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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
( )
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: fold
Bright microorganisms could be seen in a dark back ground

10. 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

11. 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.

12. Jan Baptista Van Helmont
( )
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

13. Closed container No Maggots Developed
Francisco Redi ( )
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

14. John Neetham ( )
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

15. 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

16. 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.

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

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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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.)

22. Louis Pasteur Vaccinating the Sheep

23. Father of Practical Bacteriology
Robert Koch ( )
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.

24. Koch’s Postulates

25. Edward Jenner ( )
Discovered a safe and efficient vaccination against small pox (Variola).

26. Father of Antiseptic surgery
Joseph Lister ( )
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.

27. An add for Penicillin, during II World War
Alexander Fleming ( )
Penicillin: The accidental Discovery
An add for Penicillin, during II World War

28. 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

29. 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.

30. Pure Culture on Solid Media

31. Discovered White Blood Cells & phagocytosis: Began field of immunology
Elie Metchnikoff ( )
Discovered White Blood Cells & phagocytosis:
Began field of immunology

32. Invented diphtheria antitoxin
EMILE Von Behiring
Invented diphtheria antitoxin

33. Developed Streptococci Classification
Rebecca Lancefield
Developed Streptococci Classification

34. 1901 Behring Diphtheria antitoxin 1902 Ross Malaria transmission
SELECTED NOBEL PRIZES IN PHYSIOLOGY
Behring Diphtheria antitoxin
Ross Malaria transmission
Koch TB bacterium
Metchnikoff Phagocytosis
1945 Fleming, Chain, Florey Penicillin
Delbruck, Hershey Viral replication
Tohegawa Antibody genetics
Prusiner Prions

35. 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

36. Thank you
Any
Questions ?