■ Course No.

MC 102
■ Course Title: Microbiology and Parasitology
■ Number of Units: 3 Units Lecture and 1 Unit Laboratory
■ Course Description: This course is designed to assist students in the study of important microorganisms and
parasites. It explains the Physiology and pathogenic properties of bacteria, fungi and
viruses as an introduction to disease causation, their biology, the infections they cause,
host response to these infections and their mode of transmission, prevention, treatment
and nursing responsibilities. The laboratory experiences provide specimen collection,
handling and processing of specimens for isolation and identification of microorganisms
and parasites involved in the infectious processes.
 MICROBIOLOGY
Bios – living organism

Logy – study of…..

Micro – means – anything so small that it
must be viewed with a
microscope

Microbiology - is the study of small living

organism/microorganisms
The major groups:

Bacteriology – study of bacteria

Virology – study of viruses

Division of
Mycology – study of fungi Microbiology
Phycology – study of algae

Protozoology – study of protozoa (some scientists

prefer to use parasitology).
“Germs”- disease causing microorganisms

■ Pathogens – disease causing microorganism

■ 3% of the microorganisms

■ Non- pathogens – non disease causing microorganism

– Some are beneficial to us
– Some have no effect
 Why study microbiology?
1. Microorganisms are present in our body: on our skin, mouth, intestinal tract, etc.
– Collectively – they are known as indigenous microflora or indigenous
microbiota
- they live on and in various parts of human body

– Prevent/reduce the growth of pathogens

■ May inhibit the growth of pathogens in spaces/areas where they live or

occupy
■ Deplete the food supply
■ Secrete materials (waste products, toxins, antibiotics, etc.)
 Why study microbiology?
2. Some of the organism that colonized/inhabit our body and they are known as
opportunist pathogens or opportunist.

– Microorganisms don’t always cause harm but have the potential to cause infection if they gain
access to any part of the body where they do not belong (wrong place and wrong time).

e.g. bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli.) it is not harmful if it is present in the liver and intestinal
tract
**it is harmful if it can gain access to our: urinary bladder, bloodstreams,
wounds

***Others….. Other opportunistic pathogens strike when the body:

ran down
stressed out
debilitated (weakened)
disease condition
*COVID 19 Pandemic -immunocompromised, comorbidity, asymptomatic, symptomatic
 Why study microbiology?
3. Microorganism are essential for life on this planet.
– Some microorganisms produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

*Microorganism contribute more oxygen to our atmosphere than do plants

e.g. Human – awe oxygen to algae and also

cyanobacteria (a group of photosynthetic bacteria)

Why study microbiology?
4. Many microorganisms are involved in decomposition of dead
organisms and waste products of living organism.
– saprophytes

Collectively, they are referred as decomposer or saprophytes

Saprophytes – by definition, is an organism that lives on dead or decaying

matter.

- aid in the fertilization of soil (dead plants and animals) are broken down

Nitrates and Phosphates - necessary for the growth of the Plants Chemicals
 Why study microbiology?
5. Some microorganisms are capable of decomposing industrial wastes.
– Bioremediation

e.g. oil spills

*microorganisms – genetically engineered microbes

Called bioremediation
Products of genetic engineering
 The Modern Age of Microbiology

■ What Role Do Microorganisms Play in the

Environment?

– Bioremediation uses living bacteria,

fungi, and algae to detoxify polluted
environments

– Recycling of chemicals such as carbon,

nitrogen, and sulfur
 Why study microbiology?

6. Many microorganisms are involved in elemental cycles

– Nitrogen cycle
e.g. (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus cycle)

nitrogen cycle – certain convert nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia in the soil

or

other soil Bacteria – convert the ammonia to nitrite and nitrate

some bacteria - convert Nitrogen gas in the air

↓

Nitrites ← → nitrates
Thus
Completing the cycle

Dead animals and plants

↓ Broken down by
Microorganisms

Nitrates and phosphates

*****organic material is broken down into organic nutrient (nitrates and phosphates)
by microorganisms

this relationship is known as….microbial ecology

Why study microbiology?
 Why study microbiology?
7. Algae and bacteria serve as food for tiny animals.
– planktons

Planktons – microscopic organisms in the ocean (collectively referred to as

plankton)
_ serve as starting point of many food chains

Phytoplankton - tiny marine plants and algae

Zooplankton - tiny marine animals
 Why study microbiology?
8. Some microorganisms live in the intestinal tract of animals where they aid in the
digestion of food and in some cases, produce substances that are of value to the
host animals.
– E. coli bacteria

e.g. E. coli bacteria -live in human GIT

produces
vitamin K and B1

absorbed in human body

Why study microbiology?
9. Many microorganisms are essential in various food and beverage industries,
whereas
others are used to produce certain enzymes and chemicals.
– biotechnology

The use of microorganism in industry is called biotechnology (Chapter 10)

 Why study microbiology?
10. Some bacteria and fungi produce antibiotic that are used to treat patients with
infectious disease.
– Antibiotic

Antibiotic - is a substance produced by a microorganism that is effective in

kil ing or inhibiting the growth of other microorganism.

Antibiotic industry is an example of biotechnology (Chapter 9).

 Why study microbiology?
11. Microbes are essential in the field of genetic engineering.
– Production of vaccine
Gene
(bacterium, human, animal, plant)

Inserted into Bacterial or yeast cell

(gene -contains the instructions for the production of a gene product)

*usually protein

Cell - now produce whatever product is coded for by the gene

- rise from the original cell

Variety of useful substances

e.g. insulin, various type of growth hormones, interferon and materials for use of
vaccines (Chapter 7)
The Modern Age of Microbiology

■ How Do Genes Work?

– Microbial genetics
– Molecular biology
– Recombinant DNA
technology
– Gene therapy
 The Modern Age of Microbiology

■ Recombinant DNA Technology

– Genes in microbes, plants, and animals

manipulated for practical applications
– Production of human blood-clotting
factor by E. coli to aid hemophiliacs

■ Gene Therapy

– Inserting a missing gene or repairing a

defective one in humans by inserting
desired gene into host cells
Why study microbiology?
12. For many years, microbes have been used as “cell models”.

The scientists knowledge/learning on the structure and functions of microbial cells

The more they learned about cells in general
 Why study microbiology?
13. Microorganisms cause two categories of diseases:
a. Infectious disease – results when a pathogen colonizes the body and
subsequently causes diseases.
b. Microbial intoxication – results when a person ingests a toxin ( poisonous
substances) that has been produced by a microorganism.

a. Infectious disease – results when a pathogen colonizes the body and

subsequently causes diseases.
b. Microbial intoxication – results when a person ingests a toxin (poisonous
substance) that has been produced by a microorganism.

*infective disease -cause for more illnesses and death

Worldwide Infectious Diseases Affecting Health Sciences

■ Increasing number of emerging diseases

(SARS, AIDS, hepatitis C, viral
encephalitis, COVID 19)

■ Other diseases previously not linked to

microorganisms now are (gastric ulcers,
certain cancers, multiple sclerosis)
The Modern Age of Microbiology

■ How Do We Defend Against Disease?

– Serology
■ The study of blood serum
■ Von Behring and Kitasato
– existence in the blood of
chemicals and cells that
fight infection
– Immunology
■ The study of the body’s
defense against specific
pathogens
– Chemotherapy
■ Fleming discovered
penicillin
■ Domagk discovered sulfa
drugs
The Modern Age of Microbiology
■ What Will the Future Hold?
– Microbiology is built on
asking and answering
questions
– The more questions we
answer, the more questions
we have
Worldwide Infectious Diseases Affecting Health Sciences

■ Increasing number of drug resistant

strains including Nosocomial and
Community Acquired
microorganisms

– MRSA Methicillin
Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus
– VRE Vancomycin
Resistant Enterococcus
– VRSA Vancomycin
Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus
– MDR-TB Multidrug
Resistant Tuberculosis
Infectious disease

A pathogen colonizes a
person’s body

The pathogen causes a

disease
 Microbial Intoxication

A pathogen produces a toxin

in vitro

A person ingested the toxin

– caused a disease
  Checkpoint
■ Microorganisms are defined as “living organisms too small to be seen
with the naked eye.” Among the members of this huge group of
organisms are bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses, and parasitic
worms.

■ Microorganisms live nearly everywhere and influence many

biological and physical activities on earth.

■ There are many kinds of relationships between microorganisms and

humans; most are beneficial, but some are harmful.
  Checkpoint
■ The scope of microbiology is incredibly diverse. It includes basic microbial research,
research on infectious diseases, study of prevention and treatment of disease,
environmental functions of microorganisms, and industrial use of microorganisms for
commercial, agricultural, and medical purposes.

■ In the last 125 years, microbiologists have identified the causative agents for
many infectious diseases. In addition, they have discovered distinct connections
between microorganisms and diseases whose causes were previously unknown.

■ Microorganisms: We need to live with them because we cannot live without

them.
Sources:

■ https://www.scienceprofonline.com/vmc/vmc-ppts-ct/Introduction-to-Microbiology-
Lecture-PowerPoint-VMCct.pptx
■ https://www.google.com/search?q=bacteria+in+food+digestion&tbm=isch&ved=
■ https://byjus.com/biology/absorption-of-digested-foods/

Prepared by: Juvy Lyn P. Torreno, RND, LPT, MCH

Faculty-INAHS BS Nursing Program