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List any five useful actions of microorganisms.

1.Lactobacillus/Döderlein's bacillus,Lactobacilli are known for their ability to utilize lactose and produce lactic acid, as a metabolic byproduct.

2.Bifidobacterium:  Bifidobacteria are present in the gastrointestinal tract of humans.

Benefit: Similar to lactobacilli these are also known for lactic acid products

3.Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Presence: E. coli is a part of the normal microflora of small and large intestines.

Benefit: E. coli helps in the breakdown of undigested monosaccharide sugars and thus aid digestion. These bacteria produce vitamin K and biotin which are essential for a variety of cellular processes.

4.Streptomyces:

Presence: They are widely found in soil, water, and decaying matter.

Benefit: Streptomyces spp. play an important role in soil ecology by bringing about the decomposition of organic matter present in soil.

5 .Rhizobia:

Presence: Rhizobia are present in soil or form a symbiotic association with the root nodules of leguminous plants.

Benefit: Rhizobium etli, Bradyrhizobium spp., Azorhizobium spp.., and many other species, are useful for fixing atmospheric nitrogen, including ammonia, thus making it available for plants.

6..Cyanobacteria/Cyanophyta

Characteristics: Gram-negative, rod-shaped

Presence: Cyanobacteria are mainly aquatic bacteria but are also found on bare rocks and in soil.

Benefit: Also known as blue-green algae and blue-green bacteria, they are a group of environmentally significant bacteria. They bring about nitrogen fixation in aquatic habitats.



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