MICROORGANISMS.

Microorganisms are living organisms that are minute and too small for the naked eyes
to see. They can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. Some microorganisms are harmful
(Pathogenic) while others are useful (beneficial). Microorganisms can be grouped as such:
Bacteria, Fungi, Protists, Viruses and Algae.
TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS
A. BACTERIA: are minute unicellular organisms which reproduce by binary fission. A
bacterium consists of a cell covered with or without a slimy capsule, a cell wall, dense
cytoplasmic granules and nuclear materials (DNA).
Classification of bacteria
Bacteria can be classified using two criteria:
1. Classification based on type of respiration:
Aerobic bacteria: require oxygen to respire.
Anaerobic bacteria: require no oxygen to respire.
Facultative bacteria: respire with or without oxygen.
2. Classification based on shapes:
A. Spherical bacteria known as cocci.
Streptococci: are arranged to form a chain e.g. Sore throat bacteria (Streptococcus viridens).
Staphylococci: are stuck together to form irregular bunches. E.g Staphylococcus epidermis (it
is found on normal human skin).
Diplococci: are struck together in pairs e.g. pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia
(Streptococcus pneumoniae)
B. Rod like bacteria known as Bacilli. e.g. Bacteria that cause typhoid fever. (Salmonella
typhi, Escherichia coli).
Spirilla: are twisted bacilli e.g Spirillum minor (found in rats).
C. Helix shaped bacteria known as Spirochaetae e.g. Treponema pallidium bacteria that
cause syphilis.
D. Comma shaped bacteria known as Vibrio.e.g. Vibrio cholera that cause cholera.

Diagram of a bacterium
 B. FUNGI: are non- photosynthesising plant- like organisms which are either saprophytes
or parasites. The saprophytic ones are beneficial in biodegradation while the parasitic ones
are harmful. Examples include Mucor, aspergillum, penicillum, ring worm, Tinea.
C. PROTOCTISTA: Is unicellular free living or parasitic plant like or animal like organism
which is mostly carried by vectors.
D. VIRUSES: are the tiniest group of microorganisms which have the following
characteristics:
i. Their nuclear materials are enclosed in a protein wall.
ii. They behave like living organisms when within another living cell.
iii. They are host specific and predominantly parasitic. Examples include: Human
Immunodeficiency virus, Cold virus and mumps virus, influenza virus, poliomyelitis
virus.
E. ALGAE: Most are small and unicellular. They contain chlorophyll; they are the main
primary producers in aquatic environment. They often form a thick green floating scum near
the shores of ponds. They exist in water bodies such as ponds, lakes e.t.c. and on land under
stones, damp soil, on plants and animals.

HARMUL MICROORGANISMS
Harmful microbes are referred to as pathogens. They cause contagious and infectious
diseases as they gain entry into the body through cuts, wounds, intake of contaminated food
and drink, inhalation and contact with vectors.

DISEASES CAUSATIVE MODE OF HOST MAJOR SYMPTOMS

ORGANISM TRANSMISSION
Cholerae (Bacterium) Taking Man Profuse diarrhoea and
Vibrio cholerae contaminated food vomiting.
and drink.

Tetanus Clostridium tetani Contamination of Man Muscles twitch, locked jaw,

wound with dirt aching limbs and painful
containing the breathing.
germs.
Typhoid Salmonella typhi Taking man Fever, severe frontal
contaminated food headache and muscular
and drink. pain.

Cerebrospinal Meningococcus Droplet infection Children and high fever, head ache, stiff
meningitis young adults neck, photophobia,
convulsion and coma.
Gonorrhoea Neisseria sexual intercourse man Discharge of pus from
gonorrhoea with infected genital organ, itching
person around genital and pain with
burning sensation during
urination.
Tuberculosis Mycobacterium By droplet Man and Intense persistent cough
tuberculosis infection, using cow with phlegm stained with
infected person’s blood
eating utensils.
Pneumonia Neisseria Airborne Man, pig, High fever, difficult
pneumonia birds and breathing and cough
cows
Syphilis Treponema Sexual intercourse Man Small painless sore appears
pallidum on the penis or vulva; mild
fever, skin rashes, mouth
ulcers and aching pains in
the lymph nodes
Acquired Human Sharing Man Depression of immunity,
Immunodeficiency Immunodeficiency contaminated excessive weight loss and
Syndrome Virus sharp objects, loss of appetite.
sexual intercourse
and infected blood
transfusion
Polio Polio myelitis Water Children High fever, headache,
stiffness of limbs due to
nervous disorder that result
from attack on muscles and
nerves
Hepatitis Hepatitis A & B Contaminated Man Yellowing of eyes, dark
water, intrinsic coloured urine
contact with
infected person
Measles Rubeola Virus Air and body Man, and High fever, skin rashes,
contact children headache, head cold, cough
and body pain
Rabies Rabies virus Bites from infected Dog High fever, hydrophobia.
cat, dogs, bats and
racoons.
Ring worm Microsporum canis Contact with man Red round patches on the
infected persons skin and scalp resulting in
and their clothing. hair loss.

Fungal food Aspergillus flavos Contaminated nuts Nuts and Vomiting, stomach pain
poisoning and grains grains

BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS
Beneficial microbes have various economic importance such as:
1. The bacteria in the human intestine assist in the digestion of foods.
2. Some bacteria occurring on the human skin help in the production of substances that
protect it.
3. Some bacteria in the human body aids the production of vitamin K.
4. Bacteria are used in sewage treatment and decomposition.
5. Bacteria are used in the food industries for the breaking down of cellulose and clearing of
fruit drinks.
6. The nitrifying bacteria help in nitrogen fixing in the soil.
7. Microbes are used in the pharmaceutical industries for the manufacture of antibiotics,
vitamin C, vitaminB12, artificial insulin and riboflavin.
8. Microbes such as yeast are used in the alcoholic fermentation of sugars in the breweries
and distillers. It is also used in the bakery for rising dough.
9. Microbes such as Saccharomyces, lactobacillus are used in diary industry for the
manufacture of cheese, yoghurt.
10. Acetobacter is used in the manufacture of vinegar.
11. Fusarium which is a fungus is used in the manufacture of mycoprotein (a rich source of
protein that tastes like meat).
CONTROL OF MICROORGANISMS
Methods of controlling pathogenic microbes
High salinity: High salt content destroys microbes that cause decay.
Dehydration: This process entails the removal of water from substances. The dehydration of
microbes stops their metabolic activities, therefore decreasing their population.
High temperature: some microbes are destroyed at very high temperature of about 150oC.
Hence, it is applied during the process of sterilisation and pasteurization.
Antibiotics: are compounds that are synthesized and excreted from specific microbes which
are selectively toxic to others.e.g., Penicillin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline.
Antiseptics: are used to destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses in the body.
E.g. Hydrogen peroxide, common salt, Naphthalene or camphor.
CULTURING MICROORGANISMS.
Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protists can be cultured using dead organic
substances while viruses require living substances to thrive.
Viruses can actually live on a bacterium and as it dwells within the bacterium, releasing its
DNA and instructing the bacterium to copy it enclosing by a viral coat, when all the viruses
are assembled the bacterium wall breaks open releasing viruses.

Diagram showing how virus infects the bacterium

As for bacteria and fungi, they are easily cultured although requiring three essential things:
water, food source and warm temperature. Some of them require oxygen which would be
the fourth essential provision.
Culturing bacteria in the laboratory
1. Sterilise all apparatus and materials to be used.
2. Prepare the agar and pour the molten mixture into a Petri dish.
3. Seal the Petri dish with masking tape so the lid doesn’t accidentally drop.
4. Collect a small quantity of the medium containing the bacteria to be cultured. e.g., pond
water.
5. Insert the inoculating needle or loop in hot flame to sterilise it, then put it into the medium
to pick up some of the bacteria to be cultured.
6. Make specific designs or marks on the agar using the infected needle or loop.
7. Cover and reseal the Petri dish.
8. The Petri dish is then placed in an incubator at an adequate temperature.

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