Page 41 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

There are four kinds of microbes – bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi.

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. Some of them are

useful and some are harmful. The harmful bacteria cause diseases

like food poisoning, acne, typhoid, tuberculosis, pneumonia etc.

Bacteria Viruses are extremely small microorganisms.

They cause diseases like measles, mumps, dengue, common cold

and flu, etc.
Find It
Out What is COVID-19? How is it caused?
Viruses

Fungi are organisms that grow on dead and decaying

matter. Some fungi are useful, like yeast make the bread

soft. Some fungi cause diseases such as ringworm,
Fungi athlete’s foot, etc.

Protozoa are single-celled microorganisms. They are

bigger than bacteria and live in wet places. Some of
them live in plant and animal bodies. Amoeba causes
amoeba plasmodium
dysentery and Plasmodium causes malaria.

Think &
Answer Have you ever tasted mushrooms? What type of microbes are mushrooms? Name
some edible mushrooms that we eat.

Useful Microbes

Some bacteria change milk into curd.

Some microbes decompose the bodies of dead plants and animals.

Yeast is used in baking bread and cakes.

Some bacteria live in our intestines and help us to produce vitamin K in our body.

Some microbes produce antibiotics, which are used as medicines.

Amazing Probiotics are the third most popular dietary supplement in adults, after vitamins and
Facts minerals. They are living bacteria and yeasts that are good for the body, especially

the digestive tract.

40 40 | Arrow - EVS Plus-4