Context: The researchers at IIT-Bombay have identified two genera of bacteria, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, that have great potential in agriculture.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Applications of Bacteria.
Major Highlights
1. Bacteria can breakdown aromatic compounds:
- Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter groups of bacteria can break harmful aromatic (or ring-shaped) compounds that enter the soil through insecticides, herbicides and industrial effluents into useful nutrients for plants.
- Aromatic compounds like naphthalene, benzoate and phthalates are used to make cosmetics, textiles, food preservatives and pesticides.
- When these compounds enter the soil, they hinder seed germination, inhibit plant growth and bioaccumulate.
- In the process, the bacteria release nutrients useful to plants, such as, Phosphorus, Potassium, growth hormone indoleacetic acid etc.
- Significance: Two genera of bacteria can co-exist; which can be utilised to make biofertilizer-cum-biocontrol formulations.
2. Bacterial enzymes to degrade plasticizers:
- Recently, researchers from IIT Roorkee have successfully used an enzyme — esterase enzyme — produced by soil bacteria Sulfobacillus acidophilus to break down diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer into water and carbon-dioxide.
- Plasticizers are chemicals added to plastics and personal care products to enhance flexibility and shine, and are commonly found in items such as baby toys, shampoos, soaps, and food containers.
- Plasticizers can be absorbed through the skin and are carcinogenic in nature.
What are Bacteria?
- Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms.
- Bacteria inhabit the air, soil, water, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, and the deep biosphere of Earth's crust.
- Bacteria also live in mutualistic, commensal and parasitic relationships with plants and animals.
- Several species of bacteria are pathogenic and cause infectious diseases, including cholera, syphilis, anthrax, leprosy, tuberculosis, tetanus, bubonic plague etc.
- However, many types of bacteria can also be beneficial to humans.
Beneficial use cases of Bacteria:
| S. No. | Bacteria (species/class) | Uses |
| Rhizobium | Form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants and convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, promoting soil fertility. | |
| Mycorrhizal | Form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, aiding in nutrient uptake, especially phosphorus. | |
| Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) | Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms that can convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.Fourth generation biofuels envisage using genetically modified organisms like algae and cyanobacteria for biofuel production. | |
| Lactobacillus | Fermentation of various food products, including curd, cheese. Contribute to preservation of food and development of distinct flavours and textures.When consumed as probiotics, they contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome. | |
| E. Coli | Used as a host organism in genetic engineering to produce various proteins, enzymes, and other products, like insulin, growth hormones etc. | |
| Activated Sludge Bacteria | Anaerobic bacteria, such as Methanogens, are employed in anaerobic digestion processes. They break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) as a byproduct. | |
| Pseudomonas | Ability to break down a wide range of pollutants, including hydrocarbons and toxic chemicals. Used in bioremediation processes to clean up contaminated environments. | |
| Cellulolytic bacteria | Some bacteria are capable of breaking down cellulose (complex carbohydrates found in plant cell walls) which is fermented to produce bioethanol and other biofuels. | |
| Bacterial vectors as Gene Therapy Products | Bacteria can be modified to prevent them from causing infectious disease and then used as vectors (vehicles) to carry therapeutic genes into human tissues. |