MDR 1162 -
Microbiology
Module 1 – History and Themes of Microbiology
Outline
• Determine what microbiology is, what microorganisms are, and how
we classify them.
• Discuss the history of microbiology as a background for our
current study, begin building our timeline of microbiology.
What is microbiology?
Microbiology is the specialized area of biology that deals with
microorganisms (organisms too small to see with the naked eye)
and how our understanding of microbial processes may benefit
human life.
Acceptable synonyms: Microorganisms, microbes
How do we differentiate organisms?
Life is
organized into:
Domains,
Kingdoms,
Phyla, Classes,
Orders,
Families,
Genera,
Species
Fig. 1.14
The 3 domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and
How do we differentiate organisms?
Over evolutionary time, traits that
resulted in an adaptive competitive
advantage proliferated in
populations, eventually giving rise to
so-called “higher” eukaryotes like
humans.
In general, microorganisms are more
ancient or primitive than mammals
and reptiles, but they are
nonetheless interesting.
Fig. 1.1
How do we differentiate organisms?
Prokaryotes – organisms that lack a nucleus
• Bacteria – Have cell walls containing peptidoglycan
• Archaea – Have cell walls containing polymers other
than peptidoglycan, generally live in harsher
environments
*PEPTIDOGLYCAN WILL BE ADDRESSED IN MORE DETAIL IN FUTURE
LECTURES*
Eukaryotes – organisms with a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles
*NUCLEI AND OTHER ORGANELLES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN MORE
DETAIL IN FUTURE
What are different kinds of microorganisms?
Microorganisms are a diverse grouping, and include:
Helminths – worm-like, eukaryotic
parasites Fungi – eukaryotic microbes
Protozoa – diverse group of generally single-celled
eukaryotes Bacteria – single-celled prokaryotic organisms
Viruses – noncellular, parasitic, protein-coated genetic elements
that cause harm to host cells.
What are different kinds of microorganisms?
Microorganisms are a diverse grouping, and include:
Helminths – worm-like, eukaryotic
parasites Fungi – eukaryotic microbes
Protozoa – diverse group of generally single-celled
eukaryotes Bacteria – single-celled prokaryotic organisms
Viruses – noncellular, parasitic, protein-coated genetic elements
that cause harm to host cells.
Helminths
Tapeworms, flukes and roundworms are called
helminths, from the Greek word meaning
“worm”
Adult helminths are generally large and able
to be seen with the naked eye, from 25m long
tapeworms to tiny roundworms less than 1mm
long.
They are included among microorganisms
because of their infective abilities and a
microscope is required to identify their
eggs and larvae.
Fungi
Fungi are a large collection of organisms
that can either be macroscopic (mushrooms
etc.) or microscopic (yeasts and molds).
All fungi are heterotrophic (they acquire
nutrients from external organic
materials). Fig. 5.16b
Cell walls of fungi are made up of chitin. This
is a distinguishing feature when comparing
them to other microbes
Protozoa
Protozoa, or Protists are single-celled
eukaryotes with similar composition and
nutritional needs as animals (i.e.
heterotrophs, eukaryotic cell membranes).
This classification includes single-celled
algae often known as phytoplankton
Free-living organisms that can be found in
water, some are parasitic and live in Fig. 5.21a
animal hosts (e.g. Giardia)
Bacteria
The majority of our study will be on
bacteria and their different
classes/lifestyles
In general, bacteria are single-celled
prokaryotic organisms (lacking a nucleus
and organelles) whose cell walls contain the
polymer peptidoglycan.
*We will be going into more detail on
bacterial structure and function in Microbiology
Society
future lectures*
Viruses
Viruses are unable to repilicate on their
own and thus their status as “living” is
hotly debated
However, their size, interaction with other
microbes and human health connection
makes them worthy of study.
History of Microbiology
History of Microbiology
Early humans noticed that certain foods spoiled when left out and
caused illness while others were fine to eat. Additionally, they
were unaware that diseases may be caused by microbial life.
Much of the work in microbiology has taken place in the last 350
years
Development of the Microscope
In 1665, Robert Hooke
documented the first
observation of microorganisms
termed “hairy mold”
In the late 1600s, Antonie
van Leeuwenhoek developed
his own microscope and is
known as the father of
Fig. 1.7, 1.8
bacteriology
Improvement of the
Microscope
Today, many types of microscopy exist and are used widely. We
will discuss these in future lectures.
The Issue of Spontaneous Generation
In the 1600s the prevailing theory
was that maggots came from
rotting
meat. In 1668, Francesco Redi
performed an experiment to
demonstrate that living things
necessarily come from living
things.
Organisms do not arise
spontaneously
Critics said it is possible that there
is a “life force” in the air and
disagreed with Redi
The Issue of Spontaneous Generation
In 1864, Louis Pasteur
disproved spontaneous
generation (abiogenesis = life
from nonliving things)
He sterilized flasks containing
broth. If open to airborne
microbes, growth in the broth
was seen, if the gooseneck
was maintained, no growth
was seen.
The Scientific
Method
Debate over spontaneous generation led
in part to development of scientific
method.
• Observation leads to question
• Question generates hypothesis s
• Hypothesis is tested through experiment(
)
• Results prove or disprove hypothesis
• Accepted hypothesis leads to theory
• Reject or modify hypothesis
The Scientific Method and Fermentation
History of Microbiology – What causes
disease?
In addition to developing vaccines and Pasteurization, Louis
Pasteur also developed the initial portions of the Germ Theory of
Disease (the idea that microorganisms can be the causative agents
of disease). This initial idea was verified by a series of
experiments by Robert Koch who worked on Bacillus anthracis,
giving rise to Koch’s Postulates.
Robert Koch
Koch determined that anthrax
was caused by Bacillus anthracis.
Other Contributions:
-Simple staining techniques
-First photomicrograph of
bacteria
-Techniques for estimating
CFU/mL
-Use of steam to sterilize
media.
-Use of Petri dishes.
-Techniques to transfer bacteria.
-Bacteria as distinct species.
Koch’s Postulates
Some organisms are
difficult or impossible to
culture using typical
media
Semmelweis and Snow
Ignaz Semmelweis is known as the father of epidemiology (the study
of occurrence and distribution of diseases in humans)
He is also the originator of hand-washing, after noticing that mothers in
the maternity ward of a hospital became infected after examinations
by physicians coming from the autopsy room.
John Snow used epidemiology to control the spread of disease
during an outbreak of cholera (caused by Vibrio cholerae) in London.
He determined that the public water system was the vector for the
disease which contributed to development of sewage systems in
London.
Immunology
• Joseph Lister’s antiseptic technique
• Sanitized patients and instruments to clean them prior to surgery
• Edward Jenner’s vaccine – Smallpox
• Noticed that milkmaids who had been infected with cowpox were immune to
smallpox. He exposed healthy individuals to cowpox and prevented
smallpox across London.
• Florence Nightingale
• Worked in a military hospital and extended aseptic techniques to
the military. Cleaned wounds and changed bandages, saved
countless lives
• Paul Ehlrich
• Chemist who developed drugs that could treat disease, credited with
the first chemotherapeutic.
