Biology and Human Welfare

Matching of microbial products and their medical/commercial applications:

• Streptokinase (from Streptococcus): Used as a 'clot buster' for removing clots from blood vessels (A-II).
• Cyclosporin A (from Trichoderma polysporum): Used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients (B-IV).
• Statins (from Monascus purpureus): Used as blood-cholesterol lowering agents (C-I).
• Swiss cheese: Ripened by the large $\text{CO}_2$-producing bacterium Propionibacterium sharmanii (D-III).

Bottled fruit juices bought from the market are clearer compared to those made at home because the commercially bottled juices are clarified by treatment with pectinases and proteases.

Analysis of statements:

• Statement I is correct: Ladybird beetles control aphids, dragonflies control mosquitoes, and free-living Trichoderma fungal species are very common in root ecosystems and act as effective biocontrol agents against several soil-borne fungal pathogens.
• Statement II is correct: Biocontrol uses natural predation rather than chemicals, substantially reducing toxic pesticide pollution in soils and water bodies.