Introduction to bacteriology Flashcards
Who first challenged the idea of spontaneous generation?
Francesco Redi, experiments with maggots and rotting meat
Who was the first to observe microorganisms?
Leeuwenhoek when observing bacteria under a microscope
What theory lead to the use of antiseptics?
Germ theory published by Pasteur - microorganisms as the cause of disease. Leads to massive reduction of sepsis and death
What is the Koch method?
- Bacterium present in every case of a disease
- Bacteria can be isolated from a host and grown in a culture
- Disease is reproduced in a healthy host
- Bacteria recoverable from experimentally infected host
What are the limitations of the Koch method?
- Ordinarily harmless bacteria can become a pathogen in certain situations
- Not all those with bacteria develop a disease
- Some bacteria cannot be cultured in vitro
- Different hosts may react differently
Who developed the smallpox vaccine?
Edward Jenner
Who was the first to develop selective toxicity?
Ehrlich found that arsenic-based dye solely targetted syphilis bacterium
What is the definition of pathogenicity?
The ability to cause disease in another organism
Define virulence
Degree of pathogenicity
What criteria does a pathogen have to fit in order to cause disease?
- Maintain a reservoir before and after infection
- Gain access to a new host
- Harm the host
What is epidemiology?
The study of the determinants, occurrence, distribution, and control of health and disease in a defined population
