University of Tabuk

Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences

Department of Nursing
Unit 1 Microbiology: The Science and
Microscopy
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lecture-discussion, the students will be able to:

1. Define the different terminologies used in Microbiology.

2. Compare the 2 types of primitive cells
3. Discuss the scope and milestones in Microbiology.
4. Identify several major advances in the field of Microbiology in
the mid 1800s.
5. Outline the important contributions of the different scientist in
Microbiology.
6. Differentiate the types of microscopes in Microbiology..
Microbiology
The study of very small microorganisms.

• The various categories of microorganisms includes:

Bacteria, Protozoa, Algae, Fungi, and Viruses.

• Microorganisms are also called microbes or germs.

• Cannot be seen without the aid of the microscope.

• Microorganism can be found nearly everywhere and with

relatively few exceptions, contribute welfare to humans.
 Family Tree of Microorganisms
Two Types of Primitive cells
a. Eucaryotes - with true nucleus:algae, fungi, protozoa
b. Procaryotes - without true nucleus: bacteria

Pathogens - disease causing microorganisms

Non-pathogens - microorganisms that does not cause disease.

Indigenous Microflora - living on and in healthy human body,

they are living on the skin, mouth and in the intestines. Cause
no harm to human body.

Opportunistic Pathogens -these organisms colonize the human

body and do not usually cause problems but have potential to
cause infection if they gain access to different body area.
Diseases caused by microorganisms are called Infectious
Diseases

Many bacteria and fungi are saprophytes

-Aid in fertilization of soil, by returning inorganic nutrients.
-Break down dead and dying organic materials (plants and
animals) into nitrates, phosphates, carbon dioxide, water and other
chemicals to support plant growth.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria -live in legumes, are important in

converting air into a soil nutrient which are used by the plants.

This knowledge of important microbes is necessary to farmers and

gardeners who utilized natural fertilizer.
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
Scope of Microbiology
General Microbiology -The study and classification of
microorganisms and how they function.
Medical Microbiology -The study of pathogens, the diseases they
cause and body's defenses against disease.
Veterinary Microbiology -Study on how to prevent spread and
control of infectious diseases among animals.
Agricultural Microbiology - studies of different microorganisms
that are both harmful and or beneficial in soil formation and fertility.
Sanitary Microbiology - This includes processing and disposal of
garbage and sewage waste as well as purification and processing of
water supply.
Industrial Microbiology -Businesses and industries..conduct
research of new products like drugs, beer, wine, and alcohol.
Microbial Genetics -Study of function and structures of DNA.
Milestones of Microbiology
• Parasites live on other living organisms (host). Existed
almost as long as living organisms have existed.
• In ancient Egypt and China, people kept clean by
washing water to prevent disease.
• Ancient time learned to isolate their sick to prevent
spread of disease which is recognize as being
contagious.
• Most of the knowledge about public sanitation was lost in
Europe and stagnation of culture and learning almost
1000 years.
• Most people believed that diseases were caused by
curses of gods and bizarre treatment were used.
Girolamo Fracastorius - an Italian physician who was
able to observed the syphilis epidemic of the 1500s, and
proposed in 1546 that the cause of communicable
diseases are germs.
It was not known who built the first microscope.

Compound microscopes where developed by Johannes

Janssen(1590), Galileo Galilei (1609) and Robert
Hooke (1660).

Simple microscope was used by Anton van

Leeuwenhoek to first described bacteria in 1667.
 Several Major Advances in the Field of
Microbiology in the Mid-1800s
1. the concept that life arise from preexisting life;
2. the techniques of sterilization and pasteurization;
Pasteurization –a heating process that kills pathogens
in milk, wines and other beverages.
- boiling milk to kill bacteria using 63
degree C for 30 minutes
Tyndallization - is the process of boiling and cooling 3
times.
3. biological process of fermentation
spoilage of beer
yeast ferment sugar in grape juice to produce ethyl
alcohol in wine.
Acetobacter may change alcohol to acetic acid (vinegar)
4. development of germ theory of disease;
5. development of vaccines.
 Major Contributors to the
Development of Microbiology
1. Antony Van Leeuwenhoek (1685) Hollander
scientist,
- made more than 500 microscopes.
- Father of Microbiology, Father of Bacteriology,
and the Father of Protozoology.
- First to observe live microorganisms.
2. John Tyndall (1860)

Developed
Tyndallization
to destroy spores.
3. Louis Pasteur (1855-1890)
French Chemist
discovered fermentation
process;
pasteurization;
vaccines;
infectious agents that
causes silk worms
disease.
4. Joseph Lister (1865-1870)
Developed the
Concept of
Aseptic Technique.
5. Robert Koch (1870-1890s) German Physician
-developed postulate for proving the cause of
infections.
- developed pure culture concept (method of
cultivating bacteria on solid media.)
- proved that anthrax bacilli was truly
the cause of anthrax.
- discovered the bacterium
(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
that causes tuberculosis.
- discovered the bacterium (Vibrio
cholera) that causes Cholera.
6. Paul Ehrlich (1890 - 1900)
- Formulated Humoral Theory of Resistance (the
mechanism of specific resistance to infections).
- introduced new staining technique (acid-fast
staining.
- first to develop
chemotherapeutic agent.
7. Elie Metchnikoff (1890s)
Formulated the
Cellular Theory of Resistance.
A theory of how the immune
system functions in the body to
prevent or destroy foreign material
such as pathogen.
8. Emil Von Behring

- Developed method for

producing immunity
by using antitoxin
against diphtheria.
 The Tools of Microbiology
Compound Microscope
is a microscope that
contains more than
one magnifying
lens.
Simple Microscope
-a microscope
containing only one
magnifying lens.
Brightfield
Microscope

- Magnification: 1,000x
- Used to observe
morphology of
microorganisms
such as bacteria,
protozoa, fungi.
- Can't observe
viruses.
Darkfiled Microscope

- Magification: 1,000 x
(0.2000 um)

- Used to examine
unstained organism in
dark background, and
in examining
spirochetes.
Phase-
Contrast

- Magnification: 1,000x
- Used to observed
unstained living
organisms.
Flourescence Microscope

-Magnification: 1,000x
- contains a built-in ultraviolet (UV)
light source.
-When UV light strikes certain dyes
and pigments it causes substances
to glow against a dark background.
-Used to detect microorganisms in
cells, tissues and clinical specimens.
Transmission Electron Microscope

- Magnification: 200,000x
(0.0002mm0)
-Magnification achieved is
about 1,000 times greater than the
maximum magnification using a
compound light microscope.
-Specimen viewed on screen;
allows examination of cellular and
viral structure.
Scanning Electron Microscope

- Magnification: 10,000x
- Three dimensionals microscope.
- Can visualize cells and viruses
- Specimen viewed on the
monitor.
 Assignment
Unit 2- Types of Microorganisms

1. Explain why cell is an important basic unit of life.

2. Differentiate the basic features of eucaryotic and
procaryotic cells.
3. Compare and contrast the basic features of bacteria,
viruses, fungi, protozoa and algae.