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Lecture Objectives: Why study microbiology? What is microbiology? Roots of microbiology

Why study microbiology? ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICAL

APPLIED SCIENCE

BASIC SCIENCE

The science of microbiology Microbiology can be highly interdisciplinary Molecular Bio Biochem. Microbiology Ecology Chemistry Engineering Computer Sci. Physiology Genetics

Geology

What is Microbiology
Study of life too small to be seen unaided by eye ! Need a microscope to see them

Using techniques of microbiology !Isolate microorganisms !Study their characteristics

<0.1 mm too small to see

Where to find microbes?

Ex. 1. In nature:

Where to find microbe?

Ex. 2. In your intestines:

Characteristics of a living organism

All living organisms are composed of one or more cellsthe cell theory of life. Viruses are not cellular, and are not considered to be living organisms. They are still considered a microorganism.

Characteristics of life Cell: The fundamental unit of living organisms with characteristic functions and structures. Cell functions: 1. Metabolismbiochemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes

2. Reproduction

Characteristics of life 3. Differentiate ! Formation of a spore; part of cell life cycle.

4. Communicate ! Or interact by means of chemicals released or taken up

Characteristics of life 5. Movement ! Living organisms are often capable of self-propulsion

6. Evolve ! Cells evolve to display different or new biological properties.

Characteristics of life

Cells have structures: Cytoplasmaqueous fluid containing enzymes, organelles, chemicals Nuclear area with DNA Cell membrane (plasma membrane) boundary between cell and environment

Classifying life

Three domains of organisms are now recognized: Bacteria numerous and diverse Archaea many live in extreme environments Eukarya fungi, algae, protozoa, plants, animals

Figure 1.6 Tree of Life

Prokaryotes

Figure 1.7 Drawings of representative microorganisms, as they appear by light microscopy

Classifying life: Eukaryotes

We are eukaryotes Some are big some are small. Hallmarks of eukaryotes: ! Nuclei ! Membrane bound organelles Some microbial eukaryotes: ! Yeast ! Fungi ! Protozoa ! Diatoms

Classifying life: Archaea Archaea are microorganisms No nuclei Different than bacteria ! To be discussed later. Often live in extreme environments Mostly non-pathogenic

methanoarchaea

Classifying life: Bacteria

Bacteria are microorganisms Most are harmless No nucleus Pathogenic: ! Escherichia coli (E. coli) ! Streptococcus (strep throat) ! Yersinia pestis (plague) ! Salmonella (food poison) Non-pathogenic: ! Thermus aquaticus (PCR) ! Lactobacillus (dairy products) ! Nitrosomonas (fish aquariums)

Nitrifying bacteria

Lets define a microorganism Microorganism: ! Can be eukaryotic, archaeal, or bacterial. Prokaryotes: ! Lack membrane-bound nucleus ! Self replicate We will focus is on the Prokaryotes ! Bacteria and Archaea

virus prokaryote

Nucleus

2 !m

History of microbiology

Infectious diseases, population control, and antiquity. ! Cholera, syphilis, casualties of war, trade. Black Death ! 1331

History of microbiology

How did people figure out that there were microbes? Major break through was when people could see microorganisms. Antony van Leeuwenhoek (16321723) ! Built the first solar light microscope in 1676. ! Magnification 300X

Antony van Leeuwenhoek Average guy with extreme curiosity. Excellent eye-sight Key player in advancing the field of microbiology He saw the unseen for the first time! E.g.: ! Corpuscle ! Bacteria ! Spermatozoa ! Algae He reported his observations too. In sometimes painful details.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

First observation of growing microorganisms. Also anaerobic growth Experimented with pepper water in open and sealed glass tubes. Used is microscope to make is observations.

Microbes and disease

Greek physician Galen said disease was caused by imbalance of 4 humours:
! ! ! ! Blood Phlegm Yellow bile Black bile

Pasteur and Sterilization.

Fracastoro: 1478-1553 (Italy)

! Wrote about spread of disease ! Proposed epidemics were spread by tiny spores.

During the mid 1800s there were hints that a transferable or infectious agent caused disease. Along came Robert Koch ! Showed, without a doubt, that anthrax was caused by a bacterium.

www.encyclopedia.com

John Snow and epidemiology

British epidemiologist around 1850 Proposed that cholera might come from water Used surveys and maps Linked the disease to sewage in water Therefore cholera must have come from sewage. Still couldnt prove that is was a caused by a microorganism!

Robert Koch--from modest doctor to pioneering microbiologists

He was the rst to prove that a microbe caused disease. In the blood of animals dying of anthrax there was always one type of bacterium: Bacillus anthracis But, did these bacteria cause the disease? Or did something else cause the disease and then this bacterium came along; take advantage of the weakened animal; and grow? Supplemental Reading on Web Page from Microbe Hunters

Kochs Postulates

Kochs Postulates: Defined

1. The suspected pathogenic organism should be present in all cases of the disease and absent from healthy animals 2. the suspected organism should be grown in pure culture 3. Cells from a pure culture of the suspected organism should cause disease in a healthy animal 4. The organism should be re-isolated and shown to be the same as the original.

Kochs Postulates: Part II

1. Blood of diseased animal. 2. Injected into healthy animal 3. Found same bacterium in the blood 4. Repeat 5. Whats the problem: How do you know disease comes from one bacterium? 109 cells/ml. Is there only 1 type in there? How do we address this problem? We need a way to separate individual bacteria. Then we need to culture the isolate and then repeat postulate #3. Solution: ! Dilute sample to one cell ! Use Kochs method for isolating individual bacteria ! The streak plate This was another major advancement in the field of microbiology

The Streak Plate

Need a solid surface to keep bacteria from moving away. ! Agar, petri dish Means of separating cells. ! Sterile stick or metal loop Sterilization method ! Heat
Once all these techniques were developed, Koch went on to isolate the bacteria that caused Anthrax, Tuberculosis, and Cholera. He received the 1905 Nobel Prize for the Tb work

Study Questions:
1. 2. 3. Why was the microscope key to microbiology? What are the 6 characteristics of living cells? Which characteristics are universal? Which of the 3 Domains contain microorganisms? How do microorganisms within these domains differ and how are they the same? What are Koch's postulates and how are they used? What is pure culture, and why is so important for microbiology? What would be different if Koch didn't start with a pure culture? How did solid media help with obtaining pure cultures? What is sterile technique, and why is it important? In other words, what would happen if sterile techniques weren't used?

4. 5. 6. 7.