• it is

the scientific study

of interactions
among organisms and
their environment,
such as the
interactions organis
ms have with each
other and with their
abiotic
• Is the study of numerous interrelationships between
microorganisms and the world around them;

 how microbes interact with

other microbes

 how microbes interact with

organisms other than
microbes

and how microbes interact

with the non- living
world
 (Symbiotic Relationship)
• Is defined as the living
together in more or less
intimate association or close
union of two dissimilar
organisms

• The organisms that live

together in such relationship
are called Symbionts.
 Neutralism
• Is used to describe a symbiotic
relationship in which neither
symbionts is affected by the
relationship.

• Reflects a situation in which

different microorganisms occupy
the same ecological niche but
have absolutely no effect on
each other.
Commensalism
• an association between two
organisms in which one
benefits and the other
derives neither benefit nor
harm.

• Ex.
Human and indigenous
Microflora
• symbiotic relationship between individuals of
different species in which
both individuals benefit from the association.

• In this type of symbiosis, both organisms of

different species rely on one another
for nutrients, protection and other life
functions, hence, they are usually found living
in close proximity.
• Example:
Eschericha coli,
which obtains
nutrients from food
materials ingested by
the host and
produces vitamins
(such as Vitamin K)
which are used by the
host.
Parasitism
• relationship between two
species of plants or
animals in which one
benefits at the expense of
the other, sometimes
without killing it.
 Synergism
(Synergetic Infection)
• the interaction or cooperation
of two or more organizations,
substances, or other agents to
produce a combined effect
greater than the sum of their
separate effects.
• Ex: ANUG (Acute Necrotinizing Ulcerative
Gingivitis) or Vincent’s disease & Trench
mouth caused by Fusobacterium,
Actinomyces, Prevotella spp., and
Spirochetes
 Indigenous
Microflora of Humans
 Indigenous Microflora or Indigenous
Microbiota
• “normal Flora”
• Includes all the microbes (bacteria, fungi,
protozoa and viruses) that reside on or within
that person.
• It has been estimated that our bodies are
composed of about 10 trillion cells (including
nerve cells, muscle cells, epithelial cells, etc.),
and that we have about 10 times that many
microbes that live on and within our bodies
(10x10 trillion = 100 trillion)

• It has also been estimated that our

indigenous microflora is composed of
between 500 and 1000 different species.
 Eyes and
Ears

Skin Mouth and

upper
Respirator
y tract

Gastrointestina
l tract

Genitourinary tract
(vagina, urethra)
Microflora of the skin
• The resident microflora of the skin consists
primarily of bacteria and fungi – approximately
30 different types.
• Mostly are anaerobes (deep layers of the skin,
hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous gland)
• The most common bacteria on the skin are
species of:
- Staphylococcus,
- Micrococcus,
-Corynebacterium,
- Propionibacterium,-P.acnes- causes
acne.
-Brevibacterium,
-and Acinetobacter.
Microflora of the eyes and ears
 Cough, sneeze or blows his or her nose. Microbes
may be carried along to eustachian tube and into the
middle ear

 External surface of conjunctiva

 Staphylococcus
 Streptococcus
 Corynebacterium
 Moraxella catarrhalis (gram – coccus)
Microflora in the Respiratory Tract
 Binomial name Location
Acinetobacter spp Nasopharynx
Burkholderia cepacia complex Lung
Campylobacter sputorum Nasopharynx
Candida albicans Pharynx
Cardiobacterium spp Nose
Chlamydophila pneumoniae Lung
Citrobacter freundii Throat
Eikenella corrodens General distribution
Haemophilus spp Nasopharynx
Haemophilus parainfluenzae Pharynx
Haemophilus paraphrophilus Pharynx
Kingella spp Upper respiratory Tract
Kingella kingae Upper respiratory Tract
Moraxella spp Nasopharynx
Moraxella catarrhalis Nasopharynx
Mycoplasma orale Oropharynx
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Respiratory epithelium
Neisseria spp Nasopharynx
Neisseria cinerea Nasopharynx
Neisseria elongata Pharynx
 Found on healthy nose and throat (harmless)
 Diptheroids, lactobacilli and micrococci

 Oppurtunistic pathogens
 Streptococcus
 Staphylococcus
 Neisserria
 Corynebacterium

 Diptheria, meningitis, pneumonia, and whooping cough

 S. pyogenes may cause strep throat and its serious

complications (scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid
arthritis, glomerulonephritis)
Microflora of the Oral Cavity
(Mouth)
 Aerobic bacteria
 Anaerobic bacteria
 Gums margin, between teeth, deep folds (crypts) on the
surface of tonsils

 Careless in hygiene allows bacterial growth

 Dental carries (tooth decay)
 Gingivitis (gum disease)
 More severe periodontal disease (periodontitis)

 Gram + and gram - bacilli, spirochetes, sometimes yeasts,

mold-like organisms, protozoa and viruses
 Actinomyces
 Bacteriodes
 Fusobacterium
 Etc.
Microflora in the
Gastrointetinal
Tract
 Binomial name Location
Achromobacter spp Large intestine, small intestine (Ileon)
Acidaminococcus fermentans Large intestine
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Large intestine
Actinomyces spp Amygdala
Actinomyces viscosus Mouth
Actinomyces naeslundii Mouth
Aeromonas spp Large intestine, small intestine (Ileon)
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Mouth
Anaerobiospirillum spp Feces
Alcaligenes faecalis Large intestine, small intestine (Ileon)
Arachnia propionica Mouth
Bacillus spp Large intestine
Bacteroides spp Mouth, amygdala
Bacteroides gingivalis Mouth
Bacteroides fragilis General distribution
Bacteroides intermedius Mouth
Bacteroides melaninogenicus Mouth, feces
Bacteroides pneumosintes Pharynx
Microflora in the Genitourinary
Tract
 Binomial name
Acinetobacter spp
Bacteroides spp
Bifidobacterium spp
Candida albicans
Chlamydia trachomatis
Clostridiums pp
Corynebacterium spp
Enterobacteriaceae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Streptococcus viridans
Eikenella corrodens
Streptococcus anginosus
Staphylococcus aureus
Gardnerella vaginalis
Mycoplasma hominis
Mobiluncus curtisii
Mobiluncus mulieris
Location
Anterior urethra, vagina
External genitalia
Vagina
Anterior urethra, external genitalia, vagina
Urethra, vagina, fallopian tubes, prostate gland
Vagina
Anterior urethra, external genitalia, vagina
Anterior urethra, external genitalia, vagina
Urethra, vagina, prostate gland
Anterior urethra, external genitalia, vagina
General distribution
General distribution
Perineum
Female reproductive system
Cervix, vagina
Vagina
Vagina
 Genitourinary infections fall into two main categories:
(1) primary infections due to sexually transmitted
pathogenic microorganisms and
(2) infections due to members of the resident flora

 Sexually transmitted pathogens include parasites (Trichomonas

vaginalis), bacteria (Treponema pallidum, Neisseria
gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Haemophilus ducreyi),
and viruses (Herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus,
human immunodeficiency virus).

 Genital infections due to the fungus Candida albicans or to

members of the endogenous bacterial flora (Bacteroides fragilis
and members of the family Enterobacteriaceae) are not known
to be sexually transmitted. Bacterial vaginosis occurs when the
balance of vaginal flora is upset.
 The urinary tract and urine are normally sterile. Numerous
mechanical and biologic processes ensure that
microorganisms do not enter the urinary tract. Women are
more susceptible to urinary infections because the female
urethra is short and because the area around the urethral
opening is colonized with potential pathogens (e.g. E coli
and E. faecalis).
 BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF INDIGENOUS FLORA

 Some nutrients are derived from secretion of intestinal

bacteria such as vitamins K, B12, pantothenic acid,
pyridoxine and biotin.

 Provide a constant source of irritants and antigens to

stimulate the immune system
 Microbial antagonism
• “microbes versus microbes”
• Our indigenous microflora serve a beneficial
role by preventing other microbes from
becoming established in or colonizing a
particular anatomic location
• Microbial antagonism is a property that
enables a microorganism to kill, injure or slow
down the growth of a different microorganism.
Bacterial flora benefits the microbial
antagonism host. It does this by preventing
overgrowth of harmful organisms.
 Opportunistic Pathogen
• an organism that exists harmlessly as part of
the normal human body environment and
does not become a health threat until the
body's immune system fails.

• Organisms that are hanging around, waiting

for the opportunity to cause infections
• Agricultural microbiology is a branch
of microbiology dealing with plant-associated
microbes and plant and animal diseases. It
also deals with the microbiology of soil
fertility, such as microbial degradation of
organic matter and soil nutrient
transformations.
Microbes and the Cycles of
Elements of Life
The Nitrogen Cycle
CO2 Cycle
 Biotechnology
• Any technique that uses living organisms (or
parts of organisms) to make or modify
products, to improve plants and animals, or
to develop microorganisms for specific uses.

• Production of certain foods and beverages,

food additives, amino acids, enzymes,
chemicals, vitamins (such as B12 and C),
vaccines and antibiotics
 Bioremediation
• - used of microorganisms to clean up
various types of waste including
industrial wastes and other pollutants
(e.g., herbicides and pesticides)