What is microbiology

Study of Micro-organisms: Organisms that EXIST as Single

Cells or cell clusters and must be viewed individually with the
aid of a Microscope
1. EXIST (Webster definition)To continue to be, have life; live
HALLMARKS OF LIFE
1. METABOLISM (nutrient uptake, biomass, waste output)
2. DIFFERENTIATION (Bacillus spp. Caulobacter)
3. REPRODUCTION (binary fission)
4. COMMUNICATION (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
5. EVOLUTION (antibiotic resistance, pathogens)

Metabolism
Take in nutrients from the environment
glucose, lactose, other sugars, fats=lipids, proteins,
toxic wastes, oils and petrol
Assimilate the nutrients into BIOMASS
DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and
complex carbohydrates, lipids
Release waste products into the environment
gases, alcohols, acids and organic compounds

Differentiation to form distinct

structures
Caulobacter spp. Vegetative cells versus stalk cells

K.C. Keiler

M. Dworkin

Differentiation to form distinct

structures
Bacillus spp. endospore forming cells
Anabaena spp. Cyanobacteria forming heterocysts

T.J. Deveridge

M. Dworkin

Reproduction
To generate progeny of ones same type
A bacterium duplicates its DNA and forms a daughter cell via binary fission
Yeast duplicates its DNA and forms a daughter cell via budding, or mates with
another yeast cell and produces haploid progeny.

J. Pitocchelli

E. Hettema

Communication

AMNH--NYC

interaction with
other cellsresponse to
other cells
Vibrio fischeri and
Lantern fish

Kolter and Losick

Communication
Biofilms and
Health
Genomenewsnetwork

www.med.umich.edu

Evolution

To change ones genetic make up (DNA sequence) to

adapt to ones environment
Bacteria can take up DNA from the environment or other cells via
Transformationuptake of naked DNA
Transductionphage (bacterial specific virus) mediated
uptake of DNA
Conjugationuptake of DNA that requires the interaction
of two bacteria
Antibiotic resistance, bacterial pathogenesis

What is microbiology
Study of Micro-organisms: Organisms that EXIST as Single
Cells or cell clusters and must be viewed individually with the
aid of a Microscope

2. KEYWORD single CELLS

(OR cell clusters)
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MICROORGANISMS HAVE THAT
MAKE THEM TRUE CELLS
1. CELL MEMBRANE barrier that separates the inside of the
cell from the outside
2. NUCLEUS OR NUCLEIOD location of genetic
information (DNA)
3. CYTOPLASM location of the machinery for cell growth and
function
4. MACROMOLECULES proteins, nucleic acids, lipids,
polysaccharides

3. KEYWORD exist as

SINGLE cells

(OR cell clusters)

We are multicellular creaturesmade up of many cells
What makes one of our cells different from a microbial cell??
A single microbial cell can have an independent existenceour
specialized cells need to interact with other cells in order to carry
out their cellular functions for the good of the entire organism.

What organisms are considered to be

microbial cells and studied in microbiology
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

BACTERIA
FUNGI
ALGAE
PROTOZOA
Viruses(although not a cellular entity but an
intracellular pathogen)
6. Prions (a biochemical anomalymisfolded proteins)
7. Helminths Worms (multicellular)

Taxonomy
The study of phylogenetic relationships between organisms
(The sorting of all living things based on their related or
differentiating features)
KINDOM the highest level in classification
PHYLUM related classes
CLASS related orders
ORDER related families
FAMILY related genera
GENUS closely related species
SPECIES organisms sharing a set of biological traits and
reproducing only with their exact kind
Further classifications especially with bacteria:
Strainorganisms within a species varying in a given quality
Typeorganisms within a species varying immunologically

Taxonomy::relatively easy to classify animals and plants

based on their behaviour and appearanceold school

Taxonomy::initially not easy to classify microorganisms

based on their behaviour and appearance
Advancements in DNA amplification and DNA sequencing has
greatly helped
The phylogenetic relationships between microorganisms can
be determined by sequencing the 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA
of the organisms in question
(ribosomal RNAstructural RNA of the ribosome that plays
a role in protein synthesis)

Phylogenetic classification of microorganisms (new school)

Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic
Eubacteria

Archaeabacteria

Universal Ancestor

Algae
Fungi
Protozoa

Phylogenetic classification of micro-organisms

EUBACTERIA most abundant of the bacteria
found in soil, water and animal digestive tracts
ARCHAEACTERIA live in extreme conditions
(temperature, pH etc) mostly anaerobic (unable to live in the
presence of oxygen)
EUKARYOTES algae: live in soil and water, contains
chlorophyll for photosynthesis, has a cell
wall
fungi: yeast, molds. Lack chlorophyll and
obtains energy from organic compounds in
soil and water, has a cell wall
protozoa: colorless, lacks a cell wall,
ingests other organisms or organic particles

Major Differences between prokaryotic and

eukaryotic micro-organisms
Prokaryotes
1. Nonmembrane bound
nucleiod region
2. DNA-one circular molecule
one chromosome
3. Haploid-One copy of a gene
4. Plasma membrane does not
contain sterols
5. Reproductionsimple binary
fission

Eukaryotes
1. Membrane bound nucleus
containing DNA
2. DNA-linear molecules arranged
to form several chromosomes
3. Diploid-Two copies of a gene
4. Plasma membrane contains
sterols
5. Reproductionmeiosis and
mitosis
6. Presence of membrane bound
organelles such as chloroplasts
and mitochondria

Why study Microbiology ??

Microbiology as a BASIC Science
Bacteria and yeast are useful in studying molecular biology,
biochemistry and genetics
--reproduce rapidly
--are genetically (DNA) and biochemically more simple
than higher order organisms
--working with bacteria and yeast for understanding
life processes has no ethical ramifications
Microbiology as an APPLIED Science
MedicineVaccine development, production of antibiotics,
production of important biological enzymes (insulin)
IndustryProduction of beer, wine, cheeses and yogurt
Agriculturemaintenance of soil fertility/digestion in cattle
EcologyBioremediationmicroorganisms that degrade
toxic waste materials