ACTIVITY 1 ROLE-OF-MICROORGANISM

Research and briefly state the role of microorganisms play in each of the following:

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PESTS

Certain microorganisms can cause disease in insects. Microorganisms can be specific for the pest
and not harm the surrounding environment.

RECYCLING OF ELEMENTS

- By degrading organic materials, microorganisms recycle nutrients in the environment. Organic

materials, such as animal corpses and tree trunks, decompose due to the work of decomposing
microorganisms, which are also in charge of removing industrial and domestic trash. Microbes utilize
nutrients and chemical compounds available in the environment to survive through a process known
as biodegradation. The nutrients released into the environment by the decomposition of these items
nourish plants and algae, which in turn feed all creatures.

NORMAL MICROBIOTA
The normal gut microbiota performs functions in the host's food metabolism, xenobiotic and drug
metabolism, gut mucosal barrier structural integrity, immunomodulation, and pathogen defense. A
variety of variables influence the normal gut microbiome.

SEWAGE TREATMENT

The role of microorganisms in wastewater treatment helps in the treatment and purification of
wastewater, making it less hazardous to the environment. Each of these bacteria contributes to the
treatment process in a different way, ensuring that there is little to no influence on the surrounding
environment.
Human insulin production

Explanation of human insulin manufacturing image

Insulin production is influenced by blood sugar levels as well as other hormones in the body. Insulin
generation and release in a healthy individual is a closely controlled process that allows the body to
balance its metabolic demands.

Vaccine production

microorganisms can be used to make vaccines.

Vaccines are produced from microorganisms that have died or become dormant, rendering them
incapable of causing illness. The antigen in the vaccine is the same as the antigen on the disease-
causing microbe's surface. The vaccination promotes the body's production of antibodies against the
vaccine's antigen.
Biofilms

Biofilms are frequently penetrated by channels that function as a circulatory system, allowing
bacteria to exchange water, nutrients, enzymes, and signals, eliminate potentially hazardous
metabolites, and exhibit improved metabolic cooperativity.
ACTIVITY 2
MICROSCOPE PARTS AND FUNCTIONS

Head – This is also known as the body; it carries the optical parts in the upper part of the
microscope.
Base – It acts as microscopes support. It also carries microscopic illuminators.
Arms – This is the part connecting the base and to the head and the eyepiece tube to the base of the
microscope. It gives support to the head of the microscope, and it is also used when carrying the
microscope. Some high-quality microscopes have an articulated arm with more than one joint
allowing more movement of the microscopic head for better viewing.
Eyepiece – also known as the ocular. this is the part used to look through the microscope. Its found
at the top of the microscope. Its standard magnification is 10x with an optional eyepiece having
magnifications from 5X – 30X.
Stage – This is the section on which the specimen is placed for viewing. They have stage clips that
hold the specimen slides in place. The most common stage is a mechanical stage, which allows the
control of the slides by moving the slides using the mechanical knobs on the stage instead of moving
it manually.
Microscopic illuminator – This is the microscopes light source, located at the base. It is used instead
of a mirror. it captures light from an external source of a low voltage of about 100v.
Condenser – These are lenses that are used to collect and focus light from the illuminator into the
specimen. They are found under the stage next to the diaphragm of the microscope. They play a
major role in ensuring clear sharp images are produced with a high magnification of 400X and above.
The higher the magnification of the condenser, the more the image clarity. More sophisticated
microscopes come with an Abbe condenser that has a high magnification of about 1000X.
Diaphragm – it’s also known as the iris. It’s found under the stage of the microscope and its primary
role is to control the amount of light that reaches the specimen. It’s an adjustable apparatus, hence
controlling the light intensity and the size of the beam of light that gets to the specimen. For high-
quality microscopes, the diaphragm comes attached with an Abbe condenser, and combined they
are able to control the light focus and light intensity that reaches the specimen.
Objective lenses – These are the major lenses used for specimen visualization. They have a
magnification power of 40x-100X. There are about 1- 4 objective lenses placed on one microscope,
in that some are rare facing and others face forward.  Each lens has its own magnification power.
Nose piece – also known as the revolving turret. It holds the objective lenses. It is movable hence it
call revolve the objective lenses depending on the magnification power of the lens.
Slide Holder- is an important component for observing specimens by holding your slides secure and
steady during observation. Simply place your slide in position, secure it with the spring retaining arm
and enjoy smooth, positive movement along the entire 57mm x 32 mm travel in the x-y axis.
Fine Focus- slow but precise control used to fine focus the image viewing at the higher
magnification. 
Course Focus- A rapid control which allows for quick focusing by moving the objective lens or stage
up and down. It is used for initial focusing.
Light Source- This is the microscopes light source, located at the base. It is used instead of a mirror.
it captures light from an external source of a low voltage of about 100v.
ACTIVITY 3 
Specific enzymes and indicate their functions.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)- is an enzyme that is present in many parts of the body, but it is
primarily found in the liver, bones, intestine, and kidneys. Alkaline phosphatase testing measures the
amount of this enzyme in the blood.
Gamma- Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)- is an enzyme that is found in many organs throughout the
body, with the highest concentrations found in the liver. GGT is elevated in the blood in most
diseases that cause damage to the liver or bile ducts. This test measures the level of GGT in a blood
sample.
Alanine Aminotransaminase (ALT)- is a transaminase enzyme that was formerly known as serum
glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT). Alanine aminotransferase catalyzes the transfer of an
amino group from alanine to alpha-ketoglutarate in the alanine cycle to form pyruvate and
glutamate.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)- is a transaminase enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of
aspartate and alpha-ketoglutarate to oxaloacetate and glutamate. ... The AST enzyme is found in
cerebrospinal fluid, exudates, and transudates in proportion to the amount of cellular damage.
Protease- (also called a peptidase or proteinase) is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases reaction rate
or "speeds up") proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino
acids. They do this by cleaving the peptide bonds within proteins by hydrolysis, a reaction where
water breaks bonds.
Epoxide Hydrolases- are enzymes that catalyze the conversion of epoxides to trans-dehydrations,
thus preventing or reducing their reaction with cellular macromolecules such as protein or DNA.
Three forms of epoxide hydrolases have been identified in the liver, two membrane-bound forms
and one in the cytosolic fraction.
Glutathione Transferases (GSTs)- are a family of Phase II detoxification enzymes that function to
protect cellular macromolecules from attack by reactive electrophiles. Specifically, GSTs catalyse the
conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic
compounds
Rhodanese- is a universal enzyme found in all living species, from bacteria to humans. It is a versatile
enzyme that is essential for cyanide detoxification. This enzyme is also found in a broad variety of
plants. The activity of rhodanese in a certain tissue reflects that tissue's capacity to detoxify cyanide.
Carboxylesterase (CE)- are members of the esterase family of enzymes, and as their name suggests,
they are responsible for the hydrolysis of carboxylesters into the corresponding alcohol and
carboxylic acid.
Glutathione reductase- is in charge of maintaining the supply of reduced glutathione, which is one
of the most prevalent reducing thiols in most cells. Glutathione, in its reduced form, serves critical
functions in the cellular regulation of reactive oxygen species.
Lipases- is an enzyme used by the body to break down fats in meals so that they may be absorbed in
the intestines. Amylase, which breaks down a specific starch into its sugar building blocks, and
protease, which breaks down protein into single amino acids, are two more pancreatic enzymes.
Amylase- The primary function of this enzyme is to hydrolyze the glycosidic linkages in starch
molecules, reducing complex carbohydrates to simple sugars. Amylase enzymes are classified into
three types: alpha-, beta-, and gamma-amylase. Each type acts on a distinct portion of the
carbohydrate molecule.
Maltase- Catalyzes the hydrolysis of the disaccharide maltose to the simple sugar glucose. During
digestion, pancreatic or salivary enzymes known as amylases partially convert starch into maltose;
maltase, produced by the gut, then transforms maltose to glucose.
Trypsin- is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of protein. Trypsin degrades proteins in the small
intestine, completing the digestive process that began in the stomach. It is also known as a
proteolytic enzyme or proteinase. The pancreas produces trypsin in an inactive state known as
trypsinogen.
Lactase- also called lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, enzyme found in the small intestine of mammals
that catalyzes the breakdown of lactose (milk sugar) into the simple sugar’s glucose and galactose. In
humans, lactase is particularly abundant during infancy.