Factors that effect the growth

of microorganisms
 Factors

pH value

Temperat
Nutrients
ure

Light
Humidity
intensity
1.Temperature

Inactive/not Optimum for Destroyed

Killer
reproduce growth spore

●
Low ●
High ●
Between
temperature temperature ●
About 120˚c
35˚c – 45˚c
such as at o˚c >50˚c
3.Humidity

 Microorganisms need humid condition to

growing
 Water is required for hydrolysis reaction & for
cell expansion
 Relative humidity 25% - 40 % is the most
suitable condition for microbial activity
 When the relative humidity drops to 3% the
growth of microbial inhibited
 Most will die in dry condition
4. Nutrients
 All microorganisms need nutrients for reproduction &
growing (except viruses)
 Example : carbon provides energy for the growth
while nitrogen supplies amino acids for protein
synthesis
 Parasites (bacteria) absorb nutrients from their hosts
 Saprophytes – feeding on decaying organic matter
 Autotrophs (algae)- manufacture own food using
energy from the sun(photosynthesis) or inorganic
compound.
2.Light intensity

Microorganism prefer dark

environment
High intensity of ultraviolet rays can
kill microorganisms
BUT, algae and photosynthetic
bacteria need light for
photosynthesis
5.pH value

 Most bacteria prefer slightly alkaline

(pH≈7.4)
 Yeast and protozoa – acidic (pH<5)
 Extreme acidic and alkaline can destroy
the microorganisms.
 Most suitable pH is neutral (pH = 7)
USEFUL
MICROORGANISMS
Sesungguhnya dalam penciptaan langit dan bumi dan silih
bergantinya malam dan siang terdapat tanda-tanda bagi
ulul albab. Iaitu orang2 yang mengingati Allah sambil
berdiri ataupun duduk ataupun berbaring dan yang banyak
berfikir tentang penciptaan langit dan bumi lalu berkata
‘ wahai Tuhan kami kamu tidak menciptakan ini dengan
sia-sia. Maha suci Engkau maka peliharalah kami dari
seksa neraka’.

Ali imran ayat 190-191

Tanah menjadi ajaib kerana
microorganisma……..
 Ahli sains Norway – menemui sejenis kulat (fungi)
yg mampu mghasilkan ubat ‘cyclosporin’ yg
digunakan sbg rawatan slps pembedahan
pemindahan organ (anti-rejection drug)…

 Di sebuah ladang jagung-seorg pelajar dr universiti

Wisconsin menemui sejenis protein dari bakteria
(bacteria) yg mampu mengeluarkan ais (bacteria
ice- forming) . Pd hari ini digunakan bg
mengeluarkan ais di pusat-pusat ski…
 Indonesia – pakar sains menemui sejenis
bahan dari kuman (microbial melecule) dari
tanah yg mampu menukarkan kanji kepada
glukos.

 Padang golf, jepun-pakar sains menemui

sjenis ubat yg mampu merawat penyakit
parasit yg sering menyerang binatang
ternakan.
 Bacteria dr tanah- menghasilkan produk ivermectin. Ubat
yg mampu membunuh cacing yg menyerang manusia dan
haiwan dgn cara menghalang penyebaran maklumat dlm
sistem saraf cacing.

 Gen-gen dlm bakteria mampu mengeluarkan bahan anti-

kanser – kajian prof Jon Thorson

 3,222 antibiotik pada hari ini diperoleh dr kuman (penicillin,

strepmycin,eryhthromycin dll)

Sumber: Quran Saintifik,Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin

1. DECAYING
PROCESS

• MAKE SOIL MORE FERTILE – the

elements which released during
decay process ( carbon, sulphur,
nitrogen)

•The decomposers play important

role in the decay process by recycling
the elements to prevent the
accumulation of wastes of living
organisms on earth’s surface.
2.
Agriculture

• Nitrogen fixing bacteria – converting the

atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates –
absorbed by plants to produce plants protein

•Nitrifying bacteria – convert ammonium

compounds into nitrites – nitrates

•Use as biological control to kill pests

•Example : Australia- the population of wild

rabbits are controlled by using the
Myxomatosis virus
3. FOOD
DIGESTION

In animal
•The stomach of herbivores (cows, sheep) contain bacteria
– produce many useful enzymes.
Example : cellulase – breakdown cellulose into simple
sugar , so the herbivores can absorb the nutrients.
• In insect (ants) – have microorganisms in intestine that
produce enzymes to help digestion.
Example : termites-microorganism in their digestive
system to break down cellulose in wood, turning into
nutrients that can be absorb.
In human

• Human –have microorganism in stomach

which help to digest food

• The useful bacteria make vitamins such as

vitamin K and vitamin B

• Example : yoghurt
4. INDUSTRY

PETROCHEMICAL – Saprophytic bacteria – purify petroleum and metal

FOOD INDUSTRY- the fermentation of yeast produces carbon dioxide

which makes the dough to rise (making bread)
cheese and yoghourt- made by mixing bacteria with milk
 Soya sauce – fermentation of yeast+lactobacillus+soya
bean+wheat+water
Tea & tobacco – bacteria react with tea and tobacco leaves

 LEATHER PRODUCTS – The hard skin of an animal is separated from

its tissues by decomposing bacteria
Leather for clothing is softened using a protease from bacteria

 ALCOHOLIC DRINKS – Fermentation of sugar by yeast.

Ferment sugar in rice or barley to produce beer
Winemaking yeast is ferments the sugar in grapes
 5.
MEDICINE

Dead bacteria & viruses – used to produce

•

vaccine for diseases (chicken pox, measles)

•Insulin- produced by genetically engineered

bacteria is used to treat diabetes mellitus

•Antibiotics – produced by microorganisms

as a byproduct which they excrete and they
are used mainly in the treatment of bacterial
diseases.
Example : Penicillin is obtained from fungi
while streptomycin and tetracycline are
obtained from bacteria
Exercises - in test pad

 Name a medicine produced by a useful

microorganism. Describe how the medicine is
used to prevent or cure a disease.

 Name one type of food or drink that is prepared

using yeast. Why is yeast used to prepare the type
of food or drink?

 How do useful bacteria in human digestive

system benefit humans?