Microbiology: The study of living things
too small to be seen without magnification
Microorganisms or microbes- these
microscopic organisms
Commonly called “germs, viruses,
agents…” but not all cause disease and
many more are useful or essential for
human life
Leeuwenhoek’s microorganisms grouped
into six categories as follows:
Fungi
-Eukaryotic (have membrane-bound
nucleus)
-Obtain food from other organisms
-Possess cell walls
Composed of
-Molds – multicellular; have hyphae;
reproduce by sexual and asexual spores
-Yeasts – unicellular; reproduce
asexually by budding; some produce
sexual spores
Protozoa
-Single-celled eukaryotes
-Similar to animals in nutrient needs and
cellular structure
-Live freely in water; some live in animal
hosts
-Asexual (most) and sexual reproduction
Most are capable of locomotion by
Pseudopodia – cell extensions that flow in
direction of travel
Cilia – numerous, short, hairlike
protrusions that propel organisms through
environment
Flagella – extensions of a cell that are
fewer, longer, and more whiplike than
cilia
Algae
-Unicellular or multicellular
-Photosynthetic
-Simple reproductive structures
Categorized on the basis of
pigmentation, storage products,
and composition of cell wall
Bacteria
-Unicellular and lack nuclei
-Much smaller than eukaryotes
-Found everywhere there is sufficient
moisture; some found in extreme
environments
-Reproduce asexually
Two kinds
Bacteria – cell walls contain
peptidoglycan; some lack cell walls;
most do not cause disease and some
are beneficial
Archaea – cell walls composed of
polymers other than peptidoglycan
Viruses
Importance of Microbiology
-Indigenous microbiota inhibit the growth of pathogens in those areas
of the body where they live by occupying space, depleting
the food supply, and secreting materials that may
prevent the growth of pathogens
-Opportunistic pathogens
-Microbes produce oxygen by the process of
photosynthesis
-Microbes are involved in the decomposition of dead
organisms and the waste products of living organisms
-Microbes are used in bioremediation and genetic
engineering
-Microbes are involved in elemental cycles
-Algae and bacteria serve as food for tiny animals
-Microbes used in Biotechnology
-Some microbes live in the intestinal tracts where they aid
in digestion of food
-Certain bacteria and fungi produce antibiotics that are
used to treat patients with infectious diseases
-Microbes are essential in the field of genetic engineering
-Microbes have been used as “cell models”
First microorganisms on Earth
Fossils of primitive microbes found in ancient sandstone formations
in northwestern Australia date back about 3.5 billion years ago
Archaea and cyanobacteria
Earliest Known Infectious Diseases
Bacterial diseases
Tuberculosis
Leprosy
Syphilis
Malaria
Hepatitis
Parasitic worm infections
Schistosomiasis
Dracunculiasis ( guinea worm infection)
Hookworm infection
Fluke infection
Tapeworm infection
Careers in Microbiology
Microbiologists - person who studies microorganisms such as
bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites
Bacteriologist is a scientist who specializes in bacteriology – the
study of the structure, functions, and activities of bacteria
Phycologist specializes in the field of
PHYCOLOGY– study the various types of algae
Protozoologist explore the area of
protozoology – the study of protozoa and their activities
Mycologist specializes mycology – the study of fungi
Virologists encompasses the study of viruses called
virology
Pioneers in the Science of Microbiology
Anton Van Leewenhoek
Father of Microbiology
Father of Bacteriology
Father of Protozoology
First person to see live bacteria and protozoa with
the used of single-lensed microscope
Louis Pasteur
Fermentation
Disproved the theory of spontaneous generation
Introduced the term “aerobes” and “anaerobes”
Pasteurization
Germ theory of disease
Developed vaccines to prevent: chicken pox,
cholera, anthrax and swine erysipelas (skin disease)
Robert Koch
Proved anthrax bacillus (bacillus anthracis ) truly
the cause of anthrax
Developed methods of fixing, staining and photographing bacteria
Developed methods of cultivating bacteria on a solid media, pure
bacteria
Discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Vibrio cholerae
Microscope An optical instrument that is used to observe
tiny objects often cannot be seen at all with the unaided human eye
Metric units of micrometer and nanometer are used to express the
length or sizes of microorganisms
Example:
Spherical bacterium ( coccus ) 1 micrometer in diameter
Rod shaped bacterium ( bacillus ) 1 micrometer wide x 3 micrometer
long
Viruses 10 to 300 nanometers
Very large protozoa 2000 micrometer
Important properties of Microscopes
Magnification- the power of the microscope to enlarge the image of
an object
Resolution- the power of the microscope to show detail clearly
Kinds of Microscopes
Simple Microscope - Containing only one ( 1) magnifying lens
Using magnifying glass, images appear 3 to 20 times larger
Leeuwenhoek used simple microscopes to observe
bacteria and protozoa
Compound Microscope - Contains more than one magnifying lens
Often given credit to Hans Jansen and Zacharias
Compound Light Microscope Parts and Function
Ocular (eyepiece) -part you look through -contains lenses that
contribute to total magnification -power of 10x (magnifies 10 times)
Body tube- hollow tube that keeps the lenses of the ocular and
objectives at a set distance
Nosepiece - holds objectives
Objectives- contain lenses that contribute to total magnification
Total magnification = ocular power(objective power)
10X objective focused on high power “high-dry” used to study algae,
protozoa and other large organisms
Oil-immersion objective is used for tiny and small bacteria
Arm- supports body tube
Base- supports entire microscope
Stage- tray-like structure that supports specimen/slide over stage
opening
Stage Clips- keep specimen/slide tight against stage
Stage Opening- allows light to pass through/around specimen
Diaphragm- controls amount of light that reaches your eye
Light source- provides light to create the image that you see
Coarse adjustment- larger knob, that moves 1 of 3 structures (body
tube, stage, or nosepiece) and allows for rough focus
Fine Adjustment- smaller knob, moves the objectives slightly and
allows for fine focusing
Types of Compound Microscope
Brightfield microscope
Darkfield microscope
Fluorescence microscope
Phase contrast microscope
Kinds of Microscope

Electron Microscope - Used an electron beam as a source of Two Types of Cells

illumination and magnets to focus the beam
Prokaryotic Cells: Have no membrane covered nucleus
The Cell Theory Have no membrane - covered organelles
Have circular DNA
Development Are bacteria
Leeuwenhoek- First to see living cells Eukaryotic Cells: Have a nucleus
Hooke- coined the term cell while viewing cork Have a membrane -covered organelles
Lamarck Mohl Meyen Have linear DNA
Put out publications that indicated the cellular nature of life Are all other cells
(None of these men given credit for cell theory) Cell Membrane - Outer layer of cell
Cell Theory Scientists Referred also as plasma, cytoplasmic or cellular
Allows nutrients into the cell and wastes outside of the cell
Schleiden (German)
-Botanist The Nucleus - The control center of the cell
-determined that all plants and their parts (roots, stems, leaves, etc) Contains the Cell’s DNA
are composed of cells– plant cell drawing Cytoplasm - Cytoplasm a jelly-like fluid contained in
Schwann (German) the cell that holds the organelles.
-Zoologist Endoplasmic Reticulum – Transportation
-Determined that all animals and their parts are composed of cells system of cell
(tougher to convince people of this)
Reasons for this: Rough ER- ribosome's attached
Rounded shape- most “cells” were square Smooth ER- no ribosome's
No cell wall
Animal cell drawing Ribosomes - Site where proteins are made
Cell parts are made of proteins
Reason Schwann was successful was because there was a nucleus
present in animal cell as well Golgi Complex - Packaging house of cell
Packages, processes, and ships out the stuff the cell makes
Virchow (German)
-Doctor Lysosomes - Digests food particles and cell parts
-determined that all cells come from pre-existing cells “Garbage men”
Protects cell by digesting foreign invaders
The Cell Theory “Police men
All living things are composed of cells Mitochondria - Power center of cell
Cells reproduce or come from pre-existing cells via cell division Provides the energy the cell needs to move, divide, etc.
(mitosis) Chloroplasts - Found only in plant cells
Cells are the basic units of life or cells Contains chlorophyll (makes plants green)
are the smallest form of life Where photosynthesis takes place

5 Kingdom classification of organisms Cell Wall - Found only in plant cells

Protects and supports the cell
Fungi
Plantae Vacuole - Stores water, food & wastes
Animalia Prokaryotes (Bacteria) Binary Fission
Protista
Bacteria

Organelles - are structures that enable the cell to live, grow and
reproduce.