10- The use of microbes in the antibiotic
industry: Antibiotic is a substance produced by a microorganism that is effective in killing or inhibiting the growth of other organism.
* certain bacteria and fungi produce antibiotic that are used to treat patient with infectious diseases.
11- Microbes are essential in the field of genetic engineering:
Genetic engineering: a science in which agene from organism ( bacteria, human, an animal, or plant) is inserted into bacteria or yeast cell to get benefit, the cell that receive the new gene can now produce whatever product is coded for by the gene.
e.g Production of insulin, various type of growth hormones, vaccines..by genetic engendered bacteria and yeast.
12-Studying purposes : microbes have
been used as (a cell model), more learned about the structure and functions of microbial cells , more learned about cells in general e.g usage of Escherichia. coli (E.coli) as a study model.
13- finally we come to diseases :
Microorganisms cause two categories of disease
A-infectious disease: result when a pathogens colonizes the body and subsequently cause disease. B- microbial intoxication: results when person ingests a toxin ( poisonous substance) that has been produced by a microorganisms) .
*Infectious diseases: are the leading cause of death in the world, and the third leading cause of death in USA after heart and cancer.
Any one pursuing a career in a healthcare profession must be aware :
1- infectious diseases 2- the pathogens that causes them 3- the source of the pathogens 4- how the diseases transmitted 5- how to protect yourself and you patient from these disease
Careers In Microbiology A microbiologist: is a scientist who study tiny organisms called microorganisms within the science of microbiology there are many career fields
e.g a person may specialize in the study of just one particular category of microorganisms: - bacteriologist: specialized in study of bacteria - phycologists: study of algae - protozoologists: study of protozoan - mycologists: study of fungi - virologists: study of fungi
Other career fields in microbiology pertain more to applied microbiology: - Agriculture microbiology.
- Biotechnology (industrial microbiology). - Environmental microbiology and bioremediation. - Medical and clinical microbiology. - Microbial genetics and genetic engineering. - Paleomicrobilogy: study of ancient microbes - Parasitology - veterinary microbiology
Pioneers in the Science of Microbiology
*bacteria and protozoa were the first microorganisms to be observed by humans. *Among the most significant events in the early history of microbiology were: - development of microscope - bacterial staining procedure - technique that enabled microorganisms to be cultured in the laboratory - steps could be taken to prove that specific microorganisms were responsible for specific infectious disease
Among the individuals who contributed to our present understanding of microorganisms: 1- Anton van leeuwenhoek ( father of microbiology) and the father of protozoology) he create what today are known as a single-lens microscopes he used his microscope to examine almost anything he could get his hand on: scraping from his teeth, water, blood, sperm, and even diarrheal stool.
2- Louis Pasteur : French chemist, made numerous
contributions to microbiology: -discovered what occurs during alcoholic fermentation -ending the theory of spontaneous generation -discovered exist of aerobes and anaerobes organisms - developed what known as pasteurization - discovered the infectious agents of silkworm disease -contribute to germ theory of disease (specific microorganisms cause specific infectious disease e.g Bacillus anthracis cause anthrax - championed changes in hospital practices to minimize the spread of disease by pathogens -developed vaccines to prevent cholera, anthrax...
3-Robert koch (German Physician) :
- develop the germ theory - discovered that bacillus anthracis produce spores, capable of resisting adverse conditions. - developed methods of fixing, staining, ad photographing bacteria. -developed methods of cultivating bacteria on solid media - discovered bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes tuberculosis and Vibrio cholerae that cause cholera -work on tuberculin ( a proetin derived from M.tuberculosis) which lead to the development of a skin valuable in diagnosing tuberculosis.
