With a microscope, you can see a world about the existence of which a person never thinks. Countless life forms, diverse and extraordinary, surround us everywhere. Microorganisms can be found everywhere: in the purest spring water, at the bottom of the deepest ocean, in hot springs, in polar ice. Among them, there are both extremely dangerous to humans, and absolutely harmless or even useful. Today we’ll talk about saprophytes.
Nutritional separation
In the microworld, all organisms are divided into auto- and heterotrophs. The former are able to independently create food for themselves. Others need finished products for life. Heterotrophs, in turn, are divided into parasites, symbionts and saprophytes. Consider briefly each of the species.
A parasite is an organism living at the expense of its host. He dwells within him or on its surface. It usually harms its owner, causing a variety of diseases.
Symbiotic bacteria is a creature living in symbiosis (community) with other organisms. Despite the fact that these bacteria live at the expense of their owner (rather, even a friend), they not only do not harm him, but, on the contrary, actively help him. These include organisms living in the intestines of animals. Eating food consumed by the owner, they produce nutrients and help digestion.
A saprophyte bacterium is an organism that feeds on dead and decaying organic matter. Most often, it injects its enzymes into rotting matter, after which it feeds on this solution.
Utility
Saprofit is a microorganism that processes dead cells of living creatures to feed itself. In the process, complex organic substances are converted into simple and inorganic compounds. Thus, this microscopic creature can be of great benefit.
So, microbes that live in the body and eat the products of vital activity and decay, cleanse the body of toxins, which has a beneficial effect on health and well-being. Lactic acid bacteria living in the intestine inhibit the growth of putrefactive organisms. Cellulose-degrading bacteria are able to break down fiber with their enzymes, making it easily digestible for the host.
Harm done
Saprofit is an organism that, under ordinary conditions, peacefully and imperceptibly coexists with another organism (usually the owner). It rarely brings tangible benefits, but does not cause much harm.
However, often under the influence of adverse conditions, this cohabitation can get out of control, and bacteria will cause disease. Do not also forget that saprophyte is a living organism that also secrete certain metabolic products. Here they are, as well as the remains of dead cells and can be dangerous to humans, causing various types of allergies.
These are they, the creatures of the microworld - saprophytes. Photos of them can be obtained only thanks to the invention of powerful microscopes. Otherwise, they would have gone unnoticed.