Module 1: Introduction to Microbiology Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 properties of ALL microbial cells?
A
- Metabolism - the chemical processes that occur in a living organism (GENETIC [DNA,RNA,Protein] or CATALYTIC [biomolecule synthesis])
- Growth (Binary Fission)
- Evolution (Mutation)
2
Q
What is microbiology?
A
The study of microorganisms (microbes) which are lifeforms too small to be seen by the unaided eye
3
Q
What are the properties of SOME microbial cells?
A
- Differentiation
- Communication [Biofilm - the assemblage of microbial cells in matrix that communicate to increase likelihood of survival]
- Genetic Exchange [vertical and horizontal transmission]
- Motility [flagellum movement]
4
Q
What are some fields that involve microorganisms and how do they use them?
A
- Genetics - engineering vaccines, hormones, etc.
- Agriculture
- Food Science
- Immunology - pathogen-host interactions
- Medicine - plans/measures to cure infectious diseases
- Industry - antibiotics, steroids, vitamins, etc.
5
Q
Robert Hooke’s Contributions
A
- Earliest rendition of the light microscope
- Published “Micrographia” in 1665
- First known description of microorganisms
6
Q
Anton van Leeuwenhoek’s contributions
A
- Built a more precise, smaller version of Hooke’s microscope
- Discovered bacteria (‘wee animalcules’)
7
Q
Louis Pasteur’s Contributions
A
- Founded the “pasteurization” method; a method of eliminating bacteria responsible for spoilage
- Swan neck proved that mixture stayed sterilize for longer after heating and slow cooling versus tilted swan neck
- Sterilization is complete killing of all microorganisms in a mixture
8
Q
Joseph Lister’s Contributions
A
- Introduced aseptic techniques for surgeries in 1867
9
Q
Ignaz Semmel’s Contributions
A
- Introduced handwashing as a method of preventing infections
10
Q
Robert Koch’s Contributions
A
- Wrote Koch’s Postulates
- Discovered that association of bacterium with a certain disease did not equal to cause and effect
- Discovered causative agent for tuberculosis and cholera (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Vibrio cholerae)
11
Q
What are Koch’s 4 postulates?
A
- Suspected pathogen must be present in all samples of infected animal but absent in all samples of healthy animal
- Suspected pathogen must be grown in pure culture (isolate pathogen from tissue)
- Cells from pure culture must cause disease in a healthy animal
- Suspected pathogen must be re-isolated and shown to be same as the original sample
12
Q
Who are Robert’s Associates and their contributions?
A
- Walther Hesse: use of agar in growing colonies (his wife?)
- Richard Petri: invention of the transparent double-sided petri dish
13
Q
Martinus Beijerinck’s contributions
A
- The Enrichment culture technique
- Isolating of specific types of microorganisms based on metabolic properties
- Chemically defined mediums to isolate rhizobia
- Identified the Mosaic disease in virology
14
Q
Sergei Winogradsky’s contributions
A
- Successfuly isolated notable bacteria from natural samples (nitrifying and sulfur bacteria)
–> Clastridium pasterianium and Azotobacter (anaerobic and aerobic nitrogen fixing bacteria) - Chemolithotropy: oxidation of inorganic chemicals for the generation of energy such as the Beggiatoa
15
Q
How did Frederick Griffith prove that DNA is a basis of hereditary?
A
- Used Streptococcus pneumoniae
- 4 trials w/ 4 outcomes:
a) Rough strain - alive mouse
b) Smooth strain - dead moiuse
c) Heat-killed SS - alive mouse
d) HKSS + RS - dead mouse - Virulent strain passed molecule to transform rough strain proving DNA is hereditary
