TOPIC 1:

INTRODUCTION TO
MICROBIOLOGY
PART 1
DISCOVERY OF
MICROORGANISM

FACILITATOR: DR. NORASHIRENE BT MOHAMAD JAMIL

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an introduction to the general microbiology of microorganisms and the fundamentals of
microbiological techniques with emphasis on bacteria.

Topics covered include the:

• history of microbiology, general biology
• cultivation of bacteria, fungi, protists and viruses,
• pure culture techniques,
• enumeration of bacterial population,
• media used in microbiological work
• control of microorganisms.
Recommended Reference Book
INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY
Learning Outcomes
• At the end of this topic, students should be able to

• Define microbiology

• Explain the discovery of microorganisms

• Compare/contrast Pasteur’s contributions and Koch postulates

• Explain the importance of microorganisms

WHAT IS MICROBIOLOGY?
• It is a thorough study of all microscopic life (microorganism) for the purpose of control and
manipulation.

• Microbiology can be broken-down to several sub-disciplines including:

• Virology – study of viruses
• Parasitology – study of parasites
• Mycology – study of yeast and fungi
• Bacteriology – study of bacteria
• Phycology – study of algae (or more specific micro-algae)

• It have a strong influence in:

- food
- environmental
- clinical and medical
WHAT ARE MICROORGANISMS?
• Microorganisms are living organisms that are too small to be seen by the
naked eyes but complete cell capable of functioning on its own (prokaryotes)

• They have specific needs to reproduce and survive, subject to mutation,

have similar organization and metabolic pattern.

• They are able:

• to get food / synthesize food (autotrophs)
• to excrete waste
• to react to stimulant.

• Due to its microscopic size, they grow either by duplication, replication,

budding, sporulation, or fragmentation.

https://goo.gl/images/acFtYx
 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS
Aristotle (384-322 BC) – spontaneous generation ie living things can arise spontaneously / living
things can arise from non-living matter.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) – discovered animalcules using his own simple
microscope. First person to see and describe living microbes.

Simple one lens microscope by Leeuwenhoek.

Magnification; 300x. It is a powerful magnifying
glass.

https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/dn27563-2_800.j
pg?width=778

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS
Aristotle (384-322 BC) – spontaneous generation ie living things can arise spontaneously / living
things can arise from non-living matter.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) – discovered animalcules using his own simple
microscope.
Robert Hooke (1635-1703) English scientist – developed compound
microscope, looked at cork & coined the term “cell”, first observation of
fruiting bodies of mold.

http://stevegallik.org/images/hookemicroscope.jpg

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS
Aristotle (384-322 BC) – spontaneous generation ie living things can arise spontaneously / living
things can arise from non-living matter.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) – discovered animalcules using his own simple
microscope.
Robert Hooke (1635-1703) English scientist – developed compound
microscope, looked at cork & coined the term “cell”

Francisco Redi (1668) Italian physician – disapproved spontaneous

generation

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

Spontaneous generation
versus Biogenesis

■ Francesco Redi
– Late 17th century
– Gauze covered glass jar with meat
– Proved maggots did not arise
spontaneously

Redi’s experiments refuting the spontaneous generation of maggots in meat

When meat is exposed in an open jar, flies lay their eggs on it, and the eggs
1. From where did the
hatch into maggots (fly larvae). In a sealed jar, however, no maggots appear. If
maggots come? the jar is covered with gauze, maggots hatch from eggs that the flies lay on top of
2. What was the purpose of the gauze but still no maggots appear on the meat.
the sealed jars?
3. Spontaneous generation or
biogenesis?
SPONTANEOUS GENERATION VERSUS BIOGENESIS

st 2nd Hypothesis
1 Hypothesis
(Alternative)
“Living organisms arise from
non-living matter” “Living organisms arise from
is called spontaneous preexisting life”, is called
generation @ abiogenesis. biogenesis.

In the seventeenth century, some scientists set out to determine whether living organisms
could indeed arise through spontaneous generation (abiogenesis), or if they arose only
from other living organisms (biogenesis).

12
Redi’s experiment refuting the spontaneous generation of maggots in meat
 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS
Aristotle (384-322 BC) – spontaneous generation ie living things can arise spontaneously / living
things can arise from non-living matter.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) – discovered animalcules using his own simple
microscope.
Robert Hooke (1635-1703) English scientist – developed compound
microscope, looked at cork & coined the term “cell”, first observation fruiting
bodies of mold.
Francisco Redi (1668) Italian physician – disapproved spontaneous
generation
John Needham (1713-1781) English scientist –
supported spontaneous generation.

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

 Spontaneous generation 1. From where did the
versus Biogenesis microbes come?
2. Spontaneous generation or
▪ 1745: An Englishman, John biogenesis?
Needham
▪ Using his microscope, noticed
that broths made from meat
contain microorganisms,
▪ Design an experiment to test
the spontaneous generation
theory
▪ It was known at the time that
heat was lethal to living
organisms.
▪ Needham theorized that with
heat, all living things in it
would die.
▪ Needham concluded that
https://goo.gl/images/
these tiny organisms had ty7drn
spontaneously generated Needham's spontaneous generation experiment. Needham heated
from the non-living matter the broth, let it sit uncovered for several days, then observed
of the broth. microorganisms in the fluid.
John –Needham Experiment

SUPPORTS SPONTANEOUS
GENERATION OF ORGANISMS

1. Boiled the broth for 1 min

2. Sealed the flask with loose
cork
3. Observation: Bacteria still
grew
4. Conclusion: Spontaneous
generation MUST BE TRUE
 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS

Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) – microbes arise in the

broth were carried by air.

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

Spontaneous generation
versus Biogenesis

• Lazzaro Spallanzani

• He boiled broth infusions

containing organic (living or
previously living) matter
• Sealed the flasks to
demonstrate that no
organisms would develop
spontaneously in them.
• Critics did not accept this
as disproof of
spontaneous generation.
• They argued that boiling
drove off oxygen and that
sealing the flasks
prevented its return.
18th Century, Lazaro Spallanzani:
• Introduced that if food were
boiled and then sealed, they
would remain free of spoilage.

• Introduced the first sterile

culture media from meat
infusion. Remained clear after
properly boiled and sealed (early
method of sterilization)

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

 DISCOVERY OF MICROORGANISMS

Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) – microbes arised in the broth were carried

by air.

Louis Pasture (1862) – swan-necked flask experiment put an end to spontaneous

generation theory - the beginning of biogenesis theory. Start of golden age of
microbiology.

Adapted from: Ernie Eileen Rizlan Ross

Spontaneous generation Pasteur’s experiment disproving the theory of spontaneous
versus Biogenesis

Louise Pasteur first experiment : He demonstrated that microorganisms are present in the air and can contaminate
sterile solutions, but the air itself does not create microbes.

1. Pasteur first poured liquid broth into a long-necked flask.

2. Next, he heated the neck of the flask and bent it into an S-shaped curve; then he boiled the broth for several
minutes.
3. Microorganisms did not appear in the cooled solution, even after long periods.

Results :
Microbes in the air were the agents responsible for contaminating nonliving matter such as the broths in
Needham’s flasks. 21
Spontaneous generation Pasteur’s conclusion:
versus Biogenesis

1 1. The bended neck allowed air to enter

the bottle and the liquid but trapped any
particulates including microorganisms.

2. No microbial growth as long as the

liquid broth did not come in contact with
the microbes.

2 3. Hence air alone was not sufficient to

generate life.

3
Spontaneous
generation
versus
Biogenesis
Louis Pasteur
• 1859
• Swan-necked
flasks
• Boiled infusions
that remained
sterile
• Biogenesis wins
• Fermentation
• Pasteurization
• Rabies vaccine