microbio lec. 1

The discipline of microbiology came to exist since

17th century

Define microbiology

The study of microorganisms

Define microorganisms

Life form too small to be seen by the unaided eye

Importance of microorganisms

Nothing on earth would be as we know it if it wasn’t by microorganism. Ex; landscape, food, fuel, health

Specializations by the nature of the organism

Bacteriology

Protozoology and protistology

Virology

Phycology- study of microscopic Uni-cellular

parasitology (helminths, nematodes,etc.)

Immunology- study interaction of infections w/ human body

Specializations by area of study

Clinical - health

Environmental - environment

Applied- industrial purposes

Food- wine, breads, cheese production

What was Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek’s impact on microbiology?

Developed single-lens for microscopes In 1674-1676 he described single-celled organisms.

What impact did Robert Hooke have?

Observed honeycomb structures in cork, called them “cells”.

Prokaryote vs. eukaryote

Properties of prokaryotic microorganisms

2 categories or domains: bacteria and archaea

Differences:

• genetics

• Metabolic pathways

• Cell walls and membranes

What does the name archaea suggest?

Generates RNA

Properties of eukaryotic microorganisms

Domain: Eukarya

Properties of the 5 types of eukaryotic microorganisms

Venn diagram of the three domains

Acellular entities

Non-cellular infectious agents: viruses, viroids, and prions virusoids

• They can replicate

• Obligate parasites

Viruses

Acellular entity composed of protein and nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA)

Inert outside of the host

Has protein coat to protect genetic insides

Viroids

Short strand of circular RNA capable of self-replication (no protein coat)

Leaves host very vulnerable.

Appear to maybe evolve from viruses

Virusoids

Require co-infection by helper virus

Don’t have whole machinery to replicate

Prions

• Misfolded rogue form of a normal protein

• Stimulate misfolding j

• Neurodegenerative diseases

• Ex, mad cow disease, no genetic info. Very difficult to destroy

Microbial world, 3 groups

Disciplines of microbiology

Bacteriology

Mycology- fungi

Virology

Phycology- plants

Protozoology- microscopic animals

What is the Binomial system and created by who?

Created to classify animals and plants by Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778)

Naming organisms: systematics and taxonomy

Taxonomic hierarchy

Kingdom, subkingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species