Branches of Microbiology

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Questions and Answers

Which microorganism is responsible for tuberculosis?

Staphylococcus bacteria

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (correct)

Bacillus Anthracis

Penicillium notatum

John Tyndall discovered the method of sterilization known as Tyndallization.

True (A)

What compound did Joseph Lister use to sterilize surgical instruments?

carbolic acid

The vaccine developed by Edward Jenner was for __________.

smallpox Signup and view all the answers

Match the following scientists with their contributions:

John Enders = Cultivated poliovirus Paul Ehrlich = Developed Salvarsan Gerhard Domagk = Discovered Prontosil Alexander Fleming = Discovered Penicillin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of vaccination?

To provide immunity against specific diseases (C) Signup and view all the answers

Viruses are larger than bacteria.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which antibiotic was discovered by Paul Waksman for tuberculosis?

Streptomycin Signup and view all the answers

Which branch of microbiology studies fungi?

Mycology (B) Signup and view all the answers

Robert Koch is known for developing the theory of spontaneous generation.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Who is known as the 'Father of Microbiology'?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Signup and view all the answers

Louis Pasteur developed the method of __________ to kill harmful microorganisms in food.

pasteurization Signup and view all the answers

Match the following pioneers of microbiology with their contributions:

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek = First to observe and describe microorganisms Robert Hooke = Coined the term 'cell' Louis Pasteur = Disproved spontaneous generation Francesco Redi = Demonstrated that maggots do not arise from decaying meat Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of medical microbiology?

Identification, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases (C) Signup and view all the answers

John Needham's experiment supported the Theory of Spontaneous Generation.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main conclusion of the Swan-Neck Flask experiment conducted by Louis Pasteur?

Microorganisms exist independently and can cause various diseases. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Branches of Microbiology

Bacteriology: Study of bacteria
Virology: Study of viruses
Mycology: Study of fungi
Parasitology: Study of parasites
Immunology: Study of the immune system's response to infections

Microbial Genetics

Study of microbial DNA and genetic information transfer during reproduction

Industrial Microbiology

Application of microbes in industrial processes (e.g., vaccines, antibiotics)

Medical Microbiology

Focuses on disease-causing microbes in humans, including identification, diagnosis, and treatment

Pioneers in Microbiology

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: Developed the first simple microscope, observed and described microorganisms ("animalcules")
Robert Hooke: Developed "cytology" (study of cells); first used "cell" to describe microscopic structures; detailed drawings and descriptions of microorganisms in "Micrographia"
John Needham: Proposed spontaneous generation (nonliving things creating living organisms); boiled broth, sealed flasks, microorganisms still appeared
Lazzaro Spallanzani: Challenged Needham's findings
Francesco Redi: Challenged spontaneous generation; showed maggots only appeared in uncovered meat (disproved for macroscopic life)
Louis Pasteur: Disproved spontaneous generation using the swan-neck flask experiment; established the germ theory of disease (microbes cause disease); developed pasteurization.
Robert Koch: Developed methods for isolating and identifying disease-causing bacteria (e.g., Bacillus Anthracis, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis)
John Tyndall: Discovered heat-resistant bacterial spores; developed tyndallization for sterilization by repeated cycles of boiling and cooling
Joseph Lister: Developed antiseptic surgery using carbolic acid to sterilize instruments, wounds, and surgical environments (preventing infections).
Friedrich Henle: Argued contagia (disease-causing agents) were smaller than bacteria (viruses are smaller)
Edward Jenner: Developed the smallpox vaccine, pioneering vaccination by using a less infectious pathogen to provide immunity against a more harmful disease.
John Enders: Successfully cultured poliovirus, leading to polio vaccine development (with others)
Paul Ehrlich: Developed chemotherapy, envisioning a "magic bullet" drug targeting pathogens selectively; developed Salvarsan (anti-syphilis).
Gerhard Domagk: Discovered antibacterial effects of Prontosil, a sulfonamide, leading to the use of sulfa drugs.
Paul Waksman: Discovered Streptomycin, an antibiotic against tuberculosis.
Alexander Fleming: Discovered penicillin, observing mold killing bacteria.

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Description

Explore the diverse branches of microbiology, including bacteriology, virology, mycology, and more. Discover the contributions of key figures in the field and the implications of microbial genetics and industrial microbiology. Test your knowledge of medical microbiology and the development of early microscopes.