Back to: MICROBIOLOGY 200 LEVEL
Welcome to class!
Hello, champion! I’m so glad you showed up today. You know, just like we humans need good food to grow strong—like rice, beans, vegetables, and fruit—microbes also need “food” to survive, grow, and do their work. But for them, food doesn’t come from Mama Put or Mr Biggs. Instead, they take in chemical substances from their environment. Today, we’ll be talking about Macronutrients and Micronutrients, which are the nutrients microbes need to stay alive and active. This lesson will help you understand what fuels these tiny organisms and how their needs compare to ours in a way that just makes sense.
Macronutrients And Micronutrients
What Are Nutrients?
Nutrients are chemical substances organisms use to build their bodies, grow, and generate energy. Microorganisms absorb these nutrients directly from their surroundings. These nutrients are grouped into macronutrients and micronutrients, based on how much of them the cell needs.
Let’s use a simple picture: Think of building a house. You need a lot of cement, sand, and blocks (these are your macronutrients), but only a small amount of paint, screws, and tiles (those are your micronutrients). Both are important, but you need more of some than others. Microbial cells work the same way.
Macronutrients
These are the nutrients that microbes need in large amounts. They are the main building blocks of cells.
Carbon (C): Like jollof rice to Nigerians, carbon is the main source of energy and structure. It’s found in all major cell components—proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O): Found in water, carbohydrates and fats—used in almost every cellular activity.
Nitrogen (N): Needed for making proteins and nucleic acids. Think of it as the beans of the microbial world—great for building!
Phosphorus (P): Used in DNA, RNA and ATP—the energy currency of cells.
Sulphur (S): Important for some amino acids and vitamins.
Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), and Iron (Fe): These help enzymes work properly, support transport and provide structure.
Micronutrients
These are needed in much smaller amounts, but they’re still super important. You can compare them to spices—used in tiny quantities, but without them, the food (or in this case, the cell) doesn’t function well.
Zinc (Zn)
Copper (Cu)
Cobalt (Co)
Manganese (Mn)
Nickel (Ni)
Molybdenum (Mo)
They often act as cofactors, helping enzymes to function properly. Without them, the whole metabolic system of the microbe would collapse—even if all the macronutrients are available!
Think about cooking egusi soup. You need large amounts of palm oil, egusi, and water (macronutrients), but just a pinch of seasoning cubes, pepper, and crayfish (micronutrients). If you leave out the egusi, your soup won’t be complete. But if you forget the spices, the soup may be bland or inedible. The same way, microbes need both macronutrients and micronutrients to “cook” up life inside their tiny bodies.
Summary
- Microbes need nutrients to grow, function, and survive.
- Macronutrients are needed in large amounts—like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur, and minerals like potassium.
- Micronutrients are needed in small amounts—like zinc, copper, cobalt, and manganese.
- Both types of nutrients are essential for enzyme function, energy production, and building cell structures.
Evaluation
- List four examples of macronutrients and state their functions in microbial cells.
- Why are micronutrients important, even though they’re needed in small amounts?
- Compare microbial macronutrients to ingredients used in cooking jollof rice or egusi soup.
- What nutrient is key for energy storage and found in ATP?
You’ve done excellently today! Understanding what microbes “eat” might seem like small stuff, but it’s actually the foundation of how they grow and interact with the world. And just like microbes rely on the right nutrients to thrive, you’re feeding your mind with the right knowledge to succeed. Keep going strong—you’re doing great, and with Afrilearn by your side, your journey in Microbiology will always be exciting and rewarding. See you in the next class, champ!