Microbiology Extreme halophiles – found in
extremely salty environment
What is Microbiology? Extreme thermophiles – found
The scientific study of microorganisms
in hot sulfurous water such as
hot springs
Microorganisms
FUNGI
Also known as germs or microbes.
Minute organisms that are individually
Eukaryotes that obtain nutrients
too small to be seen with the naked through absorption
eye. Yeasts – group of unicellular fungi
May exist as single cell or cell clusters that reproduce asexually; “true”
Includes bacteria, fungi (molds,yeast), yeasts do not form hyphae or
protozoa and algae. mycelia
Also includes viruses (non-cellular Molds – multicellular fungi
entities straddling between life and composed of filaments called
non-life) hyphae , which interweave to form
mats called mycelia; can reproduce
BACTERIA
sexually and asexually
Classified as prokaryotes Dimorphic fungi – fungi that can
Unicellular organism that lack a nuclear assume both morphologies (yeast
membrane and true nucleus form at incubator or human
Also lack membrane-bound organelles temperature ; mold form at
such as mitochondria, ER, golgi roomtemperature); causative agents
apparatus of systemic mycoses and dimorphic.
Enclosed in cell walls that are largely Mycology – study of fungi
composed of peptidoglycan layer
PROTOZOANS
Bacteriology – study of Bacteria
Unicelular eukaryotic microorganism
ARCHAEA that move by pseudopods, flagella or
cilia.
Prokartyotic cells that may or may not
have cell walls (if cell walls are present, Live as either free living or parasitic
these lack peptidoglycan) Can reproduce asexualy or sexually.
Mostly found in extreme environment Protozoology – study of protozoans
and not known to cause diseases to
HELMINTHS
humans
Examples: Not strictly microorganisms
Methanogens – produce (multicellular parasitic eukaryotes)
methane as waste product
Microscopic in some stages of their disease as well as performing
life cycle antimicrobial susceptibility testing in
Classified as roundworms order to determine what type of
(nematodes) or flatworms (cestodes antimicrobial is the most effective to
or trematodes). the patient
Helminthology – study of Heminths
Public Health Microbiology
VIRUS
The application of public health
The smallest infectious particle that concept in microbiology; infectious
cannot be seen under an ordinary agents that causes epidemic
light microscope.
Other Disciplines Reated to
Neither prokaryotic nor eukaryotic
Microbiology
and are distinguished from living
cells with the following Immunology – study of immunity
characteristics: Microbial genetics – studies the
1. Consist of either DNA or RNA, mechanisms y which
but not both microorganisms inherit traits
2. Genome may be dsDNA, ssDNA, Molecuar biology – looks at how
dsRNA or ssRNA. genetic information is carried in
3. Acellular molecues of DNA and how DNA
4. Obligate intracellular parasites directs the synthesis of proteins
5. Host- or host cell-specific Microbial ecology - study of the
Virology – study of viruses relationship between
microorganisms and their
SUBDISCIPLINES OF MICROBIOLOGY
environment
Medical / Clinical Microbiology
BACTERIAL TAXONOMY
Medical – involves the study of
Derived from the greek word
microorganisms
“taxon” – arrangement; the
- broad term for all organisms
classification of organisms in an
Clinical is more specific and involves
irdered system thet indicates a
diagnostic aspect, diagnosis
natural relationship
management and patient treatment
Three separate (but interrelated)
Diagnostic Microbiology areas in bacteria taxonomy:
1. Classification
It focuses on the different
2. Nomenclature
techniques in order to isolate,
3. Identification
identify microorganisms that causes
Classification – categorization of NOMENCLATURE
organisms into taxonomic groups
Provides naming assignment to
(based on biochemical, physiologic,
each organism.
genetic and morphologic properties)
Family name is capitalized and has
Nomenclature – refers to the an “-aceae” ending
naming of an organism by Genus name is capitalized and is
international rules according to its followedby the lower case species
characteristics epithet; both should be italicized in
Identification – practical use of print or underlined when written in
classification scheme to: script.
1. Isolate and distinguish desirable When reffering to the entire genus,
organisms from undesirable the word “species” may be
abbreviated as “sp” (singular) or
(pure isolation)
“spp” (plural) (e.g. Staphylococcus
2. Verify the authenticity or special
spp.).
properties of a culture in clinical
setting;
3. Isolate and identify the causative
agent of a disease. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
Taxonomic ranks from the basis for Robert Hooke (1665)
the organization of bacteria
Linnaean taxonomy – most familiar Coined the term “cells” or “little
to biologists boxes”after observing a thin slice of
Diagnostic microbiologists cork through a crude microscope.
traditionally emphasize placement Cell theory – all living things are
and naming of bacterial species into composed of cells
famiy, genus and species Lacked the resolution that would
have allowed him to view microbes
Formal rank Example clearly
Kingdom Prokaryotae
Division Gracillicutes Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1673 - 1723)
Class Scotobacteria
Order Eubacteriales The first to observe live
Family Enterobacteriaceae microorganisms (“animalcules”)
Genus Escherichia Made detaied drawings of
Species Coli microorganisms he found in
Subtype E.coli o157:H7 rainwater, feces and materials he
scraped from the teeth.
Spontaneous Generation Theory Even before this , people commonly
believed that animals could be born
Theory stating that some forms of of moist soils, flies from manure,
life could arise spontaneously from and maggots from decaying
non-living matter. corpses.
Louis Pasteur (1861)
Microbes can be present in non-living
matter
Microbes can be destroyed by heat
Methods can be devised to block the
access of airborne microbes to nutrient
environments (became the basis for
aseptic techniques)
Fermentation – anaerobic
decomposition of carbohydrates
Pasteurization – A process in which
foods are treated with mild heat
(<100˚C) to eliminate pathogens and
extend shelf life.
Made the first attenuated vaccine.
Robert Koch
Discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and Bacillus anthracis.
Germ theory of diseases (Koch’s
postulates)
1. Microorganisms are isolated
from a diseased or dead animal
2. T Microorganisms and Human Diseases
h
e Roles of Microorganisms
1. Part of the food chain
2. Biodegradation and incorporation of
atmospheric nitrogen to organic
compounds
3. Photosynthesis (food and oxygen-
generating process essential to other
microorganisms are grown in
life forms)
pure culture.
4. Vitamin synthesis (e.g vitamin K)
3. Microorganisms are inoculated
5. Production of synthetic vitamins,
into a healthy aboratory animal organic acids, enzymes, alcohols and
4. Disease is reproduced in the drugs.
laboratory animal. 6. Food production (e.g cheese, yogurt
and beer)
Other Significant Contributors 7. Associated with diseases (only a
in Microbiology minority of microorganisms)
Edward Jenner – discovered Microorganisms According to Pathogenicity
smallpox vaccine
Rudolf Virchow – Challenged Non-pathogenic – do not cause disease,
spontaneous generation theory harm, or death
with the concept of biogenesis Opportunistic – typicaly non-
Ignaz Semmelweis – pathogenic but act as a pathogen under
demonstrated that physicians certain circumstances
who did not wash their hands Pathogenic – capable of causing disease
routinely transmitted puerperal to the host.
fever from one patient to
Normal Flora
another.
Joseph Lister – performed Microorganisms that are normally
surgery under aseptic found in and on the body
conditions using phenol Do not cause harm under normal
Paul Ehrlich – discovered conditions; benefits the host by
salvarsan (arsenic-derived drug preventing the overgrowth of
against syphilis) pathogenic microbes and by producing
Alexander Fleming – certain vitamins such as vitamin K and
discovered penicillin (antibiotic some B vitamins
produced penicillium Growth of these microorganisms are
chrysogenum) kept in check by the immune system
Biofilms
Compex aggregation of
microorganism on solid surfaces
Beneficial effect: protects mucous
membrane from harmful
microorganisms.
Harmful effect: can contaminate
medical implants such as joint
prostheses and catheters and cause
infections.
Infections and Infectious
Diseases
1. Infection
Invasion or colonization
of the body by disease-
causing microorganisms
An infection may exist
in the absence of a
disease (e.g. HIV
infection vs. AIDS)
2. Infectious Disease
A disease in which
pathogens invade a
susceptible host
The pathogen carries
out a part of its life
cycle which causes
diseases.
3. Emerging Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases that
are new or changing
and are increasing or
have the potential to
increase in incidence in
the future
Examples.COVID-19,
MERS, SARS, Avian flu,
Swine Flu.
