BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY

Bacteriological study is a discipline in microbiology that is

concerned with the study of bacteria (as well as Archaea) and

related aspects. It's a field in which bacteriologists study and learn

more about the various characteristics (structure, genetics,

biochemistry and ecology etc.) of bacteria as well as the mechanism

through which they cause diseases in humans and animals.

The modern methods of bacteriological technique had their

beginnings in 1870–85 with the introduction of the use of stains

and by the discovery of the method of separating mixtures of

organisms on plates of nutrient media solidified with gelatin or

agar. Important discoveries came in 1880 and 1881, when Pasteur

succeeded in immunizing animals against two diseases caused by

bacteria. His research led to a study of disease prevention and the

treatment of disease by vaccines and immune serums (a branch of

medicine now called immunology). Other scientists recognized the

importance of bacteria in agriculture and the dairy industry.

1
Bacteriological study subsequently developed a number of

specializations, among which are agricultural, or soil, bacteriology;

clinical diagnostic bacteriology; industrial bacteriology; marine

bacteriology; public-health bacteriology; sanitary, or hygienic,

bacteriology; and systematic bacteriology, which deals with

taxonomy.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria, also called germs, are microscopic organisms not visible

with the naked eye. Bacteria are everywhere, both inside and

outside of your body. Bacteria can live in a variety of environments,

from hot water to ice. Some bacteria are good for you, while others

can make you sick.

Bacteria are single-celled, or simple, organisms. Though small,

bacteria are powerful and complex, and they can survive in extreme

conditions. Bacteria have a tough protective coating that boosts

their resistance to white blood cells in the body.

Some bacteria have a tail, called a flagellum. The flagellum helps a

bacterium to move around. Other bacteria have sticky hair-like

2
appendages that help bacteria them stick to one other, hard

surfaces, and human body cells.

There are many bacteria in the human body, especially in the

stomach and mouth. Bacteria are found on surfaces and in

substances such as water, soil, and food.

Uses of Bacteria

Food processing: Sourdough bread is made to rise by

fermentation, with a leaven that consists of bacteria, often

combined with wild yeast enzymes. The milk-souring bacterial

genus Lactobacillus is used to make yogurt and cheese. Bacteria are

also used to form organic acids in pickles and vinegar.

Biotechnology: Biotechnology involves the use of microorganisms

including bacteria in the manufacturing and services industries.

These include chemical manufacturing such as ethanol, acetone,

organic acid, enzymes, and perfumes. Bacteria are important in the

production of many dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. For

example, Escherichia coli is used for commercial preparation of

riboflavin and vitamin K. E. coli is also used to produce D-amino

3
acids such as D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine, an important intermediate

for synthesis of the antibiotic amoxicillin.

Genetic engineering: Genetic engineering is the manipulation of

genes. It is also called recombinant DNA technology. In genetic

engineering, pieces of DNA (genes) are introduced into a host by a

variety of techniques, one of the earliest being the use of a virus

vector. The foreign DNA becomes a permanent feature of the host,

and is replicated and passed on to daughter cells along with the

rest of its DNA. Bacterial cells are transformed and used in

production of commercially important products. Examples include

production of human insulin (used to treat diabetes) and human

growth hormone (somatotrophin used to treat pituitary dwarfism).

Fibre retting: Bacteria such as Clostridium butyricum are used to

separate fibres of jute, hemp and flax in the process of retting. The

plants are immersed in water and when they swell, inoculated with

bacteria which hydrolyze pectic substances of the cell walls and

separate the fibres. Alternatively, the plants are spread out on the

ground and ret naturally because dew provides moisture. These

separated fibres are used to make ropes, sacks etc.

4
Pest control: Bacteria can also be used in the place of pesticides in

biological pest control. This commonly uses Bacillus thuringiensis

(BT), a Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium. This bacterium is

used as a Lepidopteran-specific insecticide under trade names such

as Dipel and Thuricide. Because of their specificity, these pesticides

are regarded as environmentally friendly, with little effect on

humans, wildlife, pollinators, or other beneficial insects.

Bioremediation: Bacteria can be used to remove pollutants from

contaminated water, soil and subsurface material. During the Mega

Borg Oil Spill, for example, 100 pounds of bacteria were sprayed

over an acre of the oil slick to break down the hydrocarbons present

into more benign by-products.

Digestion: Bacteria living in the gut of cattle, horses and other

herbivores, for example Ruminococcus spp., help to digest cellulose

by secreting the enzyme cellulase. This is how herbivores are able to

get the energy they need from grass and other plants.

Also, Escherichia coli, part of the intestinal microbiota of humans

and other herbivorous animals, converts consumed food into vitamin

5
 . This is absorbed in the colon and, in animal models, is sufficient
K2

to meet their daily requirement of the vitamin.

Tanning of Leather: Bacteria helps purify animal hides to make

them easy, clean, and fit for use.

Medicines: Bacteria are used to create multiple antibiotics such as

Streptomycin from the bacteria streptococcus. Bacteria can also be

used to create vaccines to prevent several diseases.

Problems of Bacteria

Some types of bacteria can cause diseases in humans, such as

cholera, diptheria, dysentery, bubonic plague, pneumonia,

tuberculosis (TB), typhoid, and many more.

If the human body is exposed to bacteria that the body does not

recognize as helpful, the immune system will attack them. This

reaction can lead to the symptoms of swelling and inflammation

that we see, for example, in an infected wound.

6
THE ROLE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY IN THE MODERN

MICROBIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

Bacteriological study has allowed researchers in the field to not only get a better
understanding of bacteria and their characteristics, but also how to
prevent/treat/manage diseases caused by these organisms.

This field has also allowed researchers to identify some of the benefits associated
with these organisms leading to their application/use in various industries.

Medical Bacteriology

Essentially, medical bacteriology is a branch of bacteriology that

gives focus to disease-causing bacteria in human beings. It entails

the detection and identification of various bacterial pathogens and

the mechanism through which they cause various diseases.

To some extent, medical bacteriology also entails the study of the

immune system which has made it possible to determine strategies

of boosting natural immunity.  

Some of the bacteria of medical significance include members of:

Clostridium - E.g. C. pertfringens

Corynebacteria - E.g. C. diphteriae

7
 Listeria - E.g. L. monocytogens

Erysipelothrix - E.g.  E. rhusiopathiae

Neisseria - E.g. N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhea

Haemophilus - E.g. H. influenzae and H. hemolyticus

Brucella - E.g. B. abortus

In medical bacteriology, understanding the relationship between

these organisms (which are parasitic in nature in this case) and

host (primary and secondary) is of great importance. It not only

helps determine ways of treating diseases caused, but also finds

measures that can be used to prevent or at least minimize infection

rates.

In this regard, bacteriology is closely related to immunology and

epidemiology. However, for the most part, this is largely with

regards to bacterial infections and diseases. 

Food and Water Bacteriology

Food and water bacteriology are some of the other branches closely

related to medical bacteriology.

8
Food, which are important substances for life are also vehicles

through which various bacteria can cause different types of

infections and intoxications.

Some of the bacteria associated with food poisoning include:

 Salmonella

 Campylobacter

 E. coli

 C. perfringens

 Listeria

Food contamination with these organisms cause illnesses that

range from minor ailments to serious incidents that can cause

death. Although food bacteriology is closely related to medical

bacteriology, with regards to infections and diseases, it's also an

important field of study in the food industry

It helps researchers in these fields determine ideal ways of food

preservation. Such bacteria as Lactobacillus are used in some

industries for food production.

9
Water bacteriology is also closely related to medical bacteriology

given that water can also be a channel through which bacteria

cause diseases.

The presence of E. coli and fecal coliform are good examples of water

contamination. Here, bacteriology of water can not only help

determine whether given sources of water are infected, but also

provide means through which they can be treated to prevent

diseases.

Various aerobic bacteria have been used for the treatment of

wastewater as well as sewage. In some countries, this has been

used to produce methane for energy. 

Bacteriological study has also played an important role in the

development of the fields of molecular biology and genetics.

Some of the most recent discoveries in bacteriology include:

 Plastic pollution negatively affects oxygen-producing bacteria

 Discovery of a luminescent compound that kills antibiotic

resistant Gram-negative bacteria at the University of Sheffield

and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

10
  New bacteria species of the genus Enterobacter (E. huaxiensis

and E. chuandaensis) discovered in China

REFERENCES

Abilo, T. and Meseret, A. (2006). Medical Bacteriology. Lecture

Notes Degree and Diploma Programs for Environmental Health

Students.  

Frank, L. (2009). Bacterial Classification, Structure and

Function.  Journal of Bacteriology, 25(3): 186 – 191.

Moshtaq, T. A. (2016). Morphology and Classification of Bacteria.

ResearchGate. 

Waleed, E. (2015). General Bacteriology. ResearchGate.

11