Microbiology Lecture Notes

Microbiology: An Umbrella Science

  • Microbiology is a broad science encompassing various aspects, but the focus will be on the interaction of microbes and the human host.

Oral Microbiome

  • The bumpiness felt on the back of the teeth is due to microbes.
  • Students will swab their teeth in the lab to identify the types of microbes present.

Human Body Systems

  • The passage of food involves the esophagus, stomach, small intestine (ascending, transverse, descending), rectum, and anus.

Medical Terminology

  • Taking a medical terminology class is highly recommended to understand medical language.

Teaching as a Vocation

  • Teaching is described as a calling, driven by a desire to be present and contribute rather than financial gain.

Current Viral Concerns

  • The major viral problem in Texas currently is COVID, but measles is also a concern.

Prions

  • Prions are not a heavily discussed topic due to limited financial interest.

American Interests

  • In America, there's a tendency to focus on things that generate money.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Microorganisms: Bacteria

  • The cell wall is a crucial characteristic for distinguishing bacteria.

Archaea

  • Archaea thrive in extreme environments.
  • The discussion serves to differentiate archaea from other bacteria.

Fungi

  • Fungi can be dangerous due to their therapeutic window—the range between euphoric and toxic effects.
  • The power of psilocybin is now being harnessed.

Protozoans

  • There are approximately 35 classes of protozoans.
  • Only six protozoan classes are of interest due to their ability to cause disease in humans.

Characteristics of Life

  • The first two critical characteristics of life are reproduction and metabolism.
  • Viruses excel at reproduction but lack the ability to metabolize and produce ATP.
  • Therefore, viruses are not considered living organisms; they consist of a protein covering and nucleic acid.

Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis

  • Historically, the scientific doctrine of spontaneous generation suggested that life appeared out of nothingness.
  • An experiment demonstrated that life originates from other life, challenging the spontaneous generation theory.
  • Life comes from other life.

Dust Composition

  • Dust is described as accumulated death, consisting of particles shed from the body.
  • Shaking bedsheets releases dust particles, which are essentially remnants of oneself.

Life from Life

  • Life consistently originates from other life through interaction with the environment.

Reproduction

  • Biological reproduction requires engagement with the environment.

Bacterial Growth

  • Millions of bacteria accumulate overnight.

Colony Forming Units (CFU)

  • CFU stands for colony forming unit which is used to quantify bacteria.

Morphology Assignment

  • A morphology assignment tests students' knowledge of terminology and ability to work in groups.

Koch's Postulates

  • Koch's postulates aimed to explain how infections or diseases begin.

Postulate 1: One Agent, One Disease?

  • Koch's first postulate states that every infectious disease is associated with a specific infectious agent.
  • The question is posed whether this holds true every time.

Versatility of Some Organisms

  • Certain organisms, like Streptococcus pyogenes, can infect various parts of the body.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes can cause strep throat, necrotizing fasciitis, scarlet fever, and endocarditis.
  • These organisms can cause multiple conditions but are still causing one type of infection.