30 Questions
Who among the following proposed a Contagium vivum as a possible cause of infections disease?
Fracastorius
Before the late 19th century, what was believed to be the cause of sickness?
Sins
What did Antonie van Leeuwenhoek contribute to the field of microbiology?
Developed the first microscope
Which scientist suggested that each disease was caused by a separate agent?
Robert Koch
What did Varo and Columella postulate as the cause of diseases in the first century BC?
Tiny living creatures
What were diseases thought to be caused by before the late 19th century?
Bad smells
Who is considered to be the father of antiseptic surgery?
Joseph Lister
Which scientist discovered the antibiotic penicillin?
Alexander Fleming
Who developed the first vaccine, the smallpox vaccine?
Edward Jenner
Which scientist was the founder of the electron microscope?
Ernst Ruska
Who discovered polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?
Karry B Mullis
'Gram stain' was developed by which microbiologist?
Hans Christian Gram
What did Louis Pasteur's experiments involving goosenecked flasks prove?
The S-shape of the goosenecked flask trapped dust particles from the air, preventing them from reaching the broth.
What was a major contribution of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch to microbiology?
They resolved the controversy of spontaneous generation versus biogenesis.
What was the significance of the Golden Age of microbiology?
It led to the acceptance of microbiology as a discipline of biology worldwide.
What was Louis Pasteur's role in disproving spontaneous generation?
He proved that organisms in dust were responsible for growth in broth.
What conclusion did Louis Pasteur reach about microorganisms?
Microorganisms are not spontaneously generated, but come from other microorganisms.
What did Louis Pasteur find out about fermentation during his experiments?
Microbes are responsible for the process of fermentation, leading to alcohol production.
Who is known as the Father of Antiseptic surgery?
Joseph Lister
Which English physician was the first to prevent smallpox through vaccination?
Edward Jenner
What method did Joseph Lister devise to destroy microorganisms in the operation theatre?
Spraying carbolic acid as a fine mist
Which term is used to describe the process Edward Jenner used to protect people from smallpox?
Vaccination
What was the relationship between cowpox and smallpox as discovered by Edward Jenner?
Contacting cowpox provides immunity to smallpox
When did Edward Jenner prove that inoculating with pus from cowpox lesions provided protection against smallpox?
May 14th, 1796
Who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1939 for the discovery of the first sulpha drug?
Domagk
Which French scientists showed that Prontosil breaks down into sulfanilamide within the body?
Therese Trefonel
Who discovered the 'wonder drug' penicillin in 1929?
Alexander Fleming
How were antibiotics discovered in the 1920s?
Accidentally when a Petri dish culture became moldy
What did Sir Alexander Fleming discover was responsible for the antibacterial action seen in a Petri dish culture?
Mold
What was the first antibiotic discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming?
Penicillin
Study Notes
History of Microbiology
- Until the late 19th century, people believed that life could form spontaneously and that diseases were caused by bad odors or sins.
- Opinions about disease causes differed between cultures and societies, with treatments ranging from removing bad smells to prayer and rituals.
- The concept of contagion was known, but attributed to bad odors or spirits rather than tiny living creatures.
Early Contributors
- Varo and Columella (1st century BC) proposed that diseases were caused by invisible beings (Animalia minuta) inhaled or ingested.
- Fracastorius of Verona (1546) proposed a Contagium vivum as a possible cause of infectious diseases.
- Von Plenciz (1762) suggested that each disease was caused by a separate agent.
Important Contributors in Microbiology
- Robert Hooke (1635-1703)
- Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
- Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)
- Robert Koch (1843-1910)
- Joseph Lister introduced aseptic techniques for controlling microbes using physical and chemical agents.
Development of Vaccines
- Vaccination was discovered before germ theory, but wasn't fully understood until Pasteur's time.
- Edward Jenner used pus from cowpox scabs to vaccinate people against smallpox in 1796.
Other Important Contributors in Microbiology
- Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek: Discovered single-lens microscope and named organisms as 'Little animalcules'.
- Edward Jenner: Developed the first vaccine of the world, the smallpox vaccine using the cowpox virus.
- Joseph Lister: Father of antiseptic surgery, used carbolic acid during surgery.
- Hans Christian Gram: Developed the Gram stain.
- Ernst Ruska: Founder of the electron microscope.
- Alexander Fleming: Discovered the antibiotic penicillin.
- Elie Metchnikoff: Described phagocytosis and termed phagocytes.
- Kleinberger: Described the existence of L forms of bacteria.
- Barbara McClintock: Described transposons.
- Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger: Developed the method of DNA sequencing in 1977.
- Karry B Mullis: Discovered polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
The Golden Age of Microbiology
- Began with the work of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, who had their own research institutes.
- Pasteur proved that microorganisms are not spontaneously generated from inanimate matter but arise from other microorganisms.
- Pasteur also found that fermentation of fruits and grains, resulting in alcohol, was brought about by microbes.
- He determined that bacteria were responsible for the spoilage of wine during fermentation.
Explore the history of microbiology and learn about the contributors who shaped this field. Discover how our understanding of tiny living organisms and their impact on human lives has evolved since the late 19th century.
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