INTRODUCTION

TO
MICROBIOLOGY
Nico Angelo Solon, RMT
Microbiology

■ Study of microbes
– Microbes: small organisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye and require the
use and aid of the microscope.
 Microbes

Acellular Cellular

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
 Types of Microbes
■ Bacteria: unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized
nucleus, including some which can cause disease.
■ Protozoa: single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, which feed on organic matter
such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris.
■ Algae: a large, diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms that are not necessarily
closely related. Mostly aquatic.
■ Fungi: unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic organisms, which are classified under the kingdom
fungi. They are mainly immobile and grow as fungal hyphae, which are cylindrical, thread-like
chains of cells.
■ Virus: half living organisms that reproduce inside the cells of living hosts.
Bacteria classification
■ According to shape:
– Cocci: spherical
– Bacilli: rod-shaped
– Spirochete: spiral shaped
– Vibrio: comma shaped
■ According to pattern:
– Staphylo: in clusters
– Strepto: in chains
– Diplo: in pairs (sana all)
– Sarcinae: in tetrads
Di porke’t microbe, toxic organism na.

■ Normal microbiota/flora: Nasa tamang kinakalagyan; best relationship.

■ Opportunistic Pathogens: Nasa maling kinakalagyan; toxic relationship
Beneficial uses of bacteria

■ Industrially applicable.
■ Assists in nitrogen content of the air.
■ Serves as part of the ecosystem’s food chain.
■ Part of the normal flora.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
The dark side of microbiology

■ Infectious disease: results when the microbe infiltrates the body and colonizes.
■ Microbial intoxication: Occurs when the causative agent is the toxin and not the
organism per se.
Departments of Microbiology

■ Bacteriologist
■ Phycologists: studies algae
■ Protozoology: studies protozoa
■ Virologist
■ Mycologist: studies fungi
CLASSIFICATION,
IDENTIFICATION,
NOMENCLATURE
Nico Angelo Solon, RMT
Classification

■ Classification , nomenclature , and identification are three separate but interrelated areas
of bacterial taxonomy.
■ Classification is the categorization of organisms into taxonomic groups.
■ Classification of bacteria requires experimental and observational techniques; this is
because biochemical, physiologic, genetic, and morphologic properties are oft en
necessary for an adequate description of a taxon.
Identification

■ Identification is practical use of a classification scheme to (1) isolate and distinguish

desirable organisms from undesirable ones, (2) verify the authenticity or special
properties of a culture in a clinical setting, and (3) isolate and identify the causative
agent of a disease.
Nomenclature

■ refers to the naming of an organism by international rules (established by a recognized

group of medical professionals) according to its characteristics.
MICROBIOLOGY
IN LAB
Nico Angelo Solon, RMT
Common Equipment

■ Petri Dish: used for culture methods

■ Microscope: used to magnify minute objects
■ Gram Stain Set: used to differentiate Gram positive from Gram negative bacteria
■ Inoculating Loop: used to inoculate microbes into your plate
■ Inoculating Wire: used for biochemical testing
■ Test tubes (duh)
Petri Dish
Microscope
Different Procedures in Microbio Lab

■ Gram Stain
■ Microscopy (duh)
■ Biochemical Testing
■ Acid Fast Bacilli
■ Culture
■ Antibiotic Sensitivity
Microscopy

■ Concerns with the visualization of

minute elements that cannot be
viewed by the naked eye.
Gram Staining

■ Identification method that

differentiates gram positive from
gram negative bacteria
■ Uses VIAS
– Crystal Violet
– Gram’s Iodine (Mordant)
– Acetone
– Safranin Red
Let’s review your Biochem!
Difference between Gram Positive and
Gram Negative
Gram Positive
■ Retains Crystal Violet (Purple color)
■ Thick and multilayered cell wall
■ Cell wall contains non
lipopolysaccharide content
■ Low lipid content in cell wall
■ Susceptible to anionic detergents
Gram Negative
■ Do not retain Crystal Violet (Pinkish
Color)
■ Thin and Single layered cell wall
■ Cell wall contains high
lipopolysaccharide content
■ High lipid content in cell wall
■ Low susceptibility to anionic detergents
Acid Fast Bacilli Staining

■ Some bacterias contain high amounts

of mycolic acid.
■ Gram staining is not appreciated in
this case because of high mycolic
acid content. In this case, we use
Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) Staining.
Biochemical Testing

■ Used commonly in gram negative

bacteria for further testing to identify
the specific genus of the bacteria.
Culture

■ Commonly used for the growth and

cultivation of bacteria as well as for
identifying the type of bacteria the
culture is.
■ Used in routine bacteriological
techniques as well as research.
Types of Culture Media

■ General Culture Media

■ Enriched Culture Media
■ Selective Culture Media
■ Differential Culture Media
General Culture Media

■ Used for generally growing a variety

of microbes within a given sample.
■ Example: Blood Agar Plate
Enriched Culture Media

■ Special type of culture media for

fastidious microbes that require
additional ingredients in addition to
the general culture media.
■ Example: Chocolate Agar Plate
Selective Culture Media

■ Used for isolating a specific bacteria

from a sample by making it grow as
opposed to other microorganisms.
■ Example: MacConkey Agar
Differential Culture Media

■ Type of culture medium used to

isolate specific species of bacterium
by the use of an indicator.
■ Example: MacConkey Agar/Blood
Agar Plate
Antibiotic Sensitivity

■ A technique used with a specialized

Mueller-Hinton Agar medium that
determines the susceptibility of the
bacteria to certain antibiotics.
Next Meeting

■ Quiz and lecture on Microbial Control