This document provides an overview of key concepts in microbiology and parasitology. It begins by outlining classroom rules and course content, which will cover theory from textbooks, laboratory demonstrations of microbial growth, and exams. The document then defines microbiology as the study of microorganisms and notes their ubiquitous presence. It categorizes microbes and outlines the variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microbes. While some microbes are enemies that cause disease, many are allies or do not affect the body. The document concludes by discussing important figures in the history of microbiology like Leeuwenhoek, Koch, Jenner, Pasteur, and Fleming and possible healthcare careers involving microbiology.

1. Microbiology and Parasitology
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION

2. Some rules
• Listen when others are talking
• Show respect for other opinions
• If you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask (raise hand)
• No cellphones in the class room
• Full participation is asked

3. Microbiology
Virus: Ebola
Fungi: Mushroom
Bacteria: Salmonella
ENEMY OR… …FRIEND
Algae: Algal bloom
MICROBES

4. Course content
• Theory
– Burton’s Microbiology for the Health Sciences – P.G. Engelkirk & J. Duben
– Microbiology and Infection – T.J.J. Inglis
• Practice: demonstrations in laboratory science
– Growth of bacteria
– Growth of fungi
• Tests
• Assignments
• Final examination

5. Website
• http://pson-biochemphys.yurls.net/en/page/

6. Today
• Microbes
– Definition
– Presence
– Variety
– Enemy or friend?
• Historical Background
– Earliest known diseases
– Fouding fathers
• Microbiology in health care
– Possible careers

7. Definition?
• MICRO – BIO – LOGY
– μικρος = micros = “small”
– βιος = bios = “life”
– λογος = logos = “science”
– “The study of very small living organisms”
• or: MICROBIOLOGY
– “The study of microorganisms (microbes) usually less then 1 mm in
diameter which requires some sort of magnification to be seen clearly”
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

8. Presence of Microbes
• Microbes are ubiquitous: virtually everywhere
– Water (photosynthetic algae, plankton)
– Dead or decaying materials (decomposers/saprophytes)
– Soil (bacteria used in microbial ecology)
– Animals/plants (bacteria and protozoa in intestinal tract)
– Food/drinks (yeast in bread and beer)
– Laboratory (study or to produce antibiotics, insulin, hormones)
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1
MANY
MICROBES
ARE
USEFUL
(FRIENDLY)

9. Variety of Microbes
• Categories
– Acellar: Viroids, Virus, Prion
– Prokaryotes (cellular without nucleus): Bacteria, Archaea, Cyanobacteria
– Eukaryotes (cellular with nucleus): Algae, Fungi, Protozoa
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1
Microbes
Acellular
Viroids
Prions
Virusus
Cellular
Prokaryotes
Archaea
Bacteria
Cyanobacteria
Eukaryotes
Algae
Fungi
Protozoa

10. Microflora
Indigenous
microflora
(100 trillion)
Nonpathogens
(97%)
Opportunistic
pathogens
Pathogens /
infectious agents
(3%)
FRIENDS
MICROBIAL ALLIES
ENEMIES
MICROBIAL ENEMIES
“GERMS”
USED-TO-BE-FRIENDS
POTENTIAL ENEMIES
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1
• All microbes living on our bodies: Indigenous Microflora

11. Disease
• Microbial enemies…
– …cause disease
– “Pathogens”
– Two categories
• Infectious diseases
– 50.000 deaths/day
– Majority in
developing countries
• Be aware of…
– Infectious diseases
– Pathogens
– Source
– Transmission
– Protection/prevention
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

12. Earliest known diseases
3180 BC
1900 BC
1500 BC
1122 BC
790-640 BC
430 BC 1493
0 2015
Egypt:
First recorded pestilence
Troy:
Bubonic plague
Egypt:
Epidemic fevers
China:
Smallpox
Rome:
Epidemics of plague
Greece:
Epidemics of plague
Europe:
Syphilis
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

13. Historical background
• Once upon a time…
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1
… they had no idea

14. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
• Dutch merchant
• Godfather of Microbiology
– First to see live bacteria
– Quote from Microbe Hunters
• Inventor microscope (hobby)
– Examined water, blood, sperm,
teeth, stool, etc.
– Observed tiny living creatures:
“ANIMALCULES”
• No scientist
– No speculation on origin
– No association with disease
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

15. Leeuwenhoek’s microscopes
• Simple or single-lens microscope
– One magnifying lens
– Magnifying power of x 300
– Tiny glass lens mounted in a plate
– Specimen placed on small pin
– Screws used to adjust position
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 2
Drawings of van Leeuwenhoek

16. Robert Koch
• German Physician
– Germ theory of disease: “specific
microbes cause specific disease”
– Developed fixing, staining,
photographing bacteria
– Contributed to TB skin test
– Cultivate bacteria on solid agar
• obtain pure culture (one type)
• Developed Koch’s postulates
– Experimental procedure
– Proof germ theory of disease: “specific
microbes cause specific disease”
– e.g. Antrax bacillus  Antrax
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

17. Koch’s Postulates
After fulfilling Koch’s Postulates: prove that microbe is cause of particular disease
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

18. Edward Jenner
• British physician and scientist
• 1976: Developed smallpox vaccine
– Hypothesis:
“Having cowpox protects from
smallpox”
– Vaccin: sample from milder cowpox
– First to publish results of vaccination
– Origin of immunology?
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 16

19. Louis Pasteur
• French Chemist
– Fermentation process
– Disproved abiogenesis
(sponteneous generation)
– Aerobes/Anaerobes
– Developed Pasteurization
– Germ theory of disease: “specific
microbes cause specific disease”
– Championed changes in hosptial
practices: minimize spread disease
– Vaccins for chicken cholora, antrax
and rabies.
• Research center for
infectious disease
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

20. Joseph Lister
• British surgeon
– Asepsis (without infection)
– Antisepsis (against infection)
• “Phenol as antiseptic”
– Apply to wounds, hands, instruments,
wound dressings
– Perform surgery in phenol mist (irritating)
• Use of sterile equipment
• ↓ wound infections/mortality
• First pure culture (in liquid medium)
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 8,12

21. Alexander Fleming
• Scottish bacteriologist
• First antibiotic
– Accident: mould (fungi) on bacteria
culture plate
– Antibiotic (Penicillin) produced by
mould inhibited growth of bacteria!
• WWII: Penicillin saved thousands of lifes
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 9

22. Ronald Ross
• British medical doctor (born in India)
– Discovered malarial parasite in
mosquito
– Realization: “Malaria transmitted by
mosquitos”

23. Ignaz Semmelweis
• Hungarian physician
• The Father of Handwashing
– Many women died from puerperal fever
(childbed fever)
– Physicians directly from autopsy room
to delivery clinic
– Spread by hands of physicians/students
– Rule: “wash hands with antiseptics”
– ↓ Maternal mortality rate
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 12

24. Career in Health Care
• Bacteriologist (Bacteria)
• Phycologist (Algae)
• Protozoologist (Protozoa)
• Mycologyst (Fungi)
• Virologist (Viruses)
• Pursue career in
medical microbiology?
– Study pathogens, infectious diseases
and body’s defense mechanisms
– Development of vaccines
– Epidemiology (public health)
– Immunology (immune system)
– Clinical/diagnostic microbiology
(laboratory diagnosis)
Burton’s Microbiology: Chapter 1

25. The End