TOPIC: MICROORGANISMS

1. Microorganism is tiny living thing that cannot be seen by naked eyes, but can be seen by
microscopes.

Some of microbes are harmful, but some of them are useful too

- Classification:

There are 5 main groups for microbes:

a) Bacteria

b) Protozoa

c) Fungi

d) Algae

o Characteristics of various type of microorganisms

1. Bacteria

Second smallest living things can be seen by electron microscope

have the simplest structure,
have the largest number among the microorganisms

Some bacteria have chlorophyll, so they can make their own food by photosynthesis process. Some
of bacteria dont have chlorophyll.

2. Protozoa

Animals which are made up of only one cell.

Example: amoeba, paramecium and etc.
Protozoa live independently in any ponds, river, damp soils or in other organisms, and they
live in colonies
 3. Fungi

do not have chlorophyll. They include mushrooms, moulds and yeast.

Some of them are large (i.e mushroom), and some of them are tiny (i.e moulds and yeast)

Fungi live in damp dark habitats.

Example: Mucor grows on damp stale bread placed in the dark

4. Algae

Very simple plants which have chlorophyll.

Algae do not have root, stems or leaves
Some of them are large (i.e seaweed), and some of them are tiny
Algae live in fresh water, salt water, damp soil or on damp bark of trees.

USEFUL MICROORGANISMS

1. In the Digestion of Food

Some bacteria and protozoa help herbivores (e.g: rabbit, goat, cows and etc) and termites digest their
food

They produce an enzyme called cellulose to help herbivores and termites digest cellulose into glucose
enzyme
cellulose glucose
cellulase
2. In Decay

2.1 Formation of humus

Some of bacteria and fungi decompose organic matter into humus.

Eg. Of organic matter:_________________________________

2.2 Production of biogas and fertilizers

Some of bacteria decompose organic waste (e.g: waste from oil palm, paddy and coconut) and turn it
into methane gas

2.3 Disposal of oil spills

Some of bacteria break up oil spills and decompose it into less harmful substance.

3. In Medicine

3.1 Antibiotics

Antibiotics can only kill bacteria

3.2 Vaccines
 Vaccines are prepared from dead or very weak bacteria and viruses. It used to stimulate the body to
produce antibodies.

Vaccination refers to an injection containing certain vaccines that can prevent a person being infected to
a certain disease. Example: BCG injection for dry cough disease.

4. In Industry

4.1 Making breads and cakes

Yeast is used in the making breads and cakes. It is mixed with flour, sugar and water; and made into
dough

Yeast will reacts with sugar to produce alcohol (ethanol), carbon dioxide and energy. By the way, this
process is known as fermentation.
enzyme
yeast + sugar _______________+ _________+ _______

_______________ released makes the dough rise, so that breads and cakes become very soft.

4.2 Production of vinegar, and yoghurt

Vinegar is prepared by using bacteria

____________is prepared by the action of bacteria on milk. Bacteria will react with lactose in milk and
turns it into lactic acid.
bacteria
lactose lactic acid

FACTOR WHICH AFFECTS TO THE GROWTH OF MICROORGANISM

1. Humidity

Microorganisms need moisture or water to live, and they will die if they do not get water for a period of
time.

2. Light

Most of virus, fungi and protozoa and some of bacteria prefer dim or dark habitat, while algae and few
of bacteria tend to live in bright place since they have chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis process.

3. Temperature

Most suitable temperature for the microorganisms growth and live is about 37C (humans body
temperature).

High temperature will kill microorganisms, while low temperature makes them inactive.
 Exercise:

1. List all factors affect to the growth of microorganism

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
2. Tell the range of air humidity which most of microorganisms are very active.
___________________________________________
3. What is true about microorganisms?
A. High temperature will kill microorganisms but low temperature will make them inactive
B. All microorganism grows faster in dry conditions
C. All microorganism cannot produce their own nutrients
D. All microorganism can be seen under light microscope

5. In which bacteria cultures in petri dishes A, B, C or D is the highest density of the bacteria colony?

Petri dish pH Light Moisture

A 3 Bright Moist
B 7 Bright Dry
C 7 Dark Moist
D 10 Dark Dry

HARMFUL EFFECT BY MICROORGANISMS

- Microorganisms which can cause disease called pathogens. They can be either bacteria or viruses or fungi
or protozoa.

1. Diseases Caused by Bacteria

METHOD OF
DISEASE SYMPTOM TREATMENT/PREVENTION
INFECTION
1.Tuberculosis 1. 1. Patient loss 1. Can be treated by using antibiotics
(TB) weight and appetite 2. Can be prevented through
for food immunization by BCG vaccine
2. 2. Patient coughs
often, and in
advanced he coughs
out of blood.
2. Cholera 1. 1. Patient has severe 1. Patient given saline drip and
diarrhea and vomits antibiotic
2. Patient feels 2. How to prevent from being infected?
giddy and pain in i - Get vaccine
abdomen ii - Boil all drinking water
3. His body iii - Cover all food
becomes iv - Increase the chlorine content in
dehydrated. water supply
3. Tooth decay 1. Through foods 1. Patient feels pain 1. Can be prevented by:
waste on the teeths for infected teeth I - Having a diet low in sugars
surface. since teeths pulp is ii - Wash your mouth and brush your
badly inflamed teeth after eating.
Table 9.4 A (Diseases Caused by Bacteria)
2. Diseases Caused by Viruses

METHOD OF
DISEASE SYMPTOM TREATMENT/PREVENTION
INFECTION
1.Common cold 1. 1. Patient gets 1. NO PROPER TREATMENT
(Selsema) cough, fever, 2. Can be prevented by:
running nose and i - having proper diet
red or watery eyes ii - have fresh and clean air
2. Patient has a sore iii- keep away from the crowd
throat
3. Patient becomes
weak
2. Dengue fever 1. 1. Patient has high 1. NO PROPER TREATMENT
fever. 2. How to prevent from being infected?
2. Bleeding in nose i - Keep our living place clean
and gums ii - Destroy Aedes mosquitos habitat
3. Pain in the bones, iii - Fogging
joints, muscles and
eyes
4. Blue marks
appear on the body
3. AIDS 1. Through 3 ways: 1. Patient has fever 1. NO PROPER TREATMENT
(Acquired i -Sexual and diarrhea, and 2. Can be prevented by having healthy
Immune intercourse coughs very often. clean life.
Deficiency ii - Sharing of 2. Patient has loss
Sydrome) syringes during appetite for food
drug addicts and weight.
iii- Infected
pregnant woman to
her baby.
Table 9.4 B (Diseases Caused by Viruses)
3. Diseases Caused by Fungi

METHOD OF
DISEASE SYMPTOM TREATMENT/PREVENTION
INFECTION
1.Tinea 1. Through spore of 1. Whitish patches 1. Can be treated by suitable anti-fungal
the fungus appears on the drugs
infected skin 2. Can be prevented by:
(usually face or i - keep the body clean and dry
back of the body) ii - avoid direct contact with infected
person .
iii - do not share towel or comb
2. Ringworm 1. Through spore of 1. A reddish area 1. Can be treated by suitable anti-fungal
the fungus appears on the drugs
infected skin 2. Can be prevented by:
2. Infected skin i - keep the body clean and dry
becomes itchy ii - avoid direct contact with infected
person .
iii - do not share towel or comb
Table 9.4 C (Diseases Caused by Fungi)

4. Diseases Caused by Protozoa

METHOD OF
DISEASE SYMPTOM TREATMENT/PREVENTION
INFECTION
1.Malaria 1. Through 1. Patient has high 1. Can be treated by suitable drugs such
Anopheles temperature at as plasmoquine, quinine, or
mosquito (inject intervals chloroquine
parasitic protozoon 2. After fever, 2. Can be prevented by:
plasmodium into patient feels very i - fogging
blood) cold and shivers. ii - Keep our living place clean
3. Rapid pulse rate

Table 9.4 D (Diseases Caused by Protozoa)