Question

What is the medicinal use of microbes?

Answer 1

Microbes:

1. Microbes are microscopic living organisms that can be found all over the world but are too small to be seen with the human eye.
2. Examples of microbes are: Archaea, protists, fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.
3. Microbes are the source of many medicines.
4. For example, the antibiotic capsules and tablets that a doctor prescribes for us when we are sick or infected are made from microbes.
5. Disease-causing microorganisms are stopped or killed by medicines made from fungus and bacteria.
6. Microbes are also used to combat a variety of plant diseases.

Medicinal uses of microbes:

1. Erythromycin, tetracycline, and streptomycin are some of the most commonly used antibiotics.
2. Antibiotics are given to poultry and livestock to prevent microbial infections.
3. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used as a nutritional supplement as it is rich in proteins and vitamins.
4. Statins that are used for lowering cholesterol, are obtained from Monascus purpeureus.
5. Cyclosporin A, used as an immunosuppressive agent, is obtained from Trichoderma polysporum.
6. Colstridia are used in cancer therapy to produce therapeutic proteins for tumors.
7. Claviceps purpurea produces a drug called ergot which is used in delivery to support childbirth.