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Questions and Answers
Why are microbes important?
Why are microbes important?
Microbes are essential for life as we know it and the processes that support life. They form the basis of the aquatic food web, recycle chemical elements by breaking down organic compounds, perform the majority of the planet's photosynthesis, and convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is used by most organisms.
The vast majority of microbes are pathogenic (disease causing).
The vast majority of microbes are pathogenic (disease causing).
False (B)
What are the three domains of life?
What are the three domains of life?
What is the purpose of the Human Microbiome Project?
What is the purpose of the Human Microbiome Project?
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In the scientific name Escherichia coli, Escherichia represents the ______ and coli represents the ______.
In the scientific name Escherichia coli, Escherichia represents the ______ and coli represents the ______.
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The scientific name Staphylococcus aureus honors the discoverer of this bacterium.
The scientific name Staphylococcus aureus honors the discoverer of this bacterium.
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What are the two main types of microbial resistance factors?
What are the two main types of microbial resistance factors?
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Biofilms are usually resistant to antibiotics.
Biofilms are usually resistant to antibiotics.
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What is the difference between a virus and a prion?
What is the difference between a virus and a prion?
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List three examples of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs).
List three examples of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs).
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Study Notes
Course Introduction
- Course Title: Clinical Microbiology
- Course Code: BIOL 205
Introduction to Microbiology
- Microbes are organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye.
- Types of microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, and viruses.
- Course goals include introducing key concepts and overarching themes.
- Focus on why microbes are important to students' future careers
- Relevance of microbes to personal and professional lives.
History of Microbiology
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1665: Robert Hooke observed cork cells, laying the groundwork for cell theory.
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1676: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek observed microbes using a magnifying lens, marking the first documented observations.
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1858: Rudolf Virchow proposed biogenesis, opposing the idea of spontaneous generation.
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1861: Louis Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation.
- Pasteur's experiment used a swan-necked flask to demonstrate that microbes in the air caused contamination.
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Microbes are present in nonliving matter like air, solids, and liquids.
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Microbes can be destroyed using heat.
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Aseptic techniques prevent contamination.
First Golden Age of Microbiology
- Discoveries tied microbes to disease.
- Germ theory of disease: microbes cause disease.
- Koch's postulates outline the steps for establishing causation between a particular microbe and a disease.
- Important discoveries by key scientists including Pasteur, Lister, Koch, Finlay, and others.
Second Golden Age of Microbiology
- Development of chemotherapy treatments for disease.
- Synthetic drugs, such as antibiotics
- Antibiotics (chemicals produced by bacteria and fungi that kill microbes)
- Recombinant DNA technology
Microbes and Life
- Microbes are indispensable to life on Earth.
- Microbes constitute bases of aquatic food webs.
- Microbes recycle chemical elements through decomposition.
- Photosynthesis driven largely by microbes (phytoplankton).
- Convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a useful form for other organisms.
Microbes and Human Welfare
- Microbes provide essential life process models.
- Used as "model organisms" in research.
- Humans utilize microbes to produce chemicals.
- Fermented foods (e.g., vinegar, cheese, bread).
- Microbes are used in waste treatment, bioremediation, and pest control.
Biotechnology
- Use of biological processes to solve problems
- Recombinant DNA technology enables bacteria and fungi to produce products that they could not naturally make
- Products in manufacturing (e.g., cellulose) and disease treatment (e.g., insulin)
- Vaccines and gene therapy to remedy missing or defective human genes.
Microbes and Human Disease
- Pathogens are disease-causing microbes (only a small percentage).
- Disease—a condition that impairs normal functioning.
- Infectious disease—pathogens invades a host organism, like humans, plants, etc.)
- Knowledge of disease allowing prevention
- Healthcare professions are on the front lines against serious pathogens.
- Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) rising in occurrence.
- Factors include mutation, geographic spread, and exposure.
- Antibiotic-resistance infections (e.g. MRSA, MDR-TB).
- Viral infections (e.g., Zika, MERS, COVID-19).
Microbes and Disease (Biofilm)
- Biofilm: Community of microbes.
- Biofilms adhere to surfaces (rocks, pipes, etc)
- Protective slime-like outer layer.
- Frequent cause of infections, and resistant to many antibiotics.
Natural Defenses
- Resistance: Ability of the body to ward off disease, often by resisting pathogens that try to invade.
- Resistance factors include skin, stomach acid, and natural antimicrobial chemicals.
- normal microbiota: microbes normally present in the human body, often contributing to resistance.
The Human Microbiome
- Microbiome: All the microorganisms in an environment (e.g. human body).
- Benefits of human microbiome
- Maintain good health
- Prevent pathogenic microbes growth
- Help train immune system.
- Project and Initiative research: Understanding human microbiome makeup and its relation to human diseases, as well as roles in ecosystems.
Naming Microorganisms
- Linnaean system of nomenclature
- Two-part names (Genus species).
- Naming conventions: italicization or underlining, capitalization.
- Examples (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus)
Classifying Microorganisms
- Classification systems in 3 domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya).
- Common microbe groups (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa).
Microbe Types
- Acellular and cellular microbes (e.g., virus, bacteria, prion)
- Differences in size.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of microbiology with this quiz. Explore the history of microbiology from Robert Hooke's observations to Louis Pasteur's experiments, and understand the significant impact of microbes in both personal and professional realms. Dive into key concepts and overarching themes crucial for your future career.
