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Questions and Answers
What did Pasteur find happened to the bacterium causing fowl cholera after being grown in the laboratory for long periods?
What did Pasteur find happened to the bacterium causing fowl cholera after being grown in the laboratory for long periods?
What term did Pasteur use for cultures of avirulent microorganisms used for preventive inoculation?
What term did Pasteur use for cultures of avirulent microorganisms used for preventive inoculation?
What did Ehrlich find to be effective against syphilis?
What did Ehrlich find to be effective against syphilis?
What did Ehrlich speculate about in the context of chemotherapy revolution?
What did Ehrlich speculate about in the context of chemotherapy revolution?
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What type of immunity did microorganisms with decreased virulence induce against subsequent infections by their virulent counterparts?
What type of immunity did microorganisms with decreased virulence induce against subsequent infections by their virulent counterparts?
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Which chemical substance is used to treat diseases and is specifically produced by bacteria and fungi to act against other microorganisms?
Which chemical substance is used to treat diseases and is specifically produced by bacteria and fungi to act against other microorganisms?
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What was the name of the first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Flemming?
What was the name of the first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Flemming?
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What is one of the reasons why many antimicrobial chemicals cannot be practically used in humans?
What is one of the reasons why many antimicrobial chemicals cannot be practically used in humans?
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What is one of the challenges with developing successful antiviral drugs?
What is one of the challenges with developing successful antiviral drugs?
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What causes drug resistance in microorganisms against antibiotics?
What causes drug resistance in microorganisms against antibiotics?
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Which microorganisms have alarmed health care professionals due to their resistance to Vancomycin?
Which microorganisms have alarmed health care professionals due to their resistance to Vancomycin?
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Who discovered the first antibiotic accidentally while studying mold growth on contaminated plates?
Who discovered the first antibiotic accidentally while studying mold growth on contaminated plates?
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Who provided the first proof that bacteria can cause a disease?
Who provided the first proof that bacteria can cause a disease?
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Which scientist applied the germ theory of disease to medical procedures by treating surgical wounds with a phenol solution?
Which scientist applied the germ theory of disease to medical procedures by treating surgical wounds with a phenol solution?
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Who discovered that microorganisms called yeasts convert sugars to alcohol in the absence of air, leading to fermentation?
Who discovered that microorganisms called yeasts convert sugars to alcohol in the absence of air, leading to fermentation?
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Which scientist led to the establishment of microbiology as a science by his discoveries of agents of many diseases and the role of immunity?
Which scientist led to the establishment of microbiology as a science by his discoveries of agents of many diseases and the role of immunity?
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Who discovered that vaccination can provide protection from diseases, and what does "vacca" mean in vaccination?
Who discovered that vaccination can provide protection from diseases, and what does "vacca" mean in vaccination?
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What did Rudolf Virchow demonstrate about microorganisms in the air that can contaminate sterile solutions?
What did Rudolf Virchow demonstrate about microorganisms in the air that can contaminate sterile solutions?
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Who conclusively showed that microbial life can be destroyed by heat and developed aseptic techniques to prevent contamination?
Who conclusively showed that microbial life can be destroyed by heat and developed aseptic techniques to prevent contamination?
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What did Edward Jenner discover about immunity during his experiment with smallpox?
What did Edward Jenner discover about immunity during his experiment with smallpox?
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What was Louis Pasteur's contribution to fermentation and pasteurization in preventing spoilage of beverages?
What was Louis Pasteur's contribution to fermentation and pasteurization in preventing spoilage of beverages?
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How did Robert Koch contribute to microbiology with his discovery related to anthrax?
How did Robert Koch contribute to microbiology with his discovery related to anthrax?
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Study Notes
A Brief History of Microbiology
- The debate over spontaneous generation was challenged by Anton Lavoisier, who proposed the concept of biogenesis, stating that living cells can arise only from preexisting living cells.
- Rudolf Virchow demonstrated that microorganisms are present in the air and can contaminate sterile solutions, but air itself does not create microbes.
- Louis Pasteur showed that microorganisms can be present in nonliving matter (solids, liquids, and air) and demonstrated that microbial life can be destroyed by heat.
- Pasteur's work provided evidence that microorganisms cannot originate from mystical forces present in nonliving materials, concluding that any appearance of "spontaneous" life in nonliving solutions can be attributed to microorganisms that were already present in the air or in the fluids themselves.
The Golden Age of Microbiology
- The period from 1857 to 1914 is known as the Golden Age of Microbiology, led by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch.
- During this period, discoveries were made about agents of many diseases and the role of immunity in preventing and curing disease.
Fermentation and Pasteurization
- Louis Pasteur discovered that microorganisms called yeasts convert sugars into alcohol in the absence of air (fermentation).
- In the presence of air, bacteria change the alcohol into vinegar (acetic acid).
- The solution to the spoilage problem was to heat the liquor just enough to kill the bacteria that caused the spoilage, a process known as pasteurization.
Germ Theory of Disease
- The realization that yeasts play a crucial role in fermentation led to the possibility that microorganisms might cause disease, forming the Germ Theory of Disease.
- Joseph Lister applied the germ theory of disease to medical procedures, reducing the incidence of infections and deaths by treating surgical wounds with a phenol solution.
- Robert Koch provided the first proof that bacteria can cause a disease, leading to the discovery of Bacillus anthracis in the blood of cattle that had died of anthrax.
Vaccination
- Edward Jenner made an experiment to find a way to protect people from smallpox, discovering that vaccination with cowpox could provide immunity.
- Louis Pasteur discovered why vaccinations work, finding that microorganisms with decreased virulence can induce immunity against subsequent infections by their virulent counterparts.
- Pasteur used the term vaccine for cultures of avirulent microorganisms used for preventive inoculation.
Current Applications of Microbiology in Pharmacy
- Chemotherapy is the treatment of disease by using chemical substances, with chemicals produced naturally by bacteria and fungi called antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic agents prepared from chemicals in the laboratory called synthetic drugs.
- Paul Ehrlich discovered salvarsan, an arsenic derivative effective against syphilis, and speculated about a "magical bullet" that could hunt down and destroy a pathogen.
- The first synthetic drugs were developed, including sulfa drugs, and antibiotics were discovered, including penicillin.
Antibiotics
- The first antibiotic was discovered by Alexander Fleming, who found that the mold Penicillium notatum (later renamed Penicillium chrysogenum) produced an active inhibitor, penicillin.
- Since then, thousands of other antibiotics have been discovered, but many antimicrobial chemicals are too toxic to humans for practical use.
- The emergence and spread of new strains of microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics is a growing concern, with vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis alarming health care professionals.
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Description
Learn about Anton Laurent Lavoisier, Rudolf Virchow, and Louis Pasteur and their contributions to the debate over spontaneous generation. Explore how these scientists challenged the theory of spontaneous generation and demonstrated the concept of biogenesis.