In whichway have microbes played a major role in controlling diseases causedby harmful bacteria?
Severalmicro-organisms are used for preparing medicines. Antibiotics aremedicines produced by certain micro-organisms to kill otherdisease-causing micro-organisms. These medicines are commonlyobtained from bacteria and fungi. They either kill or stop the growthof disease-causing micro-organisms. Streptomycin, tetracycline, andpenicillin are common antibiotics. Penicillium notatumproduces chemical penicillin, which checks the growth ofstaphylococci bacteria in the body. Antibiotics are designedto destroy bacteria by weakening their cell walls. As a result ofthis weakening, certain immune cells such as the white blood cellsenter the bacterial cell and cause cell lysis. Cell lysis is theprocess of destroying cells such as blood cells and bacteria.