Microbiology is one of the most widely studied disciplines in Nigeria. It has been on the university curriculum for years, and students have been required to learn it. But, what is the use of learning such an important course if it cannot be put into practice?
If the federal government wants its citizens to study microbiology, it must pass rules protecting the profession and make the course a professional course.
The importance of this field extends beyond the detection and isolation of these microbes to understanding their role, benefits, and drawbacks to humans and the broader environment.
Applications of Microbiology
Microbiology has numerous applications and is quite important in our society. It is one of the most widely used scientific disciplines. Food microbiology, medical microbiology, industrial microbiology, soil microbiology, water and wastewater microbiology, microbial technology (biotechnology), metal extraction, and environmental microbiology, including the use of microorganisms as biosensors, are just a few of its notable applications. Other applications includes:
1. Microbial Education and Pathogens Detection
It provides us with information about various types of microorganisms, allowing us to comprehend their structure and functions, as well as their identifications and differentiations, classifications, nomenclatures (naming), nutritional requirements, isolation and purification; as plant and human pathogens; and to derive phylogenetic relationships (relationships based on developmental stages in the evolution of an organism).
2. Food Microbiology
In addition to edible fungi such as mushrooms, single cell proteins such as yeasts, bacteria, cyanobacteria, and fungi are utilized as human food or animal feed. Algal microorganisms such as Chlorella (green alga) and Spirulina (cyanobacterium) are grown in Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Israel, Thailand, and the United States. Microorganisms are used to produce cellulose or lignocellulose, which can be consumed directly or in the form of goods. Animal feed is also made from microbial products.
Microbiology also aids in the identification of microorganisms found in food. This aid scientists in discovering strategies to avoid food rotting and make food safe by gaining a deeper understanding of these bacteria. Scientists utilize beneficial microbes against pathogenic bacteria to prevent food contamination.
Microorganisms are utilized to make a wide variety of fermented foods, including leavened bread, sourdough bread, fermented milk products, and flavorings. Yogurt, cheese, and a variety of other fermented milk products are examples.
Microbiology has been very useful in the preservation of food by heat processing, pasteurization and appertization (commercially sterile food), calculating thermal death values, preventing spoilage of canned foods, aseptic packaging, irradiation, UV radiation, ionizing radiation, high pressure processing, i.e., pascalization, low temperature storage (chill storage and freezing), chemical preservatives, and irradiation, UV radiation, ionizing radiation, high pressure (organic acids, esters, nitrite, and Sulphur dioxide). Food microbiology teaches about bacterial and nonbacterial factors that cause food poisoning. The protozoa that cause food borne diseases are Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica.
3. Energy from microbial sources
Biogas produced by methanogenic microorganisms can be produced from a variety of substrates. Microbes such as Methanobacterium and Methanococcus can use carbon(iv)oxide as an electron acceptor and produce methane as a result. In Japan, a novel species of Methanobacterium, M. cadomensis strain 23, has been developed for faster methane production. Ethanol can also be used to make gasohol, which is made by blending 80% gasoline and 20% ethanol.
4. Cellulose and lignin degradation
Trichoderina reesei may degrade cellulose because it produces extracellular cellulase. Sporotrichum pulverulentum, the white rot fungus, is a cellulase-negative organism, however a mutant has been created that can aggressively destroy kraft and wood lignocellulase. It has been possible to produce biological pulp without any chemical treatment for delignification.
5. Mining and metal extraction
To breakdown pyrite (FeS2) and chalcopyrite, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and a combination of Leptospirillum ferroxidans and Thiobacillus organoparpus can be utilized (CuFeS2). Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Sulfolobus brierlevi are archaeal species that can oxidize Sulphur and iron for energy while using carbon from CO2 or other simple organic molecules. These archaebacterial species may also decompose pyrite and chalcopyrite.
6. Recombinant DNA and genetic recombination
Genetic recombination is the process of uniting DNA from diverse origins. Various microorganisms have produced a huge number of restriction enzymes/restriction endonucleases that may cut or cleave double stranded DNA leaving staggered ends.
7. Using DNA biotechnology to develop public health engineering programs
Production of interferon, an antiviral protein produced by specific animal cells in response to a viral infection, synthesis of human insulin, production of somatotropin, a human growth hormone, and a variety of other hormones and vaccines are examples of such programs. So far, vaccinations have been developed for cholera, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, viral hepatitis types A and B, influenza, mumps, measles (rubella) plague, poliomyelitis, rabies, rubella, typhoid, typhus, and yellow fever. Microbiologists are crucial in the treatment of illnesses. Many work in hospitals and laboratories as biomedical scientists, analyzing samples of bodily tissue, blood, and fluids to diagnose infections, assess therapies, and track disease epidemics.
8. Agriculture
Microbial nitrogen fixation system that uses symbiotic microorganisms in conjunction with lower or higher plants and asymbiotic or nonsymbiotic microorganisms (by nitrogen fixing microorganisms independently). Leghaemoglobin, a red pigment-containing protein found in legume root nodules, is involved in the nitrogen fixation process in nature. Nitrogenase is a crucial enzyme in the biological conversion of molecular nitrogen to ammonia.
Bottom Line
These are some of the privileges that other countries who have professionalized microbiology and practiced it in their country enjoy. Nigerians can benefit from these gains as well, provided our government supports, finances, and regulates microbiologists’ deals and operations.
Nigerians sought to other countries for help during the pandemic, while the government could support their microbiologist to research and begin producing vaccines. Nigeria’s federal government should support and professionalize microbiology so that microbiologists can create these vaccines and offer other services to Nigerians.
Microbiologists are treated with a lot of disrespect; they are undervalued and their importance goes unappreciated. They are involved in food biotechnology, which includes food production and preservation, in addition to vaccine manufacture. Their importance in the industry cannot be overstated, as they assist in the preservation of strains and the production of high-quality products.
The Nigerian government should do the right thing and professionalize this crucial training, as there would be numerous benefits.
Are you a Nigerian who loves your country? Promote this profession and join to help the federal government professionalize microbiology.
Microbiology is indeed needed to be professionalise because it’s a great course
The fact remains that for a country to actually experience and sustain the much needed growth and development in it’s human resources, the contributions of the health sector can never be overemphasized.