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Chapter 1 Microbiology
Chapter 1 Microbiology
Zhu zhiyong
The college of Chemistry and Bioengeering yichun University
Microbes are responsible for changing the atmosphere of the earth from one without oxygen to one with oxygen. Photosynthetic microorganism account for more than 50% of the earths photosynthesis contributing the majority of the oxygen to the atmosphere
Microbes are responsible for the cycling of carbon, nitrogen and phosphors (geochemical cycles), all essential components of living organisms. They are found in association with plants in symbiotic relationships, maintain soil fertilitv and may also be used to clean up the environment of toxic compounds. Some microbes are devastating plant pathogens, which destroy important food crops, but others may act as biological control agents against these diseases.
Infectious diseases are no longer the leading cause of death in North America, due to the development and use of antimicrobial agents, and improved sanitary practices
The disease-causing ability of some microbes such as smallpox(, cholera and malaria, is well known. However, micro-organisms have also provided us with the means of their control in the form of antibiotics and other medically important drugs.
Antony van Leeuwenhock (1632-1723) The first person to accurately observe and describe microorganisms
Leeuwenkoek made his simple, single-lens microscope which could amplify the object being viewed 50 300 times. Between 1673 1723, he wrote a series of letters to the Royal Society of London describing the microbes he observed from the samples of rainwater, and humam mouth.
lens
Object being viewed adjusting
screws
A drawing of one of the microscopes showing the lens a; mounting pin b; and focusing screws c and d.
Pasteurs contributions: Final refutation of spontaneous generation birth of microbiology as a science Discovery of the existence of anaerobic life fermentation Vaccines Pasteurization Louis Pasteur working in his laboratory
1. Pasteur (1857) demonstrated that lactic acid fermentation is due to the activity of microorganisms.
Kochs postulates
1. The microorganisms must be present in every
case of the disease but absent from healthy organisms. 2. The suspected microorganisms must be isolated and grown in a pure culture. 3. The disease must result when the isolated microorganisms is inoculated into a healthy host. 4. The same microorganisms must be isolated again from the diseased host
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic penicillin. He had the insight to recognize the significance of the inhibition of bacterial growth in the vicinity of a fungal contaminant when most other scientists probably would have simply discarded the contaminated plates.
1.6 Category
The systemic taxa of mocroorganisms follow the systemic taxa built by Linnaeusincluding seven grades from top to bottom: Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
There are more than ten grades in the systemic taxa altogether, because each grade, if needed, could sub-divide some auxiliary units
Classification of microorganisms
Five-kingdom of life
Three-kingdom of life