History of Microbiology Flashcards
What is microbiology?
The study of microorganisms that mostly cannot be seen by the naked eye
What do microorganisms need to do in order to be considered alive?
They must be able to generate energy and grow without the help of other cells
Two ways how microorganisms can exist ( quantity)
Unicellular
Biofilm - communities of microorganisms , where they can talk to each other to initiate group behavior
What event initiated the creation of the science of microbiology ?
Microscopes
When was the first microscope invented?
in the beginning of the 17c
Who and when described the cell for the first time
In 1655 by Robert Hooke
Who published the first accurate microscopic drawings of a variety of molds
Robert Hooke
Who is considered the Father of Microbiology
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
When Antoni can Leeuwenhoek published the first drawings of the “small animals”
In 1684
What caused Ireland famine in 1840s
A fungai disease of potatoes
How many people were killed because of the black death in Europe during 14 century
30-60%
What is miasma theory
The disease is caused by the bad air
What does contagion mean
Transmission between people
When was the theory that some vital forces can create living organisms from inanimate objects
19 century
What did Francessco Redi do in mid 1600s
He demonstrated that maggots did not develop from meat protected by a fine cover( contact from outside is required)
What did Lazzaro Spallanzani demonstrate in late 1700s
Nothing grew in liquids that were boiled and stored in closed containers.
When was Louis Pasteur’s classical experiment performed and its principle
In 1861
Proved that there is no such a thing like spontaneous generation
1) Liquid was poured into the flask with the neck
2) Liquid was sterilized by extensive heating, 3)germs from outside could not get into the liquid because of the neck’s form-> the liquid remains sterile
4) If the flask was put in such position, so the organisms trapped in the neck had contact with the liquid-> contamination
What is the germ theory
Recognition that some diseases are caused by microorganisms, and preventing the exposure prevents the disease
Puerperal sepsis is caused by
Genital tract sepsis caused by contaminated equipment or unhygienic medical staff
What did Ignaz Semelweis notice in 1847
That women at childbirth were more susceptible to infectious diseases when medical students were present ( did not wash their hands after attending the morgue)
Did Ignaz Semelweis solved the problem?
Yes, medical students started to wash their hands in chlorine solution , but he did not know why
What did Joseph Lister do in 1867
He soaked the medical devices in diluted phenol that resulted in reduced infectious diseases after surgery
BUT he did not know why
What was Robert Cock contribution?
In 1884 he proved that anthrax in caused by the bacterium
As well as Tuberculosis
Proved once and for all that the disease is caused by the microorganism
What impact did Pasteur’s experiment had?
Led to development of effective sterilization procedures and pasteurization
Who developed vaccines for multiple diseases like anthrax. fowl cholera and rabies?
Pasteur
Koch’s postulates and their proof
1) the suspected pathogen must be present in all cases of the disease and absent from healthy animal. WAS PROVED by microscopy and staining , observed blood/tissue under the microscope
2)The suspected pathogen must be grown in pure culture
PROVED BY streak agar plate with sample from either diseased or healthy animal
3) Cells from a pure culture of the suspected pathogen must cause disease in a healthy animal . PROVED BY injecting healthy animal with cells of suspected pathogen
4) The suspected pathogen must be reisolated and shown to be the same as the original. PROVED BY remove blood or tissue sample and observe by microscopy and cultured in agar plate
What are two subclasses in prokaryotes
Bacteria
Archea
Five subclasses in eukaryotes domain
Protozoa Alga Fungi Plant cells Animal cells
What other organisms are not included in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Viruses
Viroids
Prion
What is LUCA?
Last Universal Common Ancestor
When did the first bacteria originate and there was only one type of bacteria ?
4 billion years ago
Where can we find microbial cells ?
Everywhere
What is the role of bacterial species in agriculture?( plants)
Some bacterial species can form nodules on the roots of soybean plants.
Nitrogen is important for life, but it must be bioavailable for the plants.
Bacteria convert Nitrogen (n2) from the air to ammonia (NH3) , so plants can use it
What is the role of bacteria in agriculture ( animals)
Cellulose is digested by cellulase, which cows do not have
But bacteria do
Cows have a large populations of microorganisms in the rumens if ruminant animals that digest and ferment cellulose
What others use do microorganisms have apart from nods and digesting cellulose
Fermentation which is used in wine, cheese making, etc.
Uses of microorganisms in chemical and pharmaceutical industries
- Production of citric acid and other acids, alcohols, vitamins, antibiotics, insulin,etc.
- Biofuels ( methane/ethanol)
- Important role in recycling nutrients by degradation
- Food for higher order of organisms ( phytoplankton)
- Some organisms can detoxify compounds -> can be used in cleaning the oil spill
