Biological Roles of Microbes: Positive and Negative Impacts

Vocabulary flashcards covering the positive roles (bioremediation, normal flora, chemical cycles, biotechnology, symbiosis) and negative impacts (direct and indirect effects, infectious diseases) of microbes.

Chemical Cycles

Processes including the Oxygen, Carbon, and Nitrogen cycles where microbes play positive roles, such as plants absorbing $CO_2$ to release $O_2$ and bacteria cycling nitrogen compounds.

Nitrosomanus Bacteria

Bacteria that take in Ammonia ($NH_3$) expelled by fish and convert it into Nitrites.

Bio Remediation

The practice of spraying bacteria on oil spills to break down hydrocarbons.

Biotechnology

The genetic manipulation of bacteria, including gene therapy, to produce antibiotics, pesticides, and other useful products.

Normal Flora

Good microbes inside the body that aid in digestion and support the function of the immune system.

Symbiosis

Beneficial microbial relationships formed with organisms such as soybeans, algae/coral, and termites/protozoans.

Indirect Effects (Negative)

Negative microbial impacts that do not directly infect human tissue, including crop destruction by plant pathogens, algae blooms, and food spoilage caused by mold.

Algae Blooms

Rapid growth of algae that pulls oxygen out of water at night, resulting in fish drowning.

Direct Effects (Negative)

Negative impacts caused directly by microbes and toxins leading to infectious disease.

Emerging Infectious Disease

An infectious disease that is new to a population or existed minorly in the past and is now surging.

Resurgent Infectious Disease

An infectious disease that existed, went down, and then resurged recently.