomonas and further conversion
of nitrites into nitrates by Nitrobacter. Plants take up nitrogen in form of ammonia or
nitrates.
3. Assimilation: Roots of plants absorb these nitrogenous compounds from soils and plants
use them to synthesize proteins and other compounds. Animals feeding on plants get
these proteins and nitrogen compounds.
4. Ammonification: When plants and animals die, bacteria and fungi present in the soil
convert the nitrogenous wastes into compounds that can be used by plants again.
5. Denitrification: Nitrates can be converted into nitrogen gas which is released back into
the atmosphere by certain bacteria. Eg. Pseudomonas.
 Bacteria which convert Nitrite into Nitrate -
(A) Acetobacter
(B) Nitrobacter
(C) Nitrosomonas
(D) Psuedomonas

Organism which do not involves into biological nitrogen fixation -

(A) Azotobacter
(B) Clostridium
(C) Leguminosarum
(D) Nitrobacter
(iii) In industry :
Lactobacillus bacteria helps in the formation of milk products such as curd and cheese.
(iv) Other activities :
(A) The bacteria Escherichia coli found in the human intestine synthesizes vitamin Bcomplex.
(B) Certain bacteria living in the intestine of herbivorous animals like cows, buffaloes, etc.
produce enzymes which act upon cellulose and help in its digestion.
(C) They help in sewage disposal by putrefaction (incomplete decomposition) of dead organic
matter
(b) Importance of Fungi
Fungi play an important role in medicine, agriculture, industry and as food.
In medicine :
(A) Antibiotics : Many well known antibiotics are obtained from fungi. Penicillin is obtained
from the fungus Penicillium notatum.
In agriculture :
(A) Soil fertility : Fungi decompose the dead bodies of plants, animals and their waste
products.
(B) The breakdown products of decomposition then escape into the air and the soil.
(C) The soil then becomes enriched and fertile.
In industry :
(A) Brewery and bakery : The wine industry (brewery) and bread industry (bakery) are the two
most important industries which make use of the fungus Yeast. Both industries are based on
fermentation activity of Yeast as shown below. C6H12O6  2C2H5OH + 2CO2 + 26 kcal
(B) In bakery, CO2 causes the dough to rise and makes the bread, light and spongy.
(C) Fermentation: The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol by anaerobic respiration is
known as fermentation. Louis Pasteur discovered fermentation.
(D) As food : Yeast is also used in the preparation of idli and dosa from a mixture of powdered
rice and dal.

(c) Importance of Algae

Algae play an important role in medicine, agriculture, industry and as food
In medicine :
(A) Antibiotics : The green algae Chlorella yield an important antibiotic called Chlorellin.
In agriculture :
(A) As manure : Many of the sea weeds are directly added to agriculture fields as manure
because they are rich in nitrogen and potassium.
(B) Nitrogen fixation : Some blue-green algae like Nostoc and Anabaena are important in
the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in soils.
 In Industry : 
1. Agar and Algin are obtained from red and brown algae respectively. 
2. These are used in the preparation of medicines, food and cosmetics
As food and fodder :
A) Food : The red alga Porphyra is used directly as food in China and Japan. Dried Chondrus is
used in puddings and jellies in Ireland.
(B) The green algae Chlorella is very rich in protein and vitamins and is a potential source of
food for human consumption.
(C) Green algae are also used as food by fishes which are in turn consumed as food by human
beings.
(d) Importance of Protozoa
 Protozoa form an important link in aquatic food chains.
They feed on algae and are food for other protists and small animals, which in turn
become food for others. 
Protozoa decompose organic matter and thereby help in converting organic wastes
into simpler useful soil nutrients. 
Protozoa also exist in symbiotic association with other organisms. This association is
usually beneficial to both the organisms (e.g. Zoochlorela in Hydra). 
Some forms of protozoa help in the final degradation of waste and sewage.  Protozoa
are used as research material for various biological activities.
MEDICINAL USE OF MICRO-ORGANISMS
Antibiotics
Antibiotic are chemicals that kill or stop the growth of certain kinds of microbes. 
They help our body to fight against diseases.
The development of antibiotics began with the discovery of Penicillin by Sir Alexander
Flemming in 1928.
Flemming noticed that an agar plate inoculated with bacterium Staphylococcus aureus
had become contaminated with a mould.
He further noticed the presence of a clear zone in the agar plate in which breakdown
of the bacterial cells had occurred.
Detailed studies led to the isolation of an inhibitory substance from the mould. As the
mould was identified as Penicillium, Flemming called the antibiotic penicillin. Soon
other antibiotics were isolated. 
Some well known antibiotics are streptomycin, gramicidin and tetracycline.  The
antibiotics have been obtained from either bacteria or fungi. 
 These are the drugs specific for curing bacterial diseases.They either ceases the
formation of cell wall or interferes in their metabolic activities like production of
proteins. 
This kills or stops the growth of bacteria.

Vaccination :
A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a
particular disease. Edward Jenner was the first person who developed the technique of
vaccination (1798). Every organism has a variety of defence mechanisms against the
disease causing organisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.
History of Vaccines and Vaccination
Edward jenner, a doctor, during a dreadful small-pox epidemic in England, found that
small–pox seldom affected rural people who worked around cattle. 
Most of the farmers had suffered from cowpox and recovered. This led him to think
that an attack of cowpox had made these people immune to small – pox.
 He tested his vaccination theory on James Phipps, a healthy boy of about 8 year old.
Dr. Jenner made two cuts on James and inoculated matter from cowpox pustule into it.
James arm developed a pustule which healed. Then, after some days Dr. Jenner
inoculated James with material from a small – pox pustule. No sign of small-pox
appeared. Dr. Jenner’s vaccination experiment was successful. He used the term
vaccine for immunity producing preparation and vaccination for the process of
inoculation of the preparation into the body.
 Bacteria which helps in the formation of curd is -
(A) Mycobacterium aceti
(B) Lactobacillus
(C) Rhizobium
(D) All of the above
Ammonia is converted to nitrite by ..............group.
(A) Nitrobacter
(B) Azotobacter
(C) Nitrosomonas
(D) Clostridium
For which process do we use the term 'Nitrogen Fixation' ?
(A) Fixing air nitrogen
(B) Decay of dead matter by microbes
(C) Eating of plants by animals
(D) Nitrogen escaping into air from decaying matter
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF MICRO-ORGANISMS:
Common damages :
Food poisoning : Stomach upsets are often caused by consuming contaminated food.
Food poisoning mainly caused by clostridium botulinum which secrets botulin on fresh
food. These bacteria decompose foodstuffs and make them unfit for human
consumption. 
Microbes cause considerable damage to stored food grains in godowns.  They cause
considerable damage to historical buildings such as temples, museums and other
monuments.  The denitrifying bacteria reduces the fertility of the soil by converting
nitrates into free nitrogen.
Some microbes cause water pollution and aid in spreading communicable diseases. 
Extreme pollution by some algae can cause death of fishes and hence disturb the food
chain. 
Some microbes deteriorate the quality of textile, timber, books, paper, shoes, furniture
etc. 
They spoil the taste and flavour of fruit juice, milk products, meat, tea etc.  Some
microbes cause skin diseases and other allergies in man.
Diseases In Animal
Anthrax disease of human and cattle is caused by a bacterium. 
Foot and mouth disease of cattle is caused by virus. 
Ranikhet is the main disease of poultry which is caused by virus.

Diseases In Plant
 Who discovered the vaccine for small-pox ?
(A) Louis Pasteur
(B) Alexander Fleming
(C) Edward Jenner
(D) Charles Darwin

Cholera disease is due to -

(A) Protozoan
(B) Fungus
(C) Virus
(D) Bacterium
 Viruses are made of
(A) lipoprotein
(B) glycosides
(C) nucleoprotein
(D) lipids

The most important character which suggests that viruses are living is
that
(A) viruses multiply only in living host
(B) their crystals have a definite shape
(C) viruses grow in size
(D)viruses may be crystallized.
Which of the following is matched correctly in the table given below ?
Disease Transmission
I. AIDS Through sexual intercourse
II. Malaria Through body contact
III. Hepatitis A and B Through contaminated food

(A) I only
(B) I and II
(C) 1 and III
(D) II and III
MODE OF SPREAD OF DISEASES
Infectious diseases are called communicable diseases because they can spread from
affected persons to a healthy person. 
The means of communication or spread are different for different microbes. 
The disease causing micro-organisms are called pathogens (e.g. Bacteria, Virus,
Protozoa, Fungi etc.)

Direct transmission
The pathogens are transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person directly
without an intermediate agent. It occurs in the following ways :
(i) Contact with infected person : Diseases like chicken pox, small pox, ring worm are
spread by actual contact between infected person and a healthy person. Such diseases are
called contagious diseases. The sexual contact is one of the closest physical contacts two
people can have with each other. Diseases like syphilis, gonorrhoea (both caused by
bacteria) and AIDS (caused by virus) are transmitted by sexual contact from one partner
(infected) to the other (healthy).
 (ii) Contact with Soil : The infectious agent of tetanus can enter the human body from soil
through injuries.
(iii) Animal bites. The rabies virus is injected in the human body by the bite of rabied dog or
monkey.
(iv) Transplacental Transmission : The diseases like AIDS, German measles and Syphilis can
also be transmitted from infected mother to the foetus through placenta.
(v) Droplet infection : Pathogens spread by way of sneezing, coughing, spitting and talking
as in common cold, influenza, diphtheria, tuberculosis, pneumonia etc

Indirect transmission :
The pathogens of some diseases are carried through some intermediate agents. It occurs in
the following ways :
(i) Vectors : They are living organisms which spread their pathogens from an infected
person to a healthy person. Usually, a part of life cycle of the pathogen is passed in the
body of the vector. 
Some animals like housefly transfer the pathogen without taking them in their bodies.
They are called carriers.
 Housefly is carrier of cholera, dysentery, typhoid, diarrhoea, etc. 
Female mosquitoes of many species are vectors of several diseases. They require blood
meal in order to obtain nutrients for laying eggs. Female Anopheles spreads malaria
while Culex spreads filaria.
(ii) Through contaminated food & water : Cholera, hepatitis B, diarrhoea, ascariasis, etc. are
some diseases which are transmitted through contaminated food and water.
(iii) Air borne diseases : Infectious agents can get transferred from infected person to
healthy person through air, dust and droplets (emitted on sneezing, coughing or spitting),
e.g., common cold, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
(iv) Fomite borne : Articles coming in contact with patients are a source of infection, e.g.,
door handles, taps, garments, currency, utensils, crockery.
FOOD PRESERVATION
 The main causes of spoiling of food products are microorganisms like bacteria and
fungi.
Wherever they get proper conditions of food, moisture and temperature they start
growing.
We can preserve food materials by controlling temperature and moisture. 
Following are the methods of food preservation —

Low temperature storage

Food products can be preserved for a long time by ceasing the activities of
microorganisms when kept at low temperature. 
On small scale we can preserve food material in a freeze. Now cold storage depot are
available where one can store his agriculture products like fruits, vegetables, milk, fish,
meat, eggs, prepared food and fruit juice for long time. 
Microorganisms present in food products can’t be destroyed by low temperature but
their metabolic activities can be arrested so that they can’t act on food products.
At – 10º C to – 18º C temperature, fruits, eggs and meat can be stored for long time.
Canning
The food content are processed and sealed in a air tight container provide a shelf life
typically ranging from 1-5 years. 
Before canning food products heated at 15 pounds pressure for about 15 to 20 minutes
by vapour at 121º C. This can destroy bacteria as well as their spores. 
Food products packed at this stage remain fresh for long time.

Heat and cold treatment (Pasteurisation)

The method developed by scientist Louis Pasteur, is used to store milk and liquid food
products. 
Bacteria are destroyed by heating the substance at 62º C for 30 minutes or at 71.7º C for
15 seconds followed by cooling.

Dehydration :
Bacteria and fungi can’t be active in absence of moisture. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish
etc. are preserved by drying them in sun, air or heat. Yellowing of fruits can be a
avoided by dipping in 0.5 percent solution of potassium meta bi sulphide and then
drying .
Chemical Method (Use of preservatives) :
Many chemical substances help in preservation of food materials by arresting the
growth of microorganisms in them. Acetic acid, Benzoic acid, Sorbic acid, sodium
benzoate and sodium metabisulphite are used as preservatives.

Preservation by common salt :

Concentrated solutions of common salt can kill micro organisms, due to dehydration.
Meat and fish are covered with dry salt to check the growth of bacteria. e.g. Lemon
preserved in common salt.

Preservation by sugar
Concentrated solutions of sugar can kill micro organisms, due to dehydration. Sugar
reduces the moisture content which inhibits the growth of bacteria. Jams,
Jellies,squashes and sweet known as ‘Agre ka Petha’ Murabba etc. are preserved by
sugar.
Preservation by oil and vinegar :
Use of oil and vinegar prevents spoilage of pickle because bacteria can not live in this
environment

By radiation :
Preservation of food material by radiation is a new but cheaper methods. In this
method air tight packed food substances, are passed through a radiation beam.
Microorganisms present in food substances get destroyed due to radiations and new
microorganisms can’t enter due to packing.
Which of the following drug is an antipyretic?
(a) Insulin
(b) Alcohol
(c) Streptomycin
(d) Paracetamol

The status of algae in the aquatic food chain is

(a) consumers
(b) producers
(c) host
(d) small in size
Bacteria present in root nodules of pea
(a) Coli
(b) Plasmodium
(c) Rhizobium
(d) Penicillin

The microorganism which contains chlorophyll

(a) Virus
(b) Fungus
(c) Algae
(d) All
The disease caused by protozoa is
(a) tuberculosis
(b) polio
(c) typhoid
(d) malaria

Which cannot fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil?

(a) Rhizobium
(b) Clostridium
(c) Azotobacter
(d) Penicillin
Which of the following is not used as food
preservatives?
(a) Salt
(b) Sugar
(c) Vinegar
(d) Methane

In which technique the milk is preserved by the

dairy industry?
(a) Heating
(b) Pasteurization
(c) Fermentation
(d) Cooling
The correct match of type of Algae and its example is
Coloumn - I Coloumn - II
(i) Unicellular algae (A) Volvox
(ii) Filamentous algae (B) Sargassum
(iii) Colonial algae (C) Chlamydomonas
(iv)Multicellular algae (D) Spirogyra

(A) (i)-(B), (ii)-(A), (iii)-(D), (iv)-(C)

(B) (i)-(C), (ii)-(D), (iii)-(A), (iv)-(B)
(C) (i)-(D), (ii)-(C), (iii)-(B), (iv)-(A)
(D) (i)-(C), (ii)-(A), (iii)-(D), (iv)-(C)
Which of the following is a correctly matched pair of useful microorganisms
and their activities ?
Microorganism Activity
I. Yeast Ferments glucose to produce alcohol
II. Bacteria Decompose dead materials
III. Nitrogen-fixing Convert nitrogen bacteria into protein in plants

(A) I only
(B) I and II
(C) II and III
(D) I, II and III