8 Useful and Harmful Microbes

Q.1. (A)
i. Malaria
Malaria is a protozoan disease, the rest are viral diseases.
ii. Broad spectrum antibiotics are useful against a wide variety of bacteria, whereas narrow
spectrum antibiotics act against specific pathogenic micro-organisms.
iii. Antibiotic : Penicillium :: Yoghurt : Lactobacilli
iv. Budding
v.
Group ‘A’ Group ‘B’
a. Ringworm 3. Fungi
b. Leprosy 1. Bacteria
(B)
i. (B) Rhizobium
ii. (B) rod−shaped
iii. (D) Yeast
Q.2. i. Lactobacilli, Rhizobium, Penicillium, Yeast
ii. Antibiotics that act against specific pathogenic micro-organisms are known as narrow
spectrum antibiotics, e.g.: Penicillin, Erythromycin, etc.
iii. a. Rhizobia live in the root nodules of leguminous plants and are capable of producing
nitrogenous compounds from atmospheric nitrogen.
b. Since rhizobia provides nitrogenous compounds to plants, it helps to reduce the use of
chemical fertilizers and thereby their adverse effects. Also it has reduced expenses on
fertilizers and thus, is beneficial to farmers.
Hence, rhizobium can be used as an effective biological fertilizer.
iv.
Through blood and semen of infected person Aids

Mosquito bite Malaria

Infection Droplets spread in air by infected person Pneumonia

Contaminated food and water Cholera

Contact with infected birds Bird flu

Q.3. i. a. Pathogens are harmful disease causing micro-organisms.

b. Using various research techniques these micro-organisms can be used for vaccine
preparation.
c. If these pathogens are released in air accidently, then they may spontaneously spread to
various places and can cause diseases even before the necessary vaccine is available.
Therefore, it is necessary to safely store the pathogens of a disease against which vaccines are
to be produced.
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Std. IX: Science and Technology

ii. a. Fermentation is a biochemical process in which carbohydrates are converted into
alcohol and carbon dioxide by the action of micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen.
b. Heat is generated in this process and carbon dioxide and other gases are released.
c. Fermentation is used in various processes such as yoghurt making, alcohol (ethanol)
production from grains such as maize, barley and fruits, bread making, production of acetic
acid, citric acid, lactic acid, vitamins, antibiotics, etc.
iii. a. The given diagram represents root nodules of soybean plant.
b. The mutually beneficial relationship illustrated in the given diagram of root nodule
formation is symbiosis.
c. Infection of root hair by beneficial bacteria like Rhizobia, help in the production and
supply of nitrogenous compounds (like nitrates, nitrites and amino acids) to plants in
exchange of energy in the form of carbohydrates.
Q.4. i. Vaccines are biological preparations used to develop an immune response in an individual
against a particular pathogen.
a. Vaccines are made using disease-causing viruses or bacteria.
b. First step in vaccine production is antigen generation (i.e. proteins responsible for
provoking immune response). Viruses are grown in primary cells (e.g. chicken eggs for
the influenza vaccine), bacteria is grown in bioreactors.
c. Antigens are then isolated from the cells and used to create the vaccine. In certain cases
live, weakened (which have lost their disease causing ability) or killed pathogens may
also be used as vaccines.
d. Later, vaccine is made by adding adjuvant, stabilizers and preservatives. Adjuvants
increase immune response generated against the antigen; stabilizers increase the
vaccine’s storage life; and preservatives allow for the use of multi-dose vials.
e. Vaccines are continually monitored for their safety.
ii. a. Clostridium are free-living in soil or present in the alimentary canal of humans and
other animals.
b. Lactobacilli are rod-shaped anaerobic micro-organisms useful to humans.
c. Penicillin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that can be used to treat bacterial infections
caused by Clostridia.
d. Clostridium produces endospores that are highly resistant to adverse conditions.
e. Clostridium cannot withstand normal oxygen levels of air and grows in anaerobic
conditions. Hence, Clostridium survives in the anaerobic conditions present in tins or
cans of foodstuff.

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