Introduction to Microbiology

1
Introduction to Microbiology Historical
perspectives discovery of microbes
(technology) repudiation of spontaneous
generation A young science! But applied
microbiology is almost as old as
agriculture bread beer, wine yogurt, cheese
2
Microbiology and public health Disease
prevention sanitation water supply pest/vecto
r control hospital environments
(nosocomial) epidemiology how diseases
spread how to control disease
3
Emerging diseases (p. 7)
What do we learn from them?
4
Infectious diseases may be transmitted from one
animal species to another Migration patterns may
affect spread of disease Technologies may
provide some risk for disease toxic shock
syndrome mad cow disease
5
Proof against spontaneous generation Why is this
so important? A major insight in the
characteristics of living organisms Living
cells arise from other living cells Previous
experiments did not prevent contami- nation by
microbes Pasteur figured out a way to do it
6
Pasteurs definitive experiment (1861)
Fortunately, no endospores were present p. 2
7
Golden Age of Microbiology Understanding the
unique characteristics of microbes How to study
them Their role in infectious disease- and in
the environment
8
Late 19th century (summarized on p. 4) Pure
culture techniques discovery of causative agents
of disease Control of infection with aseptic
technique Staining techniques Discovery of
viruses Beginning to understand the immune system
9
Early 20th century Antimicrobials Genetic
exchange between bacteria (transformation) Eluci
dation of DNA as heritable material Vaccines (it
began with smallpox)
10
Late 20th century Biotechnology restriction
endonucleases?recombinant DNA technology genetic
engineering genomics Viroids,
prions Eradication of smallpox polio?
11
Infectious disease emerging diseases resurgent
diseases chronic disease autoimmune disease?
12
Microbes and the environment Unique metabolic
processes Nutrient cycling (what does that mean?
Ch. 30) Carbon, nitrogen, sulfur cycle through
the ecosystem All living things need
them Microbes (especially bacteria) are required
for cycling to occur
13
Microbes (especially bacteria) as
model organisms Easy to grow Dont take up
much room Easy to manipulate Many processes
can be extrapolated to larger organisms
14
Scope of the course

• What are microbes?
• How do we distinguish one from another?
• Where in the environment are they found?
• How do they grow there?
• Oxygen requirements
• Metabolism
• How do we measure/detect growth?
• How do they cause disease?
• What is pathogenicity?

15
Scope of the course, continued

• How do we control microbial growth?
• To prevent disease
• To cure disease
• In the environment
• What is epidemiology?