Introduction, Scope and Applied areas of Microbiology

1. Introduction to
Microbiology
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Dr. Pulipati Sowjanya
Associate Professor
Vignan Pharmacy College
Guntur - 522213

2. MICROBIOLOGY
• The word Microbiology was derived from Greek words mikros –
small, bios – life, logy – science.
• Microbiology is a science which deals with living organisms of
microscopic size.
• Study of microorganisms started after the discovery of
microscope by Antony Van Leeuwenhoek. He is known as father
of microbiology
• The term microbiology was introduced by a French Chemist -
Louis Pasteur, who demonstrated that fermentation was caused
by the growth of bacteria and yeast. He is known as father of
modern microbiology.
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3. Size of Particles and Microorganisms
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4. MEMBERS OF THE MICROBIAL WORLD
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5. SPECIFIC CLASSES OF MICROORGANISMS
Microorganisms
Bacteria
Fungi
AlgaeProtozoa
Viruses
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6. CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUPS OF MICROORGANISMS
• Unicellular prokaryotic or multicellular eukaryotic organisms. All algal cells contain chlorophyll
and are capable of photosynthesis. It’s study is known as Phycology.
Algae
• Unicellular prokaryotic organisms. Cell multiplication is by binary fission. It’s study is known as
Bacteriology.
Bacteria
• Unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic organisms. It includes single cell yeasts to multicellular
mushrooms. It’s study is known as MycologyFungi
• Unicellular eukaryotic organisms. It’s study is known as ProtozoologyProtozoa
• Acellular organisms. Obligate parasites. They are pathogens of plants, animals and bacteria.
Visualized by electron microscope. Cultivated in living cells. It’s study is known as Virology.
Viruses
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7. Beneficial and Harmful effects of Microorganisms
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8. Scope of Microbiology
 1. Production of antibiotic Eg: penicillin from penicillium.
 2. Production of enzymes , vaccines, biosurfactants, alcoholic and other
pharmaceutical product.
 3. Diagnosis of disease and treatment Eg: ELISA, Widal test.
 4. Treatment of industrial waste and material
 5. Plant growth promotion
 6. Sterile product preparation
 7. Sterilization ( process of killing microorganisms). Eg: moist heat sterilization, dry
heat sterilization, and membrane filtration.
 8. Steroid biotransformation. Eg: progesterone, testosterone.
 9. Identification of microorganisms. Eg: morphological, cultural or microscopic
study.
 10. Testing of Pharmaceuticals products and raw materials.
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9. Major Divisions of Microbial World
 Medical microbiology
 Pharmaceutical microbiology
 Industrial microbiology
 Food microbiology
 Soil microbiology
 Agriculture microbiology
 Aquatic microbiology
 Air microbiology
 Epidemiology
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10. Terminology
 Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths are named according to the
binomial Linneaus system that uses genus and species, but viruses are not
so named.
 For example, regarding the name of the well-known bacteria Escherichia
coli, Escherichia is the genus and coli is the species name. Similarly, the
name of the yeast Candida albicans consists of Candida as the genus and
albicans as the species.
 But viruses typically have a single name such as poliovirus, measles virus, or
rabies virus. Some viruses have names with two words such as herpes
simplex virus, but those do not represent genus and species.
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11. Definitions and terms
 Infection is a generic term used to indicate invasion of the host by a
microorganism.
 Infection may be subclinical or asymptomatic when the patient is unaware of
the infection.
 Clinical infection is associated with the presence of overt signs and symptoms
of disease.
 The term ‘colonization’ should be restricted to the presence of a microbe at an
expected site.
 A pathogen is a microbe that potentially can cause harm, i.e. tissue damage.
 An opportunistic pathogen is a microbe that causes infection in patients with
impaired immunity, e.g. fungal infections in cancer patients.
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12. Importance in Healthcare
• Health care providers and Laboratory specialists have the
task of figuring out what type of organism causes
disease.
– This is the only way we can have specific and effective
treatment.
– Choosing the wrong treatment can allow the disease to get
worse, and also contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic
resistant organisms.
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13. 20-08-2020
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It’s one thing to have talent.
It’s another to figure out and how to use it