Microorganisms and Diseases Biological & Biomedical Sciences Essay

Microorganisms and Diseases
Your Name
Department, University
Course number: Course name, Section
Professor’s Name
Date
1. Importance of Bacteria
Bacteria is all around us. They play important roles in the environment, including the water, terrestrial, and atmosphere. Most of their contribution to the ecosystem lies in their part of the global food web that makes the cycle of nutrients possible. Bacteria provide invisible structural support for all life on our planet. Although bacteria show many benefits, they are also the cause of many human diseases, so, studying bacteria is necessary to create better cures. Overall, the study of bacteria and other microorganisms promote human welfare and development. Their important benefits include (1) environmental benefits, (2) health benefits, (3) medicinal benefits, (4) food benefits, and (5) biotechnology benefits. In the environmental benefits, bacteria recycle natural wastes into a form that could easily be absorbed back to the food web. Bacteria can aid the plants in absorbing more nutrients from the soil. They are also involved in nitrogen fixation, which is necessary for the growth of plants (Flournoy, 2018). In the health benefits, some microorganisms are good for human health in protecting us from foreign materials and in boosting the immune system. There are also studies that microorganisms have the potential to protect humans against cancerous cells (May, 2012). In medicinal benefits, bacteria can be used to develop drugs and vaccines to combat human diseases. Most modern medicine in the market is developed using bacteria to prevent the spread of deadly diseases (Flournoy, 2018). In the food industry, most human food products are produced using bacteria. The most famous of which is the fermentation of yeast to produce bread, cheese, and beer (Adnan, 2010). Lastly, in biotechnology, humans developed human biochemicals using microorganisms, including insulin and hormones. Biotechnology also developed genetically modified organisms in plants using bacteria to increase production and profit (Adnan, 2010).
2. Antibiotics to target peptidoglycan or ribosome function
The most important aspect of developing antibiotics is making sure that it will specifically target the bacteria rather than other healthy cells and tissues in the body. In making antibiotics, pharmaceutical companies make sure that selective toxicity is possible. Selective toxicity is the way that a drug specifically kills or inhibits the growth of the microbes without harming the host's body (Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs, n.d.).
In gram-positive bacteria, their cell walls have a unique substance called the peptidoglycan. The peptidoglycan is a polymer that acts as the main structural support of the cell wall (Inhibiting Cell Wall Synthesis, 2020). Since animal cells do not have cell walls, the antibiotics can be engineered to only target those bacteria that have peptidoglycan cell walls. Additionally, if the peptidoglycan synthesis is disrupted, bacteria will lose its structure and will rupture from the osmotic difference in the human body (Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs, n.d.). One example of an antibiotic that targets the peptidoglycan is penicillin.
However, if the bacteria do ...