Who are saprophages? What organisms are they?

Bacteria are present everywhere: in water, air, soil, in mountainous areas and even hot geysers. They can choose plants, animals and even humans as their habitat. Bacteria have a very small size and various shapes, due to which they can penetrate even the most inaccessible places and are resistant to temperatures and other unfavorable living conditions. According to the method of nutrition, they are autotrophic and heterotrophic. The latter, in turn, are divided into saporotrophs (saprophytes) and symbionts. Let's take a closer look at saprophyte bacteria.

Protozoa

Protozoa are human endoparasites, consisting of a single cell.
Of the wide variety of protozoan species, a minority of them live in the natural environment, while the rest lead a parasitic lifestyle and move with the help of flagella. A form of protection from unfavorable external factors is transformation into cysts. The most famous parasites of this class:

• Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can cause a functional disorder of the small intestine, but in the vast majority of cases, giardiasis occurs as an asymptomatic parasite carrier. The source of invasion is a sick person, household items, toys, dishes, food; The general condition of giardiasis suffers little. Symptoms: fever, loose stools, headache, intoxication, abdominal pain (ARVI, poisoning), then - pallor, blueness around the eyes, nose, dry skin, bowel movements, rashes, allergies, moodiness, disruption of the nervous system - slowdown or hyperactivity, night sweats.
• Intestinal Trichomonas - parasitizes the large intestine almost asymptomatically; Urogenital Trichomonas is transmitted sexually and parasitizes the human genitourinary system, causing inflammatory processes.
• Amoeba dysentery - parasitizes the human large intestine, manifests itself in the form of ulcerative colitis with a protracted course and relapses. Symptoms: abdominal pain, diarrhea mixed with blood in the stool, alternating with constipation. With a long course, amebiasis can be complicated by intestinal bleeding, peritonitis due to perforation of the intestinal wall, abscess in the liver, and anemia.
• Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite. Distributes throughout the body through the bloodstream and manifests itself in various clinical forms; An asymptomatic course of toxoplasmosis is also possible. In severe cases, enlarged lymph nodes are observed. The parasite is capable of infecting the central nervous system, eyes, skeletal muscles, and heart.
• Malaria is a protozoal disease characterized by febrile attacks and the development of anemia. The causative agent (malarial plasmodium) is transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite and infects red blood cells.
• Chlamydia is a small sexually transmitted bacteria that also parasitizes inside cells, affecting the mucous membranes primarily of the human genitourinary system. They have characteristics of both bacteria and viruses. Under unfavorable conditions for reproduction in the human body, chlamydia can transform into a passive “sleeping” form of existence - long-term intracellular parasitism without conflicts with the human immune system.

Saprotrophs: examples and nutritional features of fungi

Saprotrophic fungi exist where there is a favorable environment for them: in fallen dry leaves, animal remains, rotten stumps, straw, cones and decaying wood. They contribute to their mineralization and decomposition, resulting in the formation of humus necessary for higher plants.

Functions and Features

Saprotrophs differ from parasitic fungi in that they have a different structure. The main part of their body consists of mycelium. It is especially well developed in mold and yeast. During the process of cell division into mycelium, conidia are formed. Their shape is filamentous, spiral, stellate and spherical. The color of such formations is white, milky, gray and brown. They can only be seen with a microscope. The most common saprotrophs are yeasts, cap yeasts and molds.

Saprotrophs are fungi that feed on organic compounds that are formed as a result of the decomposition of plant and animal remains and animal excrement. They, unlike parasitic fungi, do not live in living organisms and usually do not cause harm to the human body. They are unable to produce organic matter.

These mushrooms are inherently destroyers - decomposers. They are a significant link in the cycle of matter and energy. With their help, the entire vast natural biomass decomposes, eventually turning into soil

And this is very important for the life processes of all life on our planet.

Saprotrophs do not pollute the environment and do not leave solid waste. They form many spores, allowing them to easily spread to any food source (Penicillium, Rhizopus and Mucor). Sometimes saprotrophs cause damage to wooden structures of houses and cause spoilage of food, fruits, seeds, feed and paper.

Types of mushrooms

Saprotrophs are usually divided into several groups, the main of which are xylotrophs (woody), aquatic, humic, soil and coprotrophs (dung). They differ in the way they feed. For example, there are sugar mushrooms that use organic acids, alcohols and simple carbohydrates. Others develop on substrates containing chitin, proteins and cellulose. For this reason, during the entire process of decay of plant remains, one can observe the replacement of some species by others.

There are also keratinophils among saprotrophs, which decompose keratin, which is a very stable protein. It is found in hair, hooves, bird feathers, horns, etc. The nutrition of keratinophils is quite specific, inaccessible to other organisms. They grow slower than others. Examples of saprotrophic mushrooms include the following:

• lamellar;
• marsupials;
• tubular;
• mold;
• yeast.

The first three types are called superior, and the last two are called imperfect.

The first look like ordinary mushrooms, consisting of hyphae and having several nuclei. They form a false tissue, which is divided into a cap and a stalk. But it is known that their presence among satroprophs is not necessary; they may be absent or not have clear boundaries. Their flesh is watery. It protects them from external irritants. The mycelium of such formations is voluminous, containing many thin branches. The color varies, but mostly yellow, white, red-brown and beige.

Marsupial, lamellar and tubular saprotrophs are suitable for human consumption, but yeast and mold have dangerous properties. But the harm from them is neutralized with proper processing, when they are used for making baked goods and drinks. Penicillium is used in medicine, and Saccharomyces (yeast) in the bread industry.

Edible and inedible species

All saprotrophs are usually divided into suitable and unsuitable for food. Edible species include:

• cobwebs - live mainly in swampy areas;
• lines - grow in mixed and coniferous forests;
• morels - found in mixed forests, on mossy and sandy places, in humus, in fires;
• champignons - live in well-fertilized and moist soil, near livestock farms, and are grown on mushroom farms.

Champignons, which are in great demand, stand out from this group. In terms of nutritional value, they are equal to meat products, but have low calorie content. Champignons grown at home can be eaten even raw. Among the inedible saprotrophs are:

• pig - poisonous, life-threatening (very common);
• toadstool - poisonous, often confused with edible mushrooms.

Life activity of parasites

Parasites spend almost their entire lives inside another organism and feed on its living cells. The plant or animal within which the bacterium lives and whose cells it feeds on is usually called the host. Parasitism is a relationship between one type of living organism (parasite) and another (host), during which the first lives and feeds at the expense of the second.

Viruses

Viruses are parasites that do not show any signs of life while outside the cell of a living organism. Due to the fact that viruses themselves do not have a cellular structure, they also do not produce energy, do not feed, do not grow, and are not capable of metabolism. Being outside a living cell, viruses are similar to inanimate matter, but there are two properties that distinguish them:

• The ability to reproduce, that is, to reproduce forms similar to oneself.
• Heredity and variability.

The life cycle of the virus consists of the following stages:

• Penetration into a living cell.
• A change in metabolism inside the cell, causing the production of viral nucleic acids and proteins.
• Self-assembly of the virus inside the cell from produced viral acids and proteins.
• From an overabundance of newly formed viruses, the cell dies
• Viruses leave the host cell.

By colonizing human and animal cells, viruses provoke the development of many dangerous and sometimes fatal diseases.

Place of saprophytes in nature

The role of saprophytic organisms in the living world occupies a very important place. Most of them are needed in nature for the purpose of processing organic waste. Since the life course of any living organism ends with death, there is always food for saprophytes. Thus, they play the role of environmental health workers. Also, these bacteria are an important link in the cycle of organic substances, as they decompose dead tissue into components that are then used by other organisms.

The importance of these bacteria for the environment is not limited to the processing of organic matter. They are active participants in the processes of mineralization and transformation of chemicals. As an example of the participation of saprophytic bacteria in the cycle of substances, the following processes can be considered: the transformation of phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, fermentation processes.

Thus, the importance of saprophytic bacteria in the environment is quite high.

Living world

Saprophytes occupy an important place in the cycle of substances in nature, breaking down complex organic substances into simple ones, cleaning the world from the rotting remains of animals. Who belongs to this group of hard workers? Saprophytes are quite widespread in the world. Examples of them can be found in every kingdom. They are found in abundance among bacteria (single-celled protozoa), among fungi (from mold to mushrooms consumed by humans), among plants (from algae to flowering plants such as orchids).

Among animals there are also saprophytes (we will also name examples of them). However, then it would be more correct to call them saprotrophs or saprophages. In the animal world, saprophytes include some insects (dung beetles, leather beetles, fly larvae and other insects), earthworms, and many crustaceans (crayfish, benthic amphipods). Among the large representatives of the animal world are birds (crows, vultures, vultures), some fish and various animals (hyenas, bears and everyone who has to eat carrion).

What are saprophytic microorganisms

Heterotrophs can exist solely as a result of feeding on ready-made substances, while autotrophs are able to feed themselves.

During the study, heterotrophs were again divided into symbionts, saprophytes and parasitic bacteria.

• Saprophytes. These organisms are heterotrophs that feed exclusively on organic decay products of dead organisms. Usually they inject a special substance into an object (to prepare the environment for use), and then eat the resulting solution.
• Symbionts. They are also heterotrophs, but feed on other living environments in symbiosis. They are partly parasites, but do not harm the host, but rather help.
• Parasites. They can survive only if they receive nutrients instead of the owner, causing him enormous harm.

Therefore, saprophytes are harmless creatures that eat dead objects. These may include any substrate containing rot.

Definition

The word itself is borrowed from another language, more precisely, it is combined from two Greek words: sapros - “rotten” and phyton - “plant”. In biology, saprophytes are fungi, plants and bacteria that consume dead tissues of animals and plants as food, as well as products released by them during their vital activity. They are distributed everywhere - in water, land, air, and also in the bodies of living beings.

Most often, saprophytes are individuals that do not harm their owner. A person does not even realize what a huge number of different microorganisms are constantly on his skin and inside the body, without causing any diseases. However, under the influence of negative factors (decreased immunity, excessive increase in the number of microbes), everything can change, and saprophytes can cause an infectious disease.

Description of saprotrophic fungi

Mushrooms

- heterotrophs, i.e. they need an organic source of carbon. In addition, they also require nitrogen sources (usually organic, such as amino acids), inorganic ions (such as K+ and Mg2+), trace elements (such as Fe, Zn and Cu) and organic growth factors (such as vitamins).

Different mushrooms require a strictly defined set of nutrients, therefore the substrates on which these mushrooms

find. Nutrition in fungi occurs by absorbing nutrients directly from the environment - unlike animals, which, as a rule, first swallow food and then digest it inside the body; Only after this does the absorption of nutrients occur. If necessary, mushrooms are capable of external digestion of food. In this case, enzymes are released from the body of the fungus onto the food.

By way of eating mushrooms

are divided into saprotrophs, parasites and mutualists. In this respect they are similar to most bacteria.

Saprotrophs. Features of saprotrophs.

Saprotrophs

are organisms that extract nutrients from dead organic material.
Fungi, classified as saprotrophs
, form a number of digestive enzymes. If a saprotroph is capable of secreting digestive enzymes of three main classes, namely 1) enzymes that break down carbohydrates, such as amylases (break down starch, glycogen and related polysaccharides), 2) lipases (break down lipids) and 3) proteinases (break down proteins), then it can use a variety of substrates. Penicillium species form green and blue molds on substrates such as soil, damp leather, bread and rotting fruit.

Hyphae of saprotrophic fungi

usually have positive chemotropism. In other words, they grow towards certain substrates, reacting to substances diffusing from these substrates.

Saprotrophic mushrooms

usually form a large number of light, stable spores. This allows them to easily spread to other power sources. Examples of such fungi include Mucor, Rhizopus and Penicillium.

and bacteria together form a group of decomposers that play an important role in the cycle of nutrients in nature. A particularly important role is played by those few fungi that secrete cellulase and lignase, which break down cellulose and lignin, respectively. Because cellulose and lignin (complex compounds found primarily in wood) are important structural elements of plant cell walls, decay of wood and other plant debris occurs in part as a result of the activity of decomposers that secrete cellulase and lignase.

Some saprotrophic fungi are of economic importance. These are, in particular, Saccharomyces (yeast), used in brewing and baking, and Penicillium, used in medicine

White mold (mukor fungus): structure, nutrition and reproduction

Molds have long and successfully coexisted with humans. Some grow on food or even clothing, while others are specially grown in high-tech laboratories. Moreover, these are often the same species. For example, mucor mushroom or its other name is white mold.

Appearance: description and structure

People who are far from mycology sometimes encounter a colony of the mucor fungus. It has several stages of development: at the very beginning it is a coating of whitish fluff, which is why it is popularly known as white mold. Although it is often beige or grayish.

Depending on the environment, individual hairs reach several centimeters in height. Over time, the stain darkens. This happens when black heads with spores - sporangia - mature at the tip of each hair.

The structure of the mucor mold is very simple. The mycelium is immersed in the substrate and is a network of white threads (hyphae) branching and gradually becoming thinner towards the periphery. A colony of white mold is sporangiophores growing upward from the body of the mycelium, on which heads of sporangia with spores are formed. The structure is easy to see under a microscope.

Nutrition

To feed the mucor mushroom, it requires oxygen, high humidity, heat and organic matter. White mold settles with equal success in manure, food and in the upper layers of the soil - where there is the most undecomposed plant debris. Based on the way they feed, white mold is classified as a saprotroph (it extracts nutrients from dead organic material). Any foods that are high in calories are suitable for him. Therefore, high-carbohydrate bread, potatoes, and fruits are tasty items for menu variety.

Reproduction

In favorable conditions, when there is no shortage of food, it is warm, humid and there is constant access to air, mucor reproduces asexually: by spores.

Disputes remain viable for a long time. If they are brought into unfavorable conditions by air masses, they simply will not develop, but will bide their time. When favorable conditions appear, the spores will germinate, forming a new mycelium of the mucor fungus.

In addition, the mucor fungus is characterized by sexual reproduction if the substrate is depleted: the hyphae of different mycelia are brought closer to each other by their swollen ends (gametangia) and form a zygote covered with a spinous membrane. After a period of rest, the zygote shell bursts and germinal mycelium grows from it, on which an embryonic sporangium with sexual spores is formed. And from these spores a powerful mycelium begins to develop.

Usage

In fact, there are about 60 species of mucor mushrooms. Some of them are grown to produce medicines - antibiotics. Others are used for food preparation. In this case, the mold is a starter, for example, for tofu and tempeh cheeses, in addition, white mold is involved in the process of producing potato ethanol.

What is the danger

A seemingly harmless fungus can cause mucormycosis - an extremely rare but dangerous infection of internal organs by the mucor fungus. Found in animals and humans. Spores, getting into the lungs or cuts on the skin, begin to develop: warm, humid and there is oxygen. This is only possible when the body’s protective functions are reduced. True, no more than 5 species out of 60 known are dangerous.

How to grow

The rapid development and nuances of reproduction have made white mold an excellent object for experiments: all stages of development are visible under a microscope and are of practical and scientific interest. It is very easy to conduct an experiment on growing mucor mushroom. Why? Because white mold spores are found almost everywhere - they are spread by air currents.

For the experience you need:

1. Create a feeding environment in a separate container (you can use a plate). For example, moisten a piece of bread or place it on a wet base: a piece of cloth, blotting or filter paper.
2. Isolate the bread by covering the top with a glass jar, glass or transparent bag.
3. Place the structure in a warm place at a temperature not lower than 20°C. Allowable fluctuations are up to 25°C.
4. Within a few days, provided that the bread is constantly in a humid environment, a white mucor mushroom fluff will appear on it, which will then gradually darken.

Microscopic living organisms are very close and willingly use every opportunity to survive. At the same time, it is unlikely that anyone will decide to grow mucor mushrooms in an apartment for making medicine. Therefore, it is better to prevent the very possibility of their reproduction in advance and store products correctly.

Comparison

If we compare these two microorganisms with each other, then initially it should be said that their life routine is almost the same. In some cases, these microorganisms become very difficult to distinguish. The fact is that some parasites can behave in the same way as saprophytes. And saprophytes can use for living and further nutrition living organisms that have been greatly weakened due to the onset of illness.

In order to understand how to distinguish these microorganisms, some comparison should be made:

1. Saprophytes, which have the ability to pass themselves off as parasites, develop without the help of another living organism. After some time, they become completely safe for the human body, but only if they are not affected by negative factors. This species is of great importance in the cycle of substances.
2. The conditional type of parasitic forms can live just like an ordinary parasite, but at the same time the nutrition will occur like that of saprophytes. But this happens before full maturity, and then the parasites take root in the tissues and already fully lead their parasitic lifestyle.
3. Obligate parasites. This type uses exclusively living cells for its nutrition, and after they die, the cells die along with these bacteria. Throughout their entire life cycle, bacteria lead an exclusively parasitic lifestyle.

Taking into account the information received, it can be noted that both presented forms of microorganisms can equally cause harm to humans. Only saprophytes also provide certain benefits.

In any case, the detection of any of these types of organisms requires immediate treatment.

What is mukor?

Some subspecies of this fungus can cause serious diseases in humans, animals and bees. Paradoxically, other subspecies are used for the production of antibiotics and the production of starter cultures, which gives it significant importance in nature.

White mold

Mucor mushroom is also called white mold. Of course, this is also due to its color. For bees, this attack poses a great danger, because its favorite places are warm, damp and dark places. Doesn't it remind you of a hive? Its cells have an elongated structure, similar to a hair or a white web. The mucor heads with spores are colored black. Spores are instantly carried by the wind, so you need to be extremely careful so that mukor does not start in your apiary.

Fungus parasite

Mold is definitely a parasite. It parasitizes next to other types of mold, located on food and the remains of animals and insects. If you do not monitor its formation and regularly disinfect the hives, you can lose many bees. After all, this parasite causes a huge number of different diseases.

Meaning in nature

Despite the fact that this fungus causes many diseases, it also performs beneficial functions in nature. Its importance in medicine is undeniable. For example, many antibiotics are made from it (for example, ramicin), and a starter for fermentation products is obtained: soy cheese, potato alcohol.

Saprophytic bacteria

Bacteria are such small organisms that they can only be examined with the most powerful microscopes, magnifying hundreds of times. And although in ordinary life a person is not given the opportunity to see them, he has to deal with the results of their activities every day. Thus, thanks to them, the existence of fermented milk products and wine is possible. And while some bacteria cause infectious diseases, others are of great benefit to humans.

Among them are, for example, some E. coli and bifidobacteria that live in the human digestive tract. They help the body absorb nutrients and fight pathogenic flora.

Link:

1. “Facts about saprophytes.”

Consumer insights available here. Accessed August 20, 2017

2. “About parasites.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 22, 2016, available here. Accessed August 20, 2022

Expert opinion

Mikhailova Maria Vasilievna

Cardiologist-therapist with more than 10 years of experience. Regular participant and speaker at cardiology conferences

3. “Parasitic plant.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Available here.

Accessed August 20, 2022

Representatives of the fungal kingdom occupy a special place among all living organisms. They combine the properties of plants and animals and can exist independently or feed on other creatures.

To understand the difference between saprophyte fungi and parasites, it is necessary to consider the features of the life activity of these organisms in more detail.

Life activity of parasites

Almost the entire life of parasites passes inside another organism; they not only live in it, but also feed on living cells. It could be a plant, an animal, a person - in other words, just the owner.

Anything can become a source of parasite infection. Sometimes it is enough to eat an unwashed fruit or vegetable, and the parasite eggs will end up inside the body. This often happens when in contact with animals, because most of them are carriers of parasites.

The fact of infection is not only unpleasant, but can also be dangerous, because if left untreated, very serious complications can occur, even death.

What types of saprophyte mushrooms are there?

Representatives of the genera Penicillium and Mucor cause food spoilage

The variety of saprophytes is surprising. The names of the most famous:

Mukor: This is a lower mold fungus. Included in the class Zygomycetes. It is aerobic, that is, existence is impossible without oxygen. The mycelium of mucor is unicellular, has many nuclei. All representatives of this genus settle in the upper layers of soil, horse manure, food and organic debris. The body of this organism looks like thin threads - this is a mycelium. On the branches or hyphae of the mycelium, small black heads grow, which contain spores. Mucor feeds on organic matter. The scavenger mushroom, as it is also called, because it does not leave waste. Mucor can also appear on a living, but sick organism. When he dies, all the remains are processed.

Aspergillus: a mold fungus belonging to the higher aerobic species. The genus of these organisms has hundreds of species. All of them are quite common and grow in different climate zones. They take root on various substrates and create fluffy white colonies. But over time the color changes. Aspergillus has strong mycelium and septa. It reproduces, like other saprotrophs, by spores. The organism lives in soil, which contains a lot of oxygen. The organism appears as mold on top of the substrate. This particular mushroom is dangerous. It affects products that contain starch. The organism grows inside and on the surface of the tree.

Penicillium: these representatives of higher fungi are not uncommon in nature. They belong to imperfect fungi. Of particular value is the green racemose mold - penicillium aureus. The widely known antibiotic penicillin is produced from it. Penicillium lives in the soil. The structure is similar to that of the Aspergillus fungus. The vegetative mycelium is branched, colorless and multicellular. This (structure) of the penicillium fungus differs from mucor - the latter has a protozoan mycelium. The hyphae of the organism are immersed in the substrate or located on its surface. Erect conidiophores form brushes that carry chains of spores. These chains have from one to three tiers and can also be asymmetrical. These fungi reproduce by spores. It is saturated by absorbing organic matter. Some representatives are weak plant parasites. The development of penicillium leads to food spoilage.

Parasitic life forms

Parasites are lower class creatures of plant or animal origin. The concept itself is translated as “freeloader,” which fully reflects the essence of parasitic organisms. Examples of human parasites:

• worms (helminths);
• simple/complex viruses;
• fungi (candida).

Organisms can survive only at the expense of the host, feeding on the tissues of a living creature or plant. The habitat is chosen inside or outside the host: foliage, fruits, dermis, internal organs, mucous membrane. Almost all types of microorganisms are dangerous to humans. Viruses threaten life, helminths poison the body with toxic secretions, fungus destroys microflora and causes necrosis. In some cases, lack of medical care leads to death.

The life cycle of any species is almost always multi-stage; this is the difference between saprophytes and parasites. The latter have many intermediate stages of reformation. For example, helminths require an initial development environment (aquatic), then an intermediate carrier, and only then a final host, in whose body the full maturity of the worm is achieved.

Fact! When infected with parasites, therapeutic treatment is always required. This can be a traditional method or medicinal or surgical intervention.

General information about the microorganism

Saprophytic staphylococci are anaerobic bacteria, that is, those that do not use oxygen to maintain their vital functions. They belong to opportunistic microflora, and while a person is healthy, they do not manifest themselves in any way. But in the presence of certain favorable conditions for them, microorganisms are activated and begin to actively multiply, suppressing beneficial bacteria. As a result, inflammation of the tissues of those organs in which staphylococci develop begins. In this case, these are the organs of the genitourinary system, in which bacteria cause acute urethritis and cystitis.

Worms

Places of worm parasitism:

• in the digestive tract are parasitized by: tapeworms (all types), tapeworms, pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, intestinal eels, trichinella and others;
• eggs of roundworm, echinococcus, pork tapeworm, etc. can be found in the lungs;
• the liver is most often affected by opisthorchid, echinococcus, and fasciola;
• echinococci, trichinella, and schistosomes penetrate the brain;
• Parasites can be found in the heart, bones, muscles, kidneys and bladder, even in the eyes.

Pinworms

Pinworms: a disease of dirty hands.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with How to remove parasites from the human body: tablets, traditional methods

Length: 4-5-6 mm.

Spread: infection from person to person through objects, dirty hands, through scratching.

Habitat: large intestine, bile intestine, pancreas. They eat the same things we eat. Very active, especially at night (itching).

Symptoms: pallor, nausea, increased or decreased appetite, delayed physical or mental development, grinding teeth, drooling.