INTRODUCTION

Kate C. Lim, RMT, MLS (ASCPi), (BCHPEd) DHPEd

Clinical Bacteriology (CMT) – Subject Head
Microbiology and Parasitology (SHAHS) – Subject Head
College of Medical Technology
Southwestern University PHINMA
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this discussion, the student should be able to:

• Define microbiology, pathogen, nonpathogen, and opportunistic pathogen

• Differentiate between acellular microbes and microorganisms and list
several examples of each.
• List several reasons why microbes are important (e.g., as a source of
antibiotics).
• Explain the relationship between microbes and infectious diseases
• Differentiate between infectious diseases and microbial intoxications
• Discuss two medically related fields of microbiology
• List some of the contributions of Leeuwenhoek, Pasteur, and Koch to
microbiology
• Differentiate between biogenesis and abiogenesis and the scientist whose
Pro’s and Con’s of the theories.
• Explain the germ theory of disease
• Outline Koch’s Postulates and cite some circumstances in which they may
not apply
MICROBIOLOGY – The
Science
What is Microbiology?
What is Microbiology?
bios – life
logy – the study of

• A specialized area of biology that deals with living and non living things
ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification.
• The study of microbes.
• Micro – means very small → Microscope* (an optical instrument)
• Microbes – ubiquitous (everywhere)
• Categories of microbes:
1. Virus
2. Bacteria
3. Archaea
4. Protozoa
5. Algae
6. Fungi
 MICROBES

Cellular Microorganisms
Acellular Infectious Agents
Prokaryotic – Archaea & Bacteria
Prions
Eukaryotic – Algae, Fungi and
Viruses
Protozoa
NON PATHOGENIC
VS
PATHOGENIC
microbial
allies microbial
enemies
 Naming and Classifying
Microorganisms
• Carolus Linnaeus established
the system of scientific
nomenclature in 1739.
• Each organism has two names →
Binomial nomenclature: Genus +
specific epithet (species)
• Italicized (or underlined), genus
capitalized, “latinized”, used
worldwide.
• ‘God created, Linnaeus organized.’
 Examples:
• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)

1857 –1911
 Types of Microorganisms
• Bacteria
• Archaea
• Fungi
• Protozoa
• Algae
• Viruses
• Multicellular animal
parasites
• Prions
BACTERIOLOGY

Study of bacteria.

simple, single celled (unicellular) organisms whose genetic

material is not enclosed in a special membrane.

Prokaryotic (Eubacteria, Cyanobacteria and Archaebacteria)

Binary fission – replication

MYCOLOGY
Mykos - mushroom

• Study of fungi.
– Organism whose cells have distinct nucleus containing
the cell’s genetic material (DNA) surrounded by a
nuclear membrane (Eukaryotes)
– Unicellular/ multicellular organism (Monomorphic;
Dimorphic fungi)
– Asexual and Sexual Reproduction (Budding or Mitosis)
 VIROLOGY

• Study of Viruses
– very small that most can be seen only with the used of
electron microscope;
– Core made only ONE type of nucleic acid either DNA or
RNA
– Does NOT contain structured elements required for
protein synthesis
– Replicates in host cells (ex: bacteriophage)
 PARASITOLOGY

• Study of Parasites, their hosts and the relationship

between them

– i.e. Protozoa and Helminths (Nematodes, Cestodes,

Trematodes)
WHY STUDY MICROBIOLOGY?
For 5 minutes, write on a piece of paper, TWO reasons on
why studying microbiology is important? Share your
answers with a pair.
WHY STUDY MICROBIOLOGY?
1. The microbes that live on and in the human body are referred to as our
indigenous microbiota.

2. Opportunistic pathogens do not cause disease under ordinary conditions but

have the potential to cause disease should the opportunity present itself.

3. Microbes are essential for life on this planet as we know it. For example, some
microbes produce oxygen by the process known as photosynthesis.

4. Many microbes are involved in the decomposition of dead organisms and the
waste products of living organisms. Collectively, they are referred to as decomposers
or saprophytes.

5. Some microbes are capable of decomposing industrial wastes (oil spills, for
example). Thus, we can use microbes— genetically engineered microbes, in some
cases—to clean up after ourselves. The use of microbes in this manner is called
bioremediation.
WHY STUDY MICROBIOLOGY?

6. Algae and bacteria serve as food for tiny animals. Then, larger animals eat the
smaller creatures, and so on. Thus, microbes serve as important links in food
chains.

7. Some microbes live in the intestinal tracts of animals, where they aid in the
digestion of food and, in some cases, produce substances that are of value to the
host animal. (For example, the E. coli bacteria that live in the human intestinal tract
produce vitamins K and B1)

8. Many microbes are essential in various food and beverage industries, whereas
others are used to produce certain enzymes and chemicals = BIOTECHNOLOGY.

9. Some bacteria and fungi produce antibiotics that are used to treat patients with
infectious diseases.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE OR MICROBIAL
INTOXICATION
Medical and Clinical Microbiology

• Medical microbiology is an excellent career field for individuals

having interests in medicine and microbiology.
- involves the study of pathogens, the diseases they
cause, and the body’s defenses against disease.

• Clinical microbiology or diagnostic microbiology, is

concerned with the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases
of humans
Pioneers of Microbiology- The History

Let’s play ‘GUESS WHO?’

His discovery is the foundation of Cell Theory
 The Beginnings

• Bacterial ancestors were the first living

cells to appear on Earth.

• 1665 – Robert Hooke: Cell Theory

• Observe a thin slice of cork
through a crude microscope
The Father of Microbiology, Father of Bacteriology, and Father of Protozoology
 ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK
“Father of Bacteriology and
(1632-17230)

Father of Protozoology”
• considered as “first true microbiologist”
• first person to observe and accurately describe living
microorganisms.

• used the term “animalcules” (tiny living and moving cells

seen under the microscope) → made detailed drawings of
organisms he found

• used his self-made single lens microscope (50x to 300x) to

study bacteria and protozoa.
The Transition Period
Spontaneous Generation vs Biogenesis
SPONTANEOUS GENERATION THEORY
(Abiogenesis)

• Living organisms arose “SPONTANEOUSLY” from NONLIVING,

DECAYING ORGANIC MATTER.

• People believed that toads, snakes, and mice could be born of most soil;
that flies could emerge from manure; and that maggots (the larvae of
flies), could arise from decaying corpses.

• Spontaneous generation theory took another 200 years to disprove

 ARISTOTLE
384-322 BC

• proposed the “Spontaneous Generation

Theory”
• states that living things could develop
spontaneously from non-living
materials
• Supported by appearance of living
creatures in decaying meat, stagnating
ponds, fermenting grain, and infected
wounds
FRANCESCO REDI
1626-1697

• Italian physician who

introduced experimental
procedure to disprove
Spontaneous Generation
Theory

• He challenged the idea that

maggots DO NOT arise
spontaneously from decaying
meat.
REDI’S EXPERIMENT (1668)
JOHN NEEDHAM
1731-1781

• He observed that a boiled mutton broth eventually became cloudy after

pouring it into a flask that was then sealed tightly.

• He asserted that organic matter possessed a “vital force” that could give
rise to life.
LAZZARO SPALLANZANI
1729-1799

• He improved the previous experiments of Needham by heating the

broth placed in a sealed jar. = NO GROWTH
• He proposed that air carried microorganisms to the culture medium
Theory of Biogenesis

It states that living cells can arise from pre-

existing living cells.
RUDOLF VIRCHOW
1821-1902

• He challenged the doctrine of spontaneous

generation with the concept of biogenesis.
LOUIS PASTEUR
1822-1895

• He disproved the doctrine of

spontaneous generation.
• He proved that the air does not
generate itself, microorganisms are
indeed present in it and can
contaminate sterile solutions.
• He proposed the use of HEAT in
killing microbes → ASEPTIC
TECHNIQUE (a method used in
preventing contamination by
unwanted microorganisms).
• He provided evidence that
microorganisms could not originate
from “mystical forces” present in
non-living materials.
 Confirmation of Biogenesis
Pasteur’s S-shaped (swan-neck ) flask kept
microbes out but let air in
The Golden Age of
Microbiology
1857-1914
 Fermentation and Pasteurization
• Theodor Schwann stated that yeast cells are responsible for the conversion
of sugars to alcohol.
• L. Pasteur described that certain microorganisms known as yeast convert
sugar to alcohol in the absence of air (FERMENTATION)
• Pasteur stated that the souring of wine are cased by different bacteria. (In the
presence of air, bacteria change the alcohol into vinegar (acetic acid)).
• To resolve, Pasteur suggested the minimal heating of beers and wines that is
enough to kill bacteria that can caused the spoilage. – PASTEURIZATION.
Pasteur’s Contribution to Microbial
Science

1. He disproved the theory of

spontaneous generation.
2. He developed the vaccine against
anthrax (1881) and rabies (1885)
3. He improved the wine-making
processes. (fermentation and
pasteurization).
 Theory of Antisepsis

• Ignaz Semmelweis (1816-1865)

• He demonstrated that routine
handwashing can prevent the spread of
diseases.

• Joseph Lister (1827-1912)

• He introduced the system of antiseptic
surgery in Britain.
• He pioneered in promoting among
surgeons handwashing before and after an
operation.
• Used of phenol as an antimicrobial agent
for surgical wound dressing.
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818-65), a Hungarian obstetrician educated at the
universities of Pest and Vienna, introduced antiseptic prophylaxis into medicine.
 GERM THEORY OF DISEASE
Based on the concept that microorganisms cam cause
diseases.
• ROBERT KOCH (1843-1910)
• First to show irrefutable proof that bacteria indeed cause
disease.
• He discovered Bacillus anthracis, causative agent of anthrax in
1876
• He discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agent of
pulmonary tuberculosis, in 1882.
• First to cultivate bacteria on boiled potatoes, gelatin, meat
extracts and protein.
• He developed a culture media for observing bacterial growth
isolated from the human body.
• Koch’s Postulates
KOCH’S POSTULATES
Exceptions to Koch’s Postulates:
1. Some pathogens do not grow on culture media (obligate intracellular).
• Ex. Virus, Ricketssia, Chlamydia, Mycobaterium leprae, and Treponemes.

2. Some pathogens are animal- or host-specific

3. Some disease maybe caused by combined effects of 2 or more microbes—

Polymicrobial Infection or Synergistic Infection

4. Some pathogens may be altered when grown in vitro. Some may become less
or non-pathogenic.
COLLABORATORS OF KOCH

• Fanny Hesse
• Suggested the use of agar, solidifying agent, in the preparation
of culture media.

• Julius Richard Petri

• Developed the Petri dish

• Martinus Beijerinck and Sergei Winogradsky

• Developed the enrichment-culture technique and the use of
selective media.
IMMUNOLOGY
Advent of Vaccination

• Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

• He introduced the concept of vaccination.

• Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) and Pierre Paul Emile Roux (1853-

1933)
• Pasteur used the term “vaccine” for an attenuated culture.
• Pasteur and Roux made a series of experiments to produce
attenuated strains of bacteria.
MODERN THERAPY: “Magic Bullet”

• Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915)

• He discovered salvarsan (arsphenamine) for the
treatment of syphilis
 MODERN THERAPY: “Magic Bullet”

• Selman Waksmann (1888-1973)

• Discovered the streptomycin and neomycin antibiotics
• Regarded as “Father of Antibiotics” – discovered antimicrobials
before the hype of penicillin

• Alexander Fleming (1881-1965)

• He accidentally discovered antibiotic penicillin (Penicillium
notatum)
• He discovered lysozyme
What career field in Microbiology are you interested in and why?

1.Bacteriologist
Specializes in bacteriology— the study of the structure, functions, and activities of bacteria

2. Phycologist/Algologist
Specializes in the study of various algae

3. Protozoologist
Explores in the area of protozoa and their activities

4. Mycologist
Specializes in the study of fungi

5. Virologist
Studies on viruses, prions, and viroids and their effects on living cells of all types

6. Medical microbiologist
Studies pathogens, the disease they cause, and the body’s defenses against disease.

7. Clinical microbiologist/Diagnostic microbiologist

Concerned with the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases of humans

8. Epidemiologist
Concerned with epidemiology, transmission of pathogens, disease-prevention measures, aseptic
techniques, treatment of infectious diseases, immunology, and the production of vaccines to
protect people and animals against infectious diseases
MAIN REFERENCE/S:

Engelkirk, P., & Engelkirk, J. (2015). Burton's Microbiology for the Health and Sciences.
10th ed., Philadelphia: Lipincott Williams & Wilkins

“May our philosophies keep pace with our technologies. May our compassion keep pace
with our powers. And may love, not fear, be the engine of change.”
Dan Brown, The Origin