Introduction to Microbiology
Microbiology Study of microscopic (living ) things E.g. viruses, bacteria, algae, protists, fungi
History of Microbiology 1590 – First compound light microscope Zacharias Janssen
History 1676 –first observation of bacteria “animalcules” Anton Von Leeuwenhoek
History 1796 – First vaccine (smallpox) Edward Jenner
History 1857 – Germ Theory of Disease Louis Pasteur
History 1867 Antiseptic Surgery Joseph Lister
History 1884 Koch’s Postulates of Disease Transmission Robert Koch
History Vaccine against Rabies Louis Pasteur
History 1929 Discovery of Penicillin (first antibiotic) Alexander Fleming
History 1938 – First Electron Microscope The electron microscope is capable of magnifying biological specimens up to one million times. These computer enhanced images of 1. smallpox, 2. herpes simplex, and 3. mumps are magnified, respectively, 150,000, 150,000 and 90,000 times.
History 1953 Structure of DNA Revealed Watson & Crick
History 1954 Polio Vaccine Jonas Salk
Recent History Genetic engineering Cloning Human Genome Project Biotechnology Who knows what is next?
Sizes of Microbes Virus - 10 →1000 nanometers * Bacteria → 5 micrometers ** (Human eye ) can see.1 mm (1 x m) * One billionth or 1 x m ** One millionth or 1 x m
Tools of Microbiology Compound light Microscope - live specimens - 1,000 mag. or less Electron Microscope - non-living specimens - > 1,000 X mag. Incubator – keep microbes warm for growth
Techniques of Microbiology Staining – to better see structures Microbial Culture - growing the wee beasties Container for microbe culture - usually Petri dish Culture media - Food for the microbes - E.g. Agar – (from red algae) - Others such as nutrient broths
Pure Culture Techniques 1.Inoculation 2.Isolation 3.Identification