<unk> s are useful in producing foods, treating waste water, creating biofuels and a wide range of chemicals and enzymes. They are invaluable in research as model organisms. They have been weaponised and sometimes used in warfare and bioterrorism. They are vital to agriculture through their roles in maintaining soil fertility and in decomposing organic matter. Food production<unk> s are used in a fermentation process to make yoghurt, cheese, curd, kefir, ayran, xynogala, and other types of food. Fermentation cultures provide flavour and aroma, and inhibit undesirable organisms. They are used to leaven bread, and to convert sugars to alcohol in wine and beer.<unk> s are used in brewing, wine making, baking, pickling and other food-making processes. Some industrial uses of<unk> s: + Product Contribution of<unk> s Cheese Growth of<unk> s contributes to ripening and flavor. The flavor and appearance of a particular cheese is due in large part to the<unk> s associated with it. Lactobacillus Bulgaricus is one of the microbes used in production of diary products Alcoholic beverages yeast is used to convert sugar, grape juice, or malt-treated grain into alcohol. other<unk> s may also be used; a mold converts starch into sugar to make the Japanese rice wine, sake. Acetobacter Aceti a kind of bacterium is used in production of Alcoholic beverages Vinegar Certain bacteria are used to convert alcohol into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its acid taste. Acetobacter Aceti is used on production of vinegar, which gives vinegar odor of alcohol and alcoholic taste Citric acid Certain fungi are used to make citric acid, a common ingredient of soft drinks and other foods. Vitamins<unk> s are used to make vitamins, including C, B2 , B12. Antibiotics With only a few exceptions,<unk> s are used to make antibiotics. Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, and Erythromycin Water treatment Wastewater treatment plants rely largely on<unk> s to oxidise organic matter. These depend for their ability to clean up water contaminated with organic material on<unk> s that can respire dissolved substances. Respiration may be aerobic, with a well-oxygenated filter bed such as a slow sand filter. Anaerobic digestion by methanogens generate useful methane gas as a by-product. Energy<unk> s are used in fermentation to produce ethanol, and in biogas reactors to produce methane. Scientists are researching the use of algae to produce liquid fuels, and bacteria to convert various forms of agricultural and urban waste into usable fuels. Chemicals, enzymes<unk> s are used to produce many commercial and industrial chemicals, enzymes and other bioactive molecules. Organic acids produced on a large industrial scale by microbial fermentation include acetic acid produced by acetic acid bacteria such as Acetobacter aceti, butyric acid made by the bacterium Clostridium butyricum, lactic acid made by Lactobacillus and other lactic acid bacteria, and citric acid produced by the mould fungus Aspergillus niger.<unk> s are used to prepare bioactive molecules such as Streptokinase from the bacterium Streptococcus, Cyclosporin A from the ascomycete fungus Tolypocladium inflatum, and statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus. Science A laboratory fermentation vessel<unk> s are essential tools in biotechnology, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. The yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are important model organisms in science, since they are simple eukaryotes that can be grown rapidly in large numbers and are easily manipulated. They are particularly valuable in genetics, genomics and proteomics.<unk> s can be harnessed for uses such as creating steroids and treating skin diseases. Scientists are also considering using<unk> s for living fuel cells, and as a solution for pollution. Warfare In the Middle Ages, as an early example of biological warfare, diseased corpses were thrown into castles during sieges using catapults or other siege engines. Individuals near the corpses were exposed to the pathogen and were likely to spread that pathogen to others. In modern times, bioterrorism has included the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack and the 1993 release of anthrax by Aum Shinrikyo in Tokyo. Soil Microbes can make nutrients and minerals in the soil available to plants, produce hormones that spur growth, stimulate the plant immune system and trigger or dampen stress responses. In general a more diverse set of soil microbes results in fewer plant diseases and higher yield.
Microorganism
Virus
Microgenia
Bacteria
Biomaterial
Biological agent
Pathogen
Chemical substance