Microbiology

Lecture 1
 What is Microbiology?

● the study of very small non-cellular particles and unicellular organisms

called microorganisms or microbes
○ Included in this category are:
■ viruses
■ bacteria
■ algae
■ protozoa
■ certain fungi
 History?
● For thousands of years, people believed that certain living things arose from vital
forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter
○ abiogenesis = spontaneous generation
● biogenesis: living things arise only from others of their same kind

● Gradually the abiogenesis hypothesis was abandoned as convincing evidence for

biogenesis continued to mount

● Microbiology has been around for ~300 years

○ Started with the discovery of the microscope
 History?

Anton von Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723)

● the first individual to see live bacteria and

protozoa
● is often referred to as the Father of Microbiology
● was not a scientist, but had an exceptional
talent for the grinding of lenses to make the
world's first single lens microscopes.
 History?
Francesco Redi’s experiment (1668)

● one of history's first biological experiments

● designed to test the belief that worm-like maggots (fly larvae) could arise
spontaneously from rotting meat
● verified that spontaneous generation did not produce larger living creatures
like maggots
● what about the mysterious and microscopic animalcules?
 History?
Louis Pasteur (mid 1800s)

● French chemist credited with many scientific discoveries. Many consider his
contributions to be the foundation of modern biology and medicine.
○ Alcoholic Fermentation
■ from a fermentation experiment disproved abiogenesis:
● “For I have kept from them, and am still keeping from them, that one thing which is above
the power of man to make; I have kept from them the germs that float in the air, I have kept
from them life.”
● Disproved spontaneous generation
○ Developed early pasteurization
○ Contributions to the germ theory
○ Institution of sanitary hospital practices
○ Early vaccine development
 History?
● The fossil record uncovered in ancient rocks and sediments points to bacteria-like
cells having existed on earth for at least 3.5 billion years
○ Early microorganisms of this type dominated the earth’s life forms for the first 2 billion years
■ Prokaryotic
○ About 1.8 billion years ago, there appeared in the fossil record a more complex cell
■ Eukaryotic
●
 Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic

● Prokaryotic = without a nucleus

○ eubacteria: include all bacteria of medical importance

○ archaea: a collection of evolutionarily distinct organisms

● Eukaryotic = with a nucleus

 Groups of Organisms that Cause Infectious
Diseases

Prokaryotic:
● Bacteria

Eukaryotic:
● Fungi
○ Yeast and mold
● Protists
○ Protozoans and algae
● Helminths

“Non-cellular”:
● Viruses
● Prions
 Bacterial Size
● Units of measurement used in microbio:

○ Micrometer

○ Nanometer
● Bacteria range in size from about 0.2 micrometers to 5 micrometers
● SIze references:
○ Amoeba – 100 micrometers
○ RBC – 7 micrometers
○ E. coli – 2-3 micrometers
○ Virus – 250 – 10 nanometers
○ DNA – 1 nanometer
 Terms?

● Physical Control Agents – Heat and Radiation

● Chemical Control Agents – Disinfectants, Antibiotics and other drugs that
affect microbial growth.
● Sterilization – Removal of all microorganisms and infectious particles,
including spores and viruses.
● Bactericidal – Destruction of vegetative forms of bacteria.
● Bacteriostatic – Prevention or slowing of bacterial reproduction and
metabolism.
● Germicide – Any chemical agent that is used to kill pathogens.
● Disinfection – A physical process used to destroy vegetative forms of
pathogens.
● Sepsis – Growth of microorganisms, and /or toxins in the blood or other
sterile tissues.
● Antiseptics – Chemical agents applied directly to the body.
 More terms:

● an infectious agent or pathogen

○ When a microbe has penetrated the host defenses, invaded sterile tissues, and multiplied

● True Pathogen
■ capable of causing disease in healthy persons with normal immune defenses
■ range from weak to potent
● Opportunistic Pathogen
■ become infections when the host's defenses are compromised or when established outside of
natural environment
●
 Terms: Pathogenicity vs Virulence

● Pathogenicity
○ ability to cause harm the host

● Virulence

○ the degree of pathogenicity

○ determined by its ability to establish itself in the host and cause damage

■ Any characteristic or structure of the microbe that contributes to the infection or disease
state is called a virulence factor