Lesson 1: INTODUCTION IN MICROBIOLOGY Flashcards
Translates to “the study of small life” where small life refers to microorganism or microbes.
Microbiology
Microscopic organisms that exist as cellular (or organisms) and acellular (or agents).
Microorganisms or microbes
One cell is the entire organism.
Unicellular organisms
Numerous cells can make up the entire organism.
Multicellular organisms
Under this category we have the bacteria,
the archaea, the fungi and the protists.
Cellular microbes
Viruses and other
infectious agents, such as prions and viroids which needs host cells in order to multiply.
Acellular microbes
Can infect and cause diseases on humans, plants, or animals.
Pathogenic microorganisms
Naturally present within a healthy body. It could be on the skin surface, within natural body cavities, in the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive tract.
Non-pathogenic microorganisms
Also called prokaryotes (no nuclear membrane); unicellular; enclosed in cell
walls rich in carbohydrates and peptidoglycan; divides by binary fission.
Bacteria
prokaryotic; cell walls lack peptidoglycan; found in extreme environments.
Archaea
Eukaryotic cell (with distinct nucleus); may be uni/multicellular.
Fungi
Photosynthetic eukaryotes; cell walls are made of cellulose (plant
carbohydrate).
Algae
Unicellular eukaryotic; move by appendages.
Protozoa
Although not strictly microorganisms, these organisms are microscopic in some stages of their development. Also use microbiological techniques in their diagnosis.
Multicellular animal parasites
Acellular microorganism; made either of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that is sometimes further encased in a lipid membrane; need host cells to reproduce.
Virus
a population
of microorganisms naturally present within a healthy body. It could be on the skin surface, within natural body cavities, in the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive tract.
Normal Micro flora
Characteristics of Microorganisms
- Morphological characteristics
- Chemical Composition
- Cultural characteristics
- Metabolic characteristics
- Antigenic characteristics
- Genetic characteristics
- Pathogenecity
- Ecological characteristics
chemical constituents of the cells
Chemical Composition
cell shape, size (μm), and structure, special structures, cell arrangements, staining reactions and motility and flagellar arrangements.
Morphological Characteristics
nutritional requirements and physical conditions required for
growth (temperature), and the manner in which growth occurs, type of culture
medium.
Cultural characteristics
how cells obtain and use their energy, carry out chemical reactions, and regulate these reactions.
Metabolic Characteristics
distinctive chemical components (antigens) of the microorganism
Antigenic Characteristics
hereditary material of the cell.
Genetic Characteristics
ability to cause disease of a microorganism
Pathogenecity
habitat and distribution of microorganism in nature, andinteractions between and among species in natural environment
Ecological Characteristics
