History of Microbiology

Question 1

What are the diverse groups of organisms included in microbiology?

Answer 1

Algae, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, and prions

Question 2

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

Answer 2

• Was a dutch fabric merchant
• Made descriptions of protozoa, basic types of bacteria, yeasts and algae
• Considered the father of bacteriology and protozoology

Question 3

The history of microbiology starts in the 3rd century BC with ________

Answer 3

Hippocrates

Question 4

In what century did Rogen Bacon describe that diseases were caused by a minute “seed” or “germ”?

Answer 4

13th century

Question 5

In 1665, who created a simple microscope?

Answer 5

Robert Hooke

Question 6

What was Robert Hookes reasoning behind the word “cells”?

Answer 6

He looked at a piece of cork and saw small box-shaped structures
❖ He called them cells because they reminded him of the cells in which monks lived

Question 7

The first microscope was invented in 1609 by who?

Answer 7

Galileo Galilei

Question 8

Who perfected the compound microscope?

Answer 8

Dutch lens makers Janssen and Lipperhey; they also made lenses for telescopes

Question 9

Antonio van Leeuwenhoek was named the father of _______ in 1676

Answer 9

Microbiology; after making a single lens microscope with more clarity and found microbes and classified them

Question 10

What year did Sedillot use the term microbe?

Answer 10

1878

Question 11

Robert Koch was the father of bacteriology from 1893-1910. These were his impacts on microbiology:

Answer 11

➢ Introduced methods for isolation of pure culture
➢ Use of solid media for isolation of bacteria
➢ Staining techniques
➢ Koch demonstrated the role of bacteria in causing diseases
➢ He perfected the technique of isolating bacteria in pure culture
➢ Discovered Anthrax bacillus (1876)
➢ Tubercle bacillus (1882) and cholera vibrios (1883)
➢ Robert Koch used gelatin to prepare solid media (found it was not ideal)

Question 12

Microorganism can be accepted as the causative agent of an infectious disease only if what conditions are fulfilled?

Answer 12

1. Disease agent must be present in every organism suffering from the disease but should be absent in healthy organisms.
2. It should be possible to isolate the microorganism in its pure culture from lesion of the disease
3. The isolated microorganism when introduced into suitable laboratory animal should produce the similar disease
4. It should be possible to re-isolate the microorganism in its pure culture from lesions

Question 13

What are the four criteria for accepting microorganisms as causative agents of infectious diseases known as?

Answer 13

Koch’s postulates

Question 14

Fanne Eilshemius Hesse (1850 - 1934), one of Robert Koch’s assistants proposed the use of ______ in culture media.

Answer 14

Agar

Question 15

Agar is better as a media then gelating for what two reasons?

Answer 15

Because of its higher melting points (96°C) and solidifying (40 – 45°C) points

Question 16

Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

Answer 16

➢ First to prevent small pox
➢ Discovered that milk maids did not get small pox
➢ Exposure to cow pox cross protected for small pox
➢ He discovered the technique of vaccination
➢ He took fluid from a cowpox pustule from a milk maid and exposed a small child to it. The child was immune to small pox
➢ He also experimented on his own 11-month son

Question 17

In 1887, Richard Petri developed what microbiology equipment?

Answer 17

The Petri dish