Every day a large number of microorganisms are concentrated around us, which we do not notice, because the size of the microbes is so small that they can only be examined under a microscope. Despite this, processes of nutrition, respiration, excretion, and reproduction characteristic of living organisms occur in their cells.
The most common types of microorganisms
All microorganisms can be divided into several species, which are grouped according to common signs in structure, lifestyle and nutrition:
- Bacteria. These are microorganisms that mainly have a unicellular body, the dimensions of which do not exceed several tens of microns. All bacteria are divided into three types: spherical, rod-shaped and crimped.
- Viruses. These microbes do not have a cellular structure, their body sizes are measured in nanometers, so viruses can only be seen with a powerful microscope. The body of the virus consists of protein and nucleic acid. Bacteriophages are bacteria viruses, microphages are fungal viruses.
- Mushrooms. These microorganisms do not use the photosynthesis process to convert inorganic substances into organic substances, so they need ready-made nutrition, which they receive from various substrates. Mushrooms can locate their colonies on plants, animals, humans, causing diseases.
- Yeast. The body of these microorganisms most often has a rounded shape, the structure in most cases is unicellular. Yeast is divided by budding, can be found in soil, on food, in industrial waste.
The physiology of microorganisms
Microorganisms, like other living organisms, also need nutrition and respiration. They grow, multiply, secrete decay products, and die over time. Features of the nutrition of microorganisms is the specifics of obtaining the necessary substances for growth and reproduction, associated with the structure of the microbe.
The physiological processes of microorganisms have some features:
- microbes can develop in an oxygen and oxygen-free environment;
- most germs can survive even in the harshest environmental conditions;
- microbes have the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions.
The respiration and nutrition of microorganisms are vital processes that ensure the growth and development of microbes.
How to eat?
The method of nutrition of a particular group of microorganisms depends on their structural features. The study of the life of microbes is the science of microbiology. Nutrition of microorganisms can occur in different ways. Some microbes use inorganic substances, water and oxygen to form organic substances for nutrition. Other microbes feed on ready-made organic substances that are in the environment.
There are several types of microbial nutrition mechanisms:
- Passive diffusion. Nutrients enter the cell due to differences in the concentration of substances on either side of the cytoplasmic membrane.
- Lightweight diffusion. This process occurs if the concentration of the substance outside the cell is higher than the concentration of the substance inside it. The transfer of substances involved in special proteins that bind a molecule of matter and transfer it to the cytoplasm.
- Active migration. Used at a very low concentration of substrate in the environment. It is carried out by all the same proteins, only in this case the transfer process is accompanied by the expenditure of energy.
- Translocation of radicals. This method of transport of substances is accompanied by the splitting of the molecule of the substance into components. The transfer is carried out by permease proteins.
Types of microorganisms by diet
For active growth and reproduction, microorganisms need constant nutrition. Depending on the type of nutrition of microorganisms, the following classification of groups of microbes can be distinguished:
- Autotrophs. Bacteria of this species produce organic matter from inorganic substances through the use of external resources. Aminoautotrophs use air nitrogen molecules, phototrophs use solar energy. Chemotrophs receive energy through the oxidation of organic substances.
- Heterotrophs. They do not produce organic matter on their own, but take ready-made food from the environment. Amino heterotrophs consume nitrogen from organic substances. Saprophytes receive organic matter from dead organisms, and parasites adapt to life on living organisms.
- Mixotrophs. These organisms are able to use different methods for producing organic substances.
Microorganism breath
In the process of breathing, redox reactions occur, as a result of which adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP) is formed, which accumulates chemical energy. Oxidizable substances can be alcohols, glucose, organic acids, fats.
By type of respiration, all microorganisms are divided into two groups:
- Aerobes. Microbes belonging to this group can exist only in the presence of molecular oxygen, which is used by them in oxidative reactions.
- Anaerobes. They can grow and multiply only in an oxygen-free environment, since the process of ATP formation occurs by substrate phosphorylation.
- Optional anaerobes. These microorganisms can use both methods of oxidizing complex organic substances; therefore, they can grow and multiply in both oxygen and oxygen-free environments.
- Microaerophiles. A favorable environment for such microbes is a medium with a reduced oxygen pressure.
- Capnophilic microorganisms. They actively grow and multiply with an increased content of carbon dioxide in the air.
Favorable conditions for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms
Active growth of microorganisms is possible only if they have the necessary nutrient medium. With the constant supply of the necessary substances, the cells will begin to actively divide, microbes will multiply, and increase the size of their colony.
The ambient temperature should not be lower than +6 degrees Celsius, the best conditions are a warm environment (+23 ... + 27 ° C). Bacteria with an aerobic type of respiration require a constant influx of molecular oxygen; anaerobes, on the contrary, are contraindicated.
Microorganism use
Some colonies of bacteria, fungi and yeast are used to organize treatment facilities. Bacteria are able to process stock waste in the course of their life, organizing an environmentally friendly way to get rid of a large amount of production waste.
The purification process is based on the ability of certain types of bacteria to adapt to the composition of the introduced effluents. Those groups of microorganisms grow and actively multiply for which a nutrient medium is suitable. There is an active splitting of complex substances to simpler ones.
Man is the source of nutrition for microorganisms
Not all microorganisms benefit humanity. Many of them adapt to life in the human body, having a parasitic effect, causing serious diseases.
Parasites are organisms that live inside of another living organism or on its surface, and feed on it. Parasites that enter the human body cause significant damage to his health. In some cases, death occurs.
Some bacteria, entering the digestive system, can disrupt the normal microflora of the digestive tract and lead to a complete disruption of the mechanism of processing and breakdown of nutrients. Viruses are causative agents of diseases that a person suffers very hard. Mushrooms are parasites that can place their colonies on the skin, nail plates, causing tissue destruction.
It will be easier for parasitic microorganisms to organize their life activity in the body of a weakened person whose immunity is not capable of combating pathogenic microflora.
Finally
In order to know how to use microorganisms or how to deal with them, you need to understand the principle of their physiological processes. If you create all the conditions for the emergence of an environment suitable for them, then microbes will actively feed and multiply. Microbes can be killed, but this process takes a fairly long time.