Microbes

Grade 9: Biology

Microbes
Longman Biology (p. 168-170, 178-180)

• Microbes: basic structure & examples

• Virus: obligate parasite

• Diseases: definition and different types

• Treatment: vaccines & antibiotics

 Plant Cell Animal Cell
Fixed shape No fixed shape

Large vacuole No or small vacuole

Cell wall No cell wall

Contains chloroplast
No chloroplasts
(photosynthesis)

What is a microbe?
MICROSCOPIC
ORGANISM
something so small you can only
something that is alive
see it with a microscope
 What are some examples?

BACTERIA FUNGI

PROTISTS VIRUSES

ALGAE ARCHAE

Unicellular, multicellular, or acellular?

Most microbes are classified as unicellular. This

means the organism is made up of just ONE CELL!
However, fungi can also be multicellular - think of
mushrooms on a pizza.
Viruses are non-living, so they are classified as
acellular. This means it is NOT A CELL.
Fungi

Fungal cells are similar to plant

cells, however they do not have
chloroplasts. They cannot make
their own food.

Fungi can be:

• unicellular (e.g. yeast)
• multicellular (e.g. mushrooms)

Bacteria

Bacterial cells are different to the
other cells that we've studied so far.
• They do not have a nucleus. The
DNA 'floats' within the cytoplasm.
• They do not have mitochondria.
FUN FACT
The biomass of bacteria
on Earth is greater than
that of all the plants and
animals!
 Bacterial Cell
used for movement
(like a propeller)

The DNA is not bound

by a membrane
(no nucleus)

The plasmid is simply

smaller loops of DNA
to protect the
bacteria DNA

Viruses are MUCH smaller

than bacteria

As you can see, they come

in many shapes and sizes.

However they all have the

same basic structure...
Viruses

Viruses are acellular as they are not

made up of cells.

• They have a simple structure

consisting of genetic material
(DNA or RNA) surrounded by a
capsid and sometimes an outer
envelope.

Obligate Parasite

A parasite that demonstrates

characteristics of life only once it
enters a host cell.
• E.g. when a virus enters a host cell,
it can reproduce.
• It uses the cell's organelles as it
doesn't have any of its own.
 Virus Particle

capsid
nucleic acid
nucleic acid

capsid

envelope

bacteriophage HIV

What are the functions?

nucleic
acid allows the virus
to replicate
capsid
inside of cells

prote
c
allow ts the viru
s it to s&
it wan e nte
ts to i r cells
nfect
What is a disease?
A sickness that negatively affects the structure or
function of an organism.

Disease can be split into 2

categories.

Do you know what they

are?

Genetic e.g. cancer

Infectious e.g. malaria
Deficiency e.g. scurvy
Microbes
Most microbes are beneficial
to humans and are also very
important in food chains.

However, some cause disease.

We call these types of
microbes pathogens.

Pathogens
Infectious disease Type of microbe

Flu (influenza) virus

Salmonella bacteria
Athlete's foot fungi
Malaria protist
 Antibiotics or Vaccine?
Antibiotics treat bacterial Vaccines prevent viral
infections infections

How can a fungal infection be treated?

Antifungal medicine.

This is usually in the form

of a cream.
This should be a very familiar picture for all of you. But what
exactly is a vaccine and how does it work?

As of September 2022
approx. 65% of the global
population has been fully
vaccinated against
COVID-19
Herd immunity
• The group of people
represents a population.

Herd immunity
• The group of people
represents a population.
Herd immunity
• The group of people
represents a population.

When the majority of the

population are vaccinated,
the chance of people
coming into contact with
specific pathogens is
reduced, leading to herd
immunity.
 COVID-19 in Vietnam
• Vietnam vaccinated as many people as possible to reach
herd immunity from COVID-19.
• As of September 2022 approx. 80% of the population has
been fully vaccinated.

Antibiotic Resistance
What is it?
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria develop ways (genetic
mutation) to fight back against antibiotics.
In other words, the antibiotics can’t kill the bacteria as easily.
 Antibiotic overuse
Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics where they won't help e.g.
for viral infections or for non-serious conditions.

In some countries, people can get antibiotics without a prescription.

 Agricultural use
A bigger problem, however, is farming!
Around 70% of the antibiotics worldwide
are used on farm animals.

Farmers put antibiotics in the food of

healthy animals to prevent them getting
sick.

Humans can consume this meat and take

with it the antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Ways to reduce antibiotic resistance

Doctors need to avoid the overuse of
antibiotics, prescribing them only when
needed.
Patients need to finish the whole
course of antibiotics so that all the
bacteria are killed and none are left to
mutate to resistant strains.
Antibiotics use should be reduced in
industries such as agriculture.