Chapter 1 Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria Archaea Viruses Fungi Protists Animals

Microorganisms: Decompose organic waste Are producers in the ecosystem by photosynthesis Produce industrial chemicals such as ethyl alcohol and acetone Produce drugs

Microorganisms: Play a role in food/beverage production Are used to treat water Are used to clean up pollution

Knowledge of microorganisms: Allows humans to Prevent food spoilage Prevent and treat disease occurrence Make drugs

Conduct research Etc. Knowledge of microorganisms led to aseptic techniques to prevent contamination in medicine and in microbiology laboratories.

Microorganisms bacteria fungus protozoa algae virus

Naming and Classifying Microorganisms Carolus Linnaeus established the system of scientific nomenclature in 1735. Each organism has two names: the genus name and the species name. i.e. Staphylococcus aureus; Homo sapiens Scientific names: Are “Latinized” and used worldwide. May be descriptive or named after someone or something.

Scientific names After the first use, scientific names may be abbreviated with the first letter of the genus, and the species name: i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Esherichia coli are found in/on the human body. On the skin you may find S. aureus, and E. coli lives in the large intestine.

Bacteria Prokaryotes Peptidoglycan cell walls Binary fission For energy, use organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, or photosynthesis Vast majority do not cause human disease

Archaea: Prokaryotic Lack peptidoglycan Live in extreme environments Include: Methanogens Extreme halophiles Extreme thermophiles Not known to cause human disease

Fungi Eukaryotes Use organic substances for energy Molds and mushrooms are multicellular Yeasts are unicellular

Protozoa (Protists) Eukaryotes Absorb or ingest organic substances May be motile via pseudopods, cilia, or flagella

Algae (Protists) Eukaryotes Use photosynthesis for energy Produce molecular oxygen and organic compounds

Viruses Non-cellular Consist of DNA or RNA core Core is surrounded by a protein coat called capsid Capsid may be enclosed in a lipid envelope Viruses are replicated only when they are in a living host cell

Multicellular Animal Parasites Eukaryote Multicellular animals Parasitic flatworms and round worms are called helminths. Microscopic stages in life cycles. Tapeworm

Classification of Organisms Three domains Bacteria Archaea Eukarya Protists Fungi Plants Animals

History of Microbiology Microbes have been on earth for billions of years In 1665, Robert Hooke was first to observe biological cells under a microscope (cork cells). The first live microbes were observed under a microscope in 1673 by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. He observed microbes in teeth scrapings, rain water, etc.

van Leeuwenhoek’s microscope

How is life created? The hypothesis that living organisms arise from nonliving matter is called spontaneous generation. The Alternative hypothesis, that living organisms arise from preexisting life, is called biogenesis.

Evidence against Spontaneous Generation 1668: Francisco Redi filled six jars with decaying meat. Conditions Results 3 jars covered with fine net No maggots 3 open jars Maggots appeared From where did the maggots come?

Evidence For Spontaneous Generation 1745: John Needham put boiled nutrient broth into covered flasks. Conditions Results Nutrient broth heated, then placed in sealed flask Microbial growth From where did the microbes come?

Evidence against Spontaneous Generation 1765: Lazzaro Spallanzani boiled nutrient solutions in flasks. Conditions Results Nutrient broth placed in flask, heated, then sealed No microbial growth

Final Evidence against Spontaneous Generation 1861: Louis Pasteur demonstrated that microorganisms are present in the air. Pasteur’s S-shaped flask kept microbes out but let air in.

The Golden Age of Microbiology 1857-1914 Beginning with Pasteur’s work, discoveries included the relationship between microbes and disease, immunity, and antimicrobial drugs

Fermentation and Pasteurization Pasteur showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation. Alcohol fermentation breaks down sugar to alcohol. We use this process to make beer and wine (yeast). Acetic acid fermentation breaks down alcohol to acetic acid. We use this process to make vinegar. Some bacteria can turn wine to vinegar.

Fermentation and Pasteurization Pasteur demonstrated that “spoilage” bacteria could be killed by heat. This application of high heat for a short time is called pasteurization.

The Germ Theory of Disease The idea that some diseases are caused by microbes. 1835: Agostino Bassi showed a silkworm disease was caused by a fungus. 1865: Pasteur believed that another silkworm disease was caused by a protozoan.

The Germ Theory of Disease 1840s: Ignaz Semmelwise advocated handwashing to prevent transmission of puerperal fever from one patient to another. 1860s: Joseph Lister used a chemical disinfectant to prevent surgical wound infections. 1876: Robert Koch established a set of postulates, used to prove that a specific microbe causes a specific disease (i.e. anthrax).

Vaccination 1796: Edward Jenner inoculated a person with cowpox virus. The person was then protected from smallpox. The term vaccination comes from vacca, latin for cow.

The Birth of Modern Chemotherapy Treatment with chemicals is chemotherapy. Chemotherapeutic agents used to treat infectious disease can be synthetic drugs or antibiotics. Antibiotics are chemicals produced by living organisms that inhibit growth of, or kill microbes. Synthetic drugs are laboratory-made. 1910: Paul Ehrlich developed a synthetic arsenic drug, salvarsan, to treat syphilis.

The Birth of Modern Chemotherapy 1928: Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic. He observed that Penicillium fungus made an antibiotic, penicillin, that killed Staphylococcus aureus. 1940s: Penicillin was tested clinically and mass produced.

Microbiology Related fields Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. Mycology is the study of fungi. Parasitology is the study of protozoa and parasitic worms. Virology is the study of viruses. Immunology is the study of the immune system. Recombinant DNA technology: DNA from two or more different sources are combined.

Microbes are beneficial Nutrient recycling Bacteria recycle carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus that can be used by plants and animals.

Bioremediation Bacteria degrade organic matter in sewage. Bacteria degrade or detoxify pollutants such as oil and mercury

Biological Insecticides Some microbes infect, and are pathogenic to, insects. Used to prevent insect attack on many crops. An alternative to chemical pesticides. Bacillus thuringiensis infections are fatal in many insects but harmless to other animals including humans and to plants. Application: sprayed or genetically engineered plants

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is a form of biotechnology. Through genetic engineering, bacteria and fungi can produce a variety of proteins including vaccines and enzymes. Missing or defective genes in human cells can be replaced in gene therapy by using viruses. Genetically modified bacteria are used to protect crops from insects and freezing.