History of microbiology Flashcards
What is microbiology?
Study of microbes or microorganisms.
What are microbes
They are minute living things that are usually unable to be viewed under naked eyes
Benefits of micro-organisms
- production of antibiotics and foodstuffs
- Decompose organic waste
- Produce industrial chemicals such as ethyl alcohol and acetone
- Produce fermented food such as vinegar, cheese, and bread
About Robert Hooke
- In 1665, he reported how living things were composed of cells
- devised the compound microscope
date:1665
Who is the father of biotechnology?
Antoni van leeuwenhoek
- Made a simple microscope and began observing with them.
- Discovered bacteria ( was called animalcules)
Components of Leeuwenhoek’s microscope
- a screw for adjusting the height of the object being examined.
- metal plate serving as body
- skewer to impale the object and rotate it
- Lens which are spherical
Theory about spontaneous generation
-Theory states that living organisms from inanimate objects.
-According to Aristotle, some vital force in organic matter can create living organisms from inanimate objects.
aristotle
Who disapproved of the theory of spontaneous generation
In 1668 by Italian Scientist Francesco Redi
Who revived the theory of spontaneous generation
In 1745 John Needham,
( -Took the chicken broth and heated it, after some time kept the flask to cool and sit at a constant temperature to see that some microorganisms developed)
Who is Lazaro Spallanzani
- In 1776, he demonstrated that these microorganisms were already present in the broth, flask, or air.
- Lazzaro Spallanzani boiled broth to kill microorganisms and then left some broth open to the air while sealing others. Microorganisms only appeared in unsealed containers
- He knew the solution would BREED organisms
Who disapproved/settled spontaneous generation.
- Louise Pasteur is the father of microbiology
- He demonstrated through his swan neck flask experiment,
that microorganisms can exist in the air and contaminate sterile solutions by passing air through cotton filters. - The filter trapped the tiny particles floating in the air
Who performed to find why the wines and diary product became sour.
Louise Pasteur
- He found bacteria was to blame. (lactic acid fermentation)
- He realized how bacteria could be one of the reasons for human illness.
- Understood the importance of microorganisms in everyday life
Duration of golden age of microbiology
1857-1914
Discoveries included the relationship btw microbes and disease, immunity and antimicrobial medicine
State the germ theory of disease
States that specific microscopic organisms are the cause of the specific diseases.
Relation btw Pasteur and the germ theory of disease
- showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation
- Microbial growth is responsible for the spoilage of food and it can be killed by pasteurization (heat)
- Developed vaccines for anthrax and rabies
Scientist’s thoughts related to the theory
- 1835: Agostino Bassi
showed a silkworm disease was caused by a fungus - 1865: Pasteur
another silkworm disease was caused by protozoan - 1840: Ignaz Semmelwise
Advocated hand washing to prevent transmission of fever from one patient to another - 1860: Joseph Lister (father of antiseptic surgery)
He used a chemical disinfectant(carbolic acid) to prevent surgical wound infection
Who is Robert Koch
In 1867, he provided the proof that bacterium causes anthrax
His postulates proved that a specific microbe causes a specific disease
Koch’s Postulates
- pathogen must be present in all cases of diseases.
- It must be isolated and grown in a lab in a pure culture
- The pathogens from pure culture must cause the disease when inoculated in a healthy lab animal.
- The same pathogen must be isolated from the diseased lab animal
Who is Paul Ehrlich
He synthesized a series of specific antimicrobial drugs
eg) Arsphenamine - the first synthetic agent against syphilis
Note about discovery of Penicillin
- Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic
- Observed that penicillium secreted an antibiotic, penicillin that killed staphylococcus aureus.
- In 1940, it was tested clinically and was available by the end of world war 2
Who developed agar
Angelina Hesse
wife of Walter Hesse who worked in Koch’s lab
Use of agar
The use of agar is to grow micro-organisms
Agar is not attacked by most bacteria
It is better than gelatin because of the high mp(96) and solidifying point(40-45).
