History of MICROBIOLOGY Dr. E. M. RAJESH, Lecturer in Biotechnology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore-641014, INDIA. History of Microbiology

Transmission: RAT FLEAS BITE BUBONIC PLAGUE –PLAGUE /BLACK DEATH Painful and Ugly disease, Characterized by swollen lymph nodes (Buboes) Transmission: RAT FLEAS BITE Killed 25 MILLION people in EUROPE during the middle ages –1/3 POPULATION Disaster was unknown, 500 YEARS latter in 1890 microbiologist identify the causative agents BUBONIC PLAGUE –PLAGUE /BLACK DEATH

Greater Impact than the Plague Phytopthora infestans infected potatoes cause them to rot in the fields The result was DEVASTATING AND HUNGER-BASED DISEASE were widespread 12,40,000 PEOPLE HAD DIED and 12,00, 000 MORE HAD EMIGRATED to other counties Potato blight- AN ECONOMIC THREAT to potato farmers THE IRISH FAMINE (1800) : POTATO BLIGHT DISEASE

Most devastating explosions of infections in 1519 The native American population of the central region was 25 to 30 million Ravages of disease (Small pox) shrunk the population to 3 million with in 50 years Almost 90% of the population died THE CONQUEST OF AMERICA

Storing food in cooler temperatures Salting, drying, smoking Use of spices Cremation of dead Concealing and burying dead beyond a nearest passing river or in a distant area Traditional, mystical and superstitious explanations Humans knew how to deal with germs before

Aristotle (384-322 BC) First to record possible routes to life. He saw beings as arising in one of three ways, from sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction or nonliving matter. Observable that aphids arise from the dew on plants, fleas from putrid matter, and mice from dirty hay This belief remained unchallenged for more than two thousand years. PAINTED BY S. UCHII, 2003

The Romans - Used a magnifying lens called “Flea glasses” Zacharias Janssen Invented first compound microscope

Improved the Microscope Improved the Telescope Robert Hooke coined the term “CELL” THE FIRST MICROSCOPE

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) Major contributions to the development of microbiology was after the invention of the microscope by Anton von Leuwenhoek and the implementation of the scientific method. A hobbyist microscopist Dutchman Improved the simple microscope to a magnification of 270X First to observe and describe microorganisms accurately Composed of one lens Light shines objects at a 45˚ angle Worked like a dark field microscope Magnification: 50-300 fold Bright microorganisms could be seen in a dark back ground

Leeuwenhoek’s Observations Reported to the Royal Society of London (1673) Accurate shape, detailed movement Subjects were most possibly bacteria and protozoa and called them “Animalcules“ Also reported spermatozoa, blood cells

spontaneous generation The debate over spontaneous generation The hypothesis that living organisms arise from nonliving matter is called SPONTANEOUS GENERATION (ABIOGENESIS). According to spontaneous generation, a “vital force’ Forms life. The alternative hypothesis, that the living organisms arise from preexisting life, is called BIOGENESIS.

Jan Baptista Van Helmont (1580-1644) Discovered CARBON DIOXIDE, introduced the term gas in its present scientific sense Reported in late 1500’s that barley grains and old shirts left in a corner would spontaneously give rise to mice Claimed as evidence that supported SPONTANEOUS GENERATION OR ABIOGENESIS

Closed container No Maggots Developed Francisco Redi (1626-1697) Opposed spontaneous Generation Hypothesis: Maggots come from flies. REDI’S EXPERIMENT Open container Flies were observed egg laid on Meat & Maggots Developed on meat Closed container Flies were observed egg laid on the Net Maggots Developed on net Closed container No Maggots Developed

John Neetham (1713-1781) supported spontaneous Generation Conclusion: Organic matter had vital force that confers properties of life to non-living matter BUT: He had left the flasks unsealed after bioling

Lazaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) supported spontaneous Generation Air carries germs to broth and boiling kills the existing ones Compounds essential with the generation of life were destroyed by heating!! Ealing prevents air that is necessary for spontaneous generation

Other supporters of biogenesis THEODORE SCHWANN (1810–1882) allowed air to enter a flask containing a sterile nutrient solution after the air had passed through a red-hot tube. The flask remained sterile. GEORG FRIEDRICH SCHRODER and THEODOR VON DUSCH allowed air to enter a flask of heat-sterilized medium after it had passed through sterile cotton wool. No growth occurred in the medium even though the air had not been heated. THE FRENCH NATURALIST FELIX POUCHET claimed in 1859 to have carried out experiments conclusively proving that microbial growth could occur without air contamination.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) Disproved spontaneous generation Father of Modern Microbiology Pasteur's Swan neck flasks could supply air but could also trap ambient germs from entering broth

the Spontaneous Generation Pasteur Refutes the Spontaneous Generation Ambient germs are necessary for promoting growth Principle of sterility and aseptic work is important

Other Contributions of Louis Pasteur Worked on souring of wine and beer and found that this alcohol spoilage is due to the growth of undesirable organisms Showed that desirable microorganisms produce alcohol by a chemical process called “Fermentation” Showed that wine did not spoil, if it is heated to 50-60°C for a few minutes. Method is called “Pasteurization”. Founder of “Germ theory of disease” as he visualized that diseases are caused by microorganisms

Louis Pasteur (Contd…) Other Contributions of Louis Pasteur (Contd…) Discovered the importance of sterilization and discovered steam steri-lizer, autoclave and hot air oven. Established the importance of cotton wool plugs for protection of culture media from aerial contamination. He differentiated between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and coined the term “anaerobic”. Worked on “Pebrine”, a silk-worm disease caused by a protozoan and showed that infection can be controlled by choosing worms free from the parasite for breeding.

Louis Pasteur (Contd…) Other Contributions of Louis Pasteur (Contd…) Developed the process of “attenuation” during his work on “chicken cholera” (Old culture looses it character) Developed a live attenuated anthrax vaccine, by incubation at 40-42°C, which proved to be useful in protecting animals against anthrax. Developed a vaccine against rabies (Hydrophobia)- obtained the causative agent of rabies by serial intracerebral passage in rabbits and the vaccine was prepared by drying pieces of spinal chord.)

Louis Pasteur Vaccinating the Sheep

Father of Practical Bacteriology Robert Koch (1843-1910) Father of Practical Bacteriology Robert Koch first developed relationship between microorganisms and disease Discovered rod shaped organisms in the blood of animals, that died of anthrax. Developed Koch’s Postulates for testing relationship Introduced the staining techniques Discovered cause of tuberculosis (Koch’s Bacilli) Discovered the causes of Cholera Introduced pure culture techniques by using agar agar (Sea Weads:Gelidium Sp.) Tubercle bacilli or its protein extract was injected into a Guinea-pig already infected with the bacillus, an exaggerated reaction took place and the reaction remain localized. “Koch Phenomenon” and it is a demonstration of cell mediated immunity.

Koch’s Postulates

Edward Jenner (1749-1823) Discovered a safe and efficient vaccination against small pox (Variola).

Father of Antiseptic surgery Joseph Lister (1827-1912) Father of Antiseptic surgery Successfully prevented post-operative sepsis by introducing antiseptic techniques Used Phenol/Carboxyilic acid Revolutionized the science of surgery by introducing antiseptic system in 1867.

An add for Penicillin, during II World War Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) Penicillin: The accidental Discovery An add for Penicillin, during II World War

Paul Erlich Worked in Koch’s Lab doing Differential Staining Speculated at a Chemical Might Selectively Target Specific Cells and Kill Them. Developed the Discipline of Chemotherapy, Discovered First Antibiotics for Syphilis

First proposed using agar in culture media. Fannie Eilshemius (1850–1934) Walther Hesse (1846–1911) Polysaccharide derived from the cell walls of a red algae (Rhodophyta) A polysaccharide polymer that contains 3,6-anhydrogalactose, 2-O-methyl-α-l-galactopyranose and 6-O-methyl agarobiose Solid at >37oC. Melts at 100oC. Not digested by most bacteria First proposed using agar in culture media.

Pure Culture on Solid Media

Discovered White Blood Cells & phagocytosis: Began field of immunology Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916) Discovered White Blood Cells & phagocytosis: Began field of immunology

Invented diphtheria antitoxin EMILE Von Behiring Invented diphtheria antitoxin

Developed Streptococci Classification Rebecca Lancefield Developed Streptococci Classification

1901 Behring Diphtheria antitoxin 1902 Ross Malaria transmission SELECTED NOBEL PRIZES IN PHYSIOLOGY 1901 Behring Diphtheria antitoxin 1902 Ross Malaria transmission 1905 Koch TB bacterium 1908 Metchnikoff Phagocytosis 1945 Fleming, Chain, Florey Penicillin 1969 Delbruck, Hershey Viral replication 1987 Tohegawa Antibody genetics 1997 Prusiner Prions

Agricultural microbiology Aquatic microbiology Food Microbiology Technological advances have resulted in the development of studies in Agricultural microbiology Aquatic microbiology Food Microbiology Industrial microbiology Medical microbiology Space microbiology Environmental microbiology

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