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The GOOD, The BAD and The UGLY Microbiology 1 Dr Viv Rolfe
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Lecture Outline The GOOD What is a microbe and microbiology? What are the different types of microbe? Microbes that are harmless. The BAD Common types of microbe that cause disease. The UGLY An introduction to infection.
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A MICROBE is a tiny organism that has to be viewed under a microscope. MICROBIOLOGY is the branch of biology which studies micro-organisms and their effects on the living host. The MICROSCOPE is the tool used by all microbiologists. What is a Microbe and Microbiology?
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Microscopes Basic microscope - simple glass lenses for low power magnification. Confocal microscope and scanning electron microscope - state of the art technology for high power magnification.
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Does Size Matter? Microbes are measured in units called MICRONS... Micro = 1 / 1000 000 of a meter = m
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Rain drop 10,000 m in DIAMETER Pin Head 2,000 m Amoeba 500 m Fungus spore 30 m Bacteria 1-5 m Smoke particle 0.1 m Virus < 0.05 m
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Rain drop 10,000 m in DIAMETER Pin Head 2,000 m Amoeba 500 m Fungus spore 30 m Bacterium 1-5 m Smoke particle 0.1 m Virus < 0.05 m
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Penicillin spores- damage bacterial cell walls giving us ANTIBIOTICS. The GOOD
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Probiotics - “friendly bacteria” The GOOD
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…and where would we be without yeast?
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Types of Microbes There are 4 basic groups of microbe which can all cause infectious disease. a. bacteria b. fungi: yeasts and molds c. viruses d. protozoa
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A - Bacteria a.There are thousands of bacterial species and many are pathogenic. They cause infections because they are everywhere, multiply quickly and some secrete toxins causing illness. Three basic shapes: coccus rod or bacillus spiral
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1) Single coccus Coccus - 4 types 2) Paired diplococci 3) Chains or streptococcus 4) Bunches or staphylococcus
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Staphylococcus aureus Releases toxins which cause food poisoning. Big news because its a “super bug”. It is resistant to antibiotics and causes major hospital infection (MRSA). E.g.
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Rods / bacillus Rod-shaped bacteria 1) Single bacillus 2) In a chain of bacilli
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Single - Escherichia coli (E coli for short) Many different strains of E coli. Some are COMMENSAL and live in your colon. Others cause food poisoning, eg E coli 0157. E.g.
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Chains - Bacillus anthracis. Causes anthrax - animal infection that can spread to human (a zoonosis). Causes ulcers leading to blood poisoning and can be fatal in humans.
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Three forms 1) Basic spiral Spiral Shaped 2) Spirillum (or spelt spirillium) 3) Spirochete - more twisted
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A simple way of identifying SOME bacteria is by GRAM STAINING. Results… Bacteria that stain purple are termed gram- positive Bacteria that stain pink are said to be gram- negative Identifying Bacteria
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Gram negative (e.g.E coli, Neisseria gonorrhoea) Gram positive (E.g. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus)
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B - Fungi Fungi include yeasts and molds. Fungi have a rigid cell wall and absorb nutrients for energy. Over 100,000 known species but only about 100 species are pathogenic (harmful).
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Candida Albicans - YEAST Part of our commensal flora. Candida causes in vaginal or skin infection in people who are ill, immuno- suppressed, or on antibacterial therapy. E.g.
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Made of a HYPHA - a tubular in structure which form a mass or MYCELIUM. Molds reproduce by forming SPORES which can cause infection. Infection ranges from short term irritation to being death threatening. Fungi - Molds
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Penicillin HYPHA
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Single spore - can causes allergy and asthma.
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C - Viruses Wide range of weird and wonderful shapes. Enveloped
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Single cell with no organelles. They reproduce in living cells at a fantastic rate. They can mutate taking on new forms making them hard to treat. Viruses
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Most viruses cause ACUTE infection – short duration and rapid recovery Eg respiratory infections (e.g., cold viruses, influenza viruses). Latent viral infection can remain dormant in the host for years. Eg Herpes zoster - causes chicken pox and shingles. HIV. Viral Infection
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Unicellular microbes inhabiting mainly soil and water which can cause severe disease. 6% of global disease is caused by poor sanitation. (WHO 2004). D - Protozoa
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Protozoa
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Entamoeba histolytica Single celled AMOEBA which lives in water. Causes amoebic dysentery if ingested. E.g.
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Trichomonas vaginalis Single celled FLAGELLATE (flagella is Latin for WHIP). Causes urinary tract and vaginal infections from sexual contact. E.g.
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Commensal Microbes We are only about 10% human!!!! The number of microbes is greater than the number of human cells in the entire body!!!
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Commensal microbes Noun1. commensalism - the relationship between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it. Commensals can live all over and in the body: –Gut - E coli –Reproductive system - Candida albicans –Nose - Staphylococci –Mouth - Streptococcus
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Commensal microbes The microbes in your large intestine ferment undigested food such as fibre providing the body with energy…..
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…and wind!
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If a commensal bacteria is in the WRONG PLACE at the WRONG TIME it can cause infection… E.g. - if the skin is cut, during immuno-suppression, in the elderly or very young. But - Commensals can Cause Infection
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The BAD and the UGLY Pathogens and Infection
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Pathogens A pathogen is a microbes that cause disease (pathogenicity) by rapidly growing, producing toxins or causing cell damage…. Vibrio cholera - diarrhoea Helicobacter pylori - stomach ulcers Mycobacterium tuberculosis - TB
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What is an Infection? Infection is the invasion of the body by microbes which then multiply and cause tissue damage and disease. Can be a COMMENSAL microbe which gets into the wrong place Can be a non-resident PATHOGEN which enters the body
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And finally… Guess the Infection Bacterium Virus Fungus Protozoa
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Measles - VIRUS
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Diarrhoea - BACTERIA, PROTOZOA e.g. vibrio cholera, amoebic dysentery
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Cold - influenza VIRUS
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Athlete's foot - FUNGUS
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Mumps - VIRUS Swelling of salivary glands
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Jock Itch or Furuncle - BACTERIA Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection of hair follicle.
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Thrush - YEAST Candida albicans infection of mouth or genitals
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Thrush
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NOTE! Infections can be caused by another type of organism.
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Parasites Parasites - can be microscopic or visible to the eye, and are not covered by the medical subject of microbiology.
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