E-Portfolio Microbiology II Week 2

Hello and assalamualaikum everybody!

This would be my first entry for this semester for for subject BMY3102, Microbiology II. This semester we will have three lecturers who will be teaching us which are Dr Wan Zuhainis herself, Dr Suriana and Dr Asilah. We started this week with Dr Wan where we learned about Microbial Systematic of Fungi, Algae and Protozoa

Basically, this topic is about the morphological structures, the nutrition, reproduction and the main classification of these microorganisms. 

Fungi 

The Kingdom Fungi includes some of the most important organisms, both in terms of their ecological and economic roles. By breaking down dead organic material, they continue the cycle of nutrients through ecosystems. In addition, most vascular plants could not grow without the symbiotic fungi, or mycorrhizae, that inhabit their roots and supply essential nutrients. Other fungi provide numerous drugs (such as penicillin and other antibiotics), foods like mushrooms, truffles and morels, and the bubbles in bread, champagne, and beer.

Algae

Most algae live in fresh or sea water where they can either be free-floating (planktonic) or attached to the bottom. Some algae can grow on rocks, soil or vegetation as long as there is enough moisture. A few algae form very close partnerships with fungi to form lichens. All algae contain a pigment called chlorophyll a (other types of chlorophyll such as b, c and / or d may also be present) and they make their own food by photosynthesis. The chlorophyll is contained in the chloroplasts and gives many algae their green appearance. However some algae appear brown, yellow or red because in addition to chlorophylls they have other accessory pigments that camouflage the green colour.

Protozoa

Protozoa are single celled organisms. They come in many different shapes and sizes ranging from an Amoeba which can change its shape to Paramecium with its fixed shape and complex structure. They live in a wide variety of moist habitats including fresh water, marine environments and the soil.

Some are parasitic, which means they live in other plants and animals including humans, where they cause disease. Plasmodium, for example, causes malaria. They are motile and can move by:

• Cilia - tiny hair like structures that cover the outside of the microbe. They beat in a regular continuous pattern like flexible oars.

• Flagella - long thread-like structures that extend from the cell surface. The flagella move in a whip-like motion that produces waves that propel the microbe around.

• Amoeboid movement - the organism moves by sending out pseudopodia, temporary protrusions that fill with cytoplasm that flows from the body of the cell.