Question

Provide an overview of the survival strategies used by microorganisms (20marks)

Answer 1

The microorganisms adapts many strategies to successfully survive in nature. In case of microorganisms such as bacteria, they create a biofilm to protect them from hostile environment. It consists of a protective slime capsule consisting of sugar chains. These biofilms defend them against antibiotic treatment.

Certain microorganisms such as protozoans respond to adverse environmental conditions by encystment ,i.e, secretion of a thick, tough wall around themselves and enter in a state of rest.

Flagellates as well as ciliates loses their motile structures as well as contractile vacuoles dissapears in due course of encystment.