Introduction to Microbiology

Study Notes

Microbiology Overview

Study of microbes, typically invisible to the naked eye, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, helminths, viruses, and prions.
Microbes inhabit nearly every environment on Earth; less than 1% of microbes are identified.
Prokaryotic cells are Earth's earliest lifeforms, evolving around 3.5 billion years ago, comprising unicellular bacteria and archaea.

Microbial Diversity

Microbes include both cellular (living) organisms like bacteria and fungi, as well as nonliving entities like viruses and prions.
Some microorganisms such as certain fungi and algae are visible to the naked eye.
Eukaryotic cells are more complex and include multicellular organisms and some unicellular ones.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Suggests that eukaryotic cells originated from prokaryotic cells through a symbiotic relationship.

Applications of Microbiology

Fields of study include healthcare, agriculture, industry, and environmental sciences.
Microbes are crucial for food production, medication development, and environmental cleaning.
Research often focuses on pathogens, with over 1,400 known that infect humans; however, less than 1% of all microbes are pathogenic.

Pathogenic Microbes

True pathogens can cause disease in healthy individuals, while opportunistic pathogens affect weakened hosts.
Microbiology laboratories identify specific pathogens responsible for infections.

Golden Age of Microbiology

Occurred approximately from 1850 to 1920, marked by advancements in microscopy and techniques for isolating and cultivating microbes.
Many fundamental techniques developed during this time are still in use today.

Microbial Classification

Bacteria: Prokaryotic, unicellular, includes both pathogenic and nonpathogenic forms.
Archaea: Prokaryotic, unicellular, typically nonpathogenic, often found in extreme environments.
Protists: Eukaryotic, includes unicellular (e.g., amoebae) and multicellular organisms (e.g., algae).
Fungi: Eukaryotic, can be unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (mushrooms), includes both pathogenic and nonpathogenic types.
Helminths: Eukaryotic, multicellular parasites including roundworms and flatworms.
Viruses: Nonliving, infects host cells (animal, plant, or bacterial), can contain DNA or RNA.
Prions: Nonliving infectious proteins, discovered in the 1980s, transmitted by ingestion or transplant, some diseases are hereditary.

Description

Explore the foundational concepts of microbiology, including the diverse range of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This quiz covers the characteristics of both cellular and noncellular microorganisms, highlighting their significance in various biological processes. Perfect for students starting their journey in microbiology.