Lecture 1 Flashcards
What was Robert Hooke’s experiment? What year?
1665
- observed little boxes (cells) on a cork
What is cell theory?
all living things are composed of cells
- basic structural and functional units of life
What did Anton van Leeuwenhoek contribute?
observed live microorganisms through magnification
- made 400 microscopes in 50 years
- “animalcule:” microbes
What is spontaneous generation?
living organisms can arise from non-living matter
What was Francesco Redi’s experiment? What year?
1668
- placed decaying meat in jars covered with gauze AND uncovered jars
What did Francesco Redi observe?
Maggots appeared in uncovered jars but not in the ones that are covered
What was Francesco Redi’s conclusion?
Maggots came from fly eggs, not spontaneous generation
What was John Needham’s experiment? What year?
1745
- boiled broth and sealed it in flasks
What was John Needham’s observation?
Microorganisms appeared after a few days
What was John Needham’s conclusion?
Microbes developed in liquid = spontaneous generation
What was Lazzaro Spallanzani’s experiment? What year?
1768
- boiled broth IN sealed flasks
What was Lazzaro Spallanzani’s observation?
no microorganisms appeared unless seal was broken
What was Lazzaro Spallanzani’s conclusion?
Air has organisms
- disproved spontaneous generation
Did Rudolf Virchow believe in spontaneous generation?
No
What is biogenesis?
life arises only from pre-existing life
What was Louis Pasteur’s experiment? What year?
1861
- boiled broth in flasks with different openings to show that only open flasks became contaminated
What is aseptic technique?
prevents contamination
What is fermentation? Who established the idea?
Louis Pasteur
- converts sugars into alcohol
- disproved spontaneous fermentation
What is pasteurization? Who established the idea?
Louis Pasteur
- process to heat liquids to kill harmful microorganisms without affecting quality
- reducing spoilage and disease transmission
What did Louis Pasteur do in 1864?
proposed that microorganisms cause infectious diseases
What is germ theory?
microorganisms can cause disease
What did Robert Koch do? What year?
1876
- developed Koch’s Postulates
- link between specific microbes and specific diseases
- Bacillus anthracis:: anthrax
When were first vaccines developed? By who?
1885
- Louis Pasteur
What did the first vaccines prove?
Weakened or inactivated pathogens induce immunity and prevent disease
What did Paul Ehrlich develop?
Salvarsan
- first antimicrobial drug to treat syphilis
- breakthrough for era of synthetic drugs
What did Alexander Fleming do?
What year?
1928
- discovered penicillin from mold Penicillium notatum
- first true antibiotic
What did Selman Waksman discover? What year?
1944
- streptomycin
- first antibiotic against tuberculosis
- influencing treatment of bacterial diseases
What is bacteriology?
study of bacterial pathogens
- improved diagnostic techniques
What is mycology?
study of fungi and their roles in diseases and treatment
What is parasitology?
Study of parasites
- improving diagnosis and treatment
What is immunology?
Study of immune system
What is virology?
study of virus structure, replication, and pathogenicity
What did James Watson and Francis Crick discover? What year?
1953
- double-helix structure of DNA
- techniques for manipulating DNA
What is a microbiome?
all microorganisms in an environment
What are normal microbiota?
microorganisms that are normally found in specific environments without causing harm
What is an example of normal microbiome?
- bacteria in the gut
- skin flora
What are transient microbiota?
temporary microorganisms
What are some examples of transient microbiota?
Those picked up from contaminated surfaces or from the environment or other individuals
What are pathogenic microbiota?
microorganisms that can cause disease under certain conditions
What are examples of pathogenic microbiota?
Staphylococcus aureus
Escherichia coli
What are prokaryotes?
cells without membrane-bound nucleus
What are bacteria?
single-celled organisms with no nucleus
What are archaea?
Similar to bacteria but with distinct genetic and biochemical differences
What are 2 examples of archaea?
Methanogens
- produce methane in the gut
Thermophiles
- heat loving microorganisms in hot springs
What are eukaryotes?
Cells with DNA in membrane-bound nucleus
What are some characteristics of fungi?
eukaryotic organisms that can be uni/multicellular
- play roles in decomposition
What are some examples of fungi?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Candida
What are some characteristics of protozoa?
Unicellular eukaryotes that can move, found in many environments, can be parasitic or free-living
What are some examples of protozoa?
Amoeba
Plasmodium
What are some characteristics of algae?
Photosynthetic eukaryotes that can be unicellular or multicellular, important for oxygen production
What are some examples of algae?
Chlorella
Diatoms
What is photosynthesis?
convert sunlight into energy and produces oxygen and organic compounds
What are decomposers?
compost and breakdown organic matter into simpler compounds
What is nitrogen fixation?
convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for growth
What bacteria is in yogurt, a fermented food? What are the benefits?
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium
- improves digestion and extending shelf life
What bacteria is in cheese? What are the benefits?
Lactococcus lactis and Penicillium camemberti
- aid in fermentation and flavor development
How does waste treatment work?
1) Composting: uses microbial communities (like bacteria and fungi) to decompose organic matter into compost, enriching soil and recycling waste
2) Sewage treatment: removing harmful materials and using beneficial microbes, focuses on suspended solids
How does bioremediation work?
Oil Spill Cleanup - Alcanivorax borkumensis breaks down hydrocarbons in oil spills
What bacteria improves soil health?
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- Rhizobium
- Azotobacter
What bacteria is a biopesticide?
Bacillus thuringiensis
- controls insect pests without harmful chemicals
What do probiotics contain? What are the benefits?
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium
- helps maintain healthy gut microbiome, support digestion, boost immune system
What are biofilms?
complex aggregation of microbes
What is the role of biofilms?
impact health and industrial processes
What are infectious diseases?
pathogens invade a susceptible host
What are the roles of pathogenic microbiomes?
develop and progress infectious diseases
What are emerging infectious diseases?
new/changing infectious diseases that are increasing in incidence
What is the role of influenza?
cause seasonal outbreaks and pandemics
How do antibiotic-resistant infections affect the public?
brings significant challenges to treatment
