🩺 Human Health and Disease (Pathogens, Immunity & Drugs)
| Category / Disease | Causative Agent / Source | Vector / Mode of Transmission / Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Typhoid | Salmonella typhi (Bacterium) | Contaminated food/water; sustained high fever; Widal test. |
| Pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae | Alveoli get filled with fluid; finger_nails turn gray to blue. |
| Common Cold | Rhinoviruses | Infects nose and respiratory passage, but not the lungs. |
| Malaria | Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae, P. falciparum | Female Anopheles mosquito vector; malignant malaria by P. falciparum. |
| Amoebiasis | Entamoeba histolytica (Protozoan) | Houseflies act as mechanical carriers; stools with excess mucus and blood. |
| Ascariasis | Ascaris lumbricoides (Roundworm) | Internal bleeding, muscular pain, blockage of intestinal passage. |
| Elephantiasis / Filariasis | Wuchereria bancrofti, W. malayi | Female Culex mosquito vector; chronic inflammation of lower limb lymph vessels. |
| Ringworms | Microsporum, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton | Dry, scaly lesions on skin, nails, and scalp; thrives in heat and moisture. |
| Active Immunity (Natural) | Recovering from an infection (e.g., Chickenpox) | Body produces its own antibodies; slow but long-lasting. |
| Passive Immunity (Artificial) | Colostrum (contains IgA), Anti-tetanus serum | Readily formed antibodies are directly injected for quick protection. |
| Opioids | Heroin (Smack) / Papaver somniferum (Poppy plant) | Obtained by acetylation of morphine; acts as a central nervous system depressant. |
| Cannabinoids | Cannabis sativa (Hemp plant) | Effects cardiovascular system; includes marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja. |
| Coca Alkaloid | Cocaine / Erythroxylum coca | Interferes with dopamine transport; potent stimulating action, causes hallucinations. |
🦠 Microbes in Human Welfare (Household, Industrial & Biocontrol)
| Product / Category | Microbial Source (Scientific Name) | Type of Organism | Key High-Yield Feature / Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curd Production | Lacto_bacillus (LAB) | Bacterium | Produces acids that coagulate milk proteins; increases Vitamin B12. |
| Toddy Drink | Fermented sap of palms | Wild Yeast | Traditional drink of Southern India. |
| Swiss Cheese | Propionibacterium sharmanii | Bacterium | Large holes due to production of a large amount of CO₂. |
| Roquefort Cheese | Ripe_ned by a specific fungus | Fungus (Penicillium roqueforti) | Gives the cheese a specific, sharp flavor. |
| First Antibiotic | Penicillium notatum | Fungus | Discovered by Alexander Fleming; details established by Chain and Florey. |
| Citric Acid | Aspergillus niger | Fungus | Industrial organic acid production. |
| Acetic Acid | Acetobacter aceti | Bacterium | Industrial production of vinegar. |
| Butyric Acid | Clostridium butylicum | Bacterium | Industrial organic acid production. |
| Lactic Acid | Lacto_bacillus | Bacterium | Industrial organic acid production. |
| Ethanol (Commercial) | Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer's Yeast) | Fungus | Used extensively in bread-making and alcohol fermentation. |
| Lipases | Microbial source | Enzymes | Used in detergent formulations to remove oily stains from laundry. |
| Pectinases & Proteases | Microbial source | Enzymes | Used to clarify bottled fruit juices sold in markets. |
| Streptokinase | Streptococcus | Bacterium | "Clot buster"; removes clots from blood vessels of myocardial infarction patients. |
| Cyclosporin A | Trichoderma polysporum | Fungus | Immunosuppressive agent given to organ-transplant patients. |
| Statins | Monascus purpureus | Yeast (Fungus) | Blood-cholesterol lowering agent; inhibits cholesterol synthesis enzymes. |
| Biocontrol (Butterfly Caterpillars) | Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) | Bacterium | Dried spores mixed with water and sprayed on vulnerable plants. |
| Biocontrol (Plant Pathogens) | Trichoderma species | Free-living Fungus | Present in the root ecosystems; very effective against root pathogens. |
| Biocontrol (Insects/Arthropods) | Baculoviruses (Nucleopolyhedrovirus) | Virus | Species-specific, narrow-spectrum insecticides with no side effects on non-targets. |
| Biofertilizers (Nitrogen Fixers) | Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum | Bacteria | Rhizobium is symbiotic (legumes); others are free-living in soil. |
| Biofertilizers (Phosphorus) | Glomus | Symbiotic Fungus | Forms Mycorrhiza; absorbs phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant. |
| Biofertilizers (Cyanobacteria) | Anabaena, Nostoc, Oscillatoria | Blue-green Algae | Fix atmospheric nitrogen; Anabaena is famously associated with Azolla in paddy fields. |