Identify the microbes producing commercially important organic acids and enzymes from the given options:

(A) Trichoderma polysporum
(B) Streptococcus
(C) Clostridium butylicum
(D) Aspergillus niger

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B), (C) and (D) Only

The correct answer is Option (4) → (B), (C) and (D) Only

Microbes are used for commercial and industrial production of certain chemicals like organic acids, alcohols and enzymes. Examples of acid producers are Aspergillus niger (a fungus) of citric acid, Acetobacter aceti (a bacterium) of acetic acid; Clostridium butylicum (a bacterium) of butyric acid and Lactobacillus (a bacterium) of lactic acid. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is used for commercial production of ethanol.

Microbes are also used for production of enzymes. Lipases are used in detergent formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains from the laundry. The bottled juices are clarified by the use of pectinases and proteases.

Streptokinase produced by the bacterium Streptococcus and modified by genetic engineering is used as a ‘clot buster’ for removing clots from the blood vessels of patients who have undergone myocardial infarction leading to heart attack.

Cyclosporin A, a bioactive molecule that is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients, is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum.