Scribd
Upload
21 views15 pages

Fundamentals of Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, which are too small to be seen without a microscope. The document covers the scope of microbiology, major characteristics of microorganisms, their classification, and the history of microbiology, highlighting key figures like Antony Van Leeuwenhoek and Carolus Linnaeus. Additionally, it discusses the importance of microscopy in studying these organisms and their diverse roles in ecosystems and human life.

Uploaded by

Jobert Balvez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views15 pages

Fundamentals of Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, which are too small to be seen without a microscope. The document covers the scope of microbiology, major characteristics of microorganisms, their classification, and the history of microbiology, highlighting key figures like Antony Van Leeuwenhoek and Carolus Linnaeus. Additionally, it discusses the importance of microscopy in studying these organisms and their diverse roles in ecosystems and human life.

Uploaded by

Jobert Balvez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

MICROBIOLOGY

SUBJECT CODE: FC-MICRO

PREPARED BY: LEANA MAE A. APUNDAR


FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY

TOPICS:
▪ The scope of microbiology
▪ Major Characteristics of Microorganisms
▪ Survey of Microbial World
▪ Microscopy
WHAT IS MICROBIOLOGY?

• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms that is the organism which are of


microscopic dimensions or microbes, a diverse group of generally minute
simple life-forms that include bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
• These organisms are too small to be clearly perceived by the unaided human
eye. Microorganisms are living organisms that are usually too small to be seen
clearly with the naked eye. An organism with a diameter of 1 mm or less are
microorganisms and fall into the broad domain of microbiology. Because most
of the microorganisms are only a few thousands of a mm in size, they can only
be seen with the aid of microscope.
• Microbiology was the last of the three major divisions in biology to develop.
MICROBIOLOGY

VIROLOGY BACTERIOLOGY MYCOLOGY PHYCOLOGY PROTOZOOLOGY


(Viruses) (Bacteria) (Fungi) (Algae) (Protozoa)

Five major groups of microorganisms.


MICROORGANISMS

• Microorganisms are present everywhere on earth which includes humans, animals,


plants and other living creatures, soil, water and atmosphere. Microbes can multiply
in all three habitats except in the atmosphere. Together their numbers far exceed
all other living cells on this planet.
• Microorganisms are relevant to all of us in a multitude of ways. The influence of
microorganism in human life is both beneficial as well as detrimental also. For
example, microorganisms are required for the production of bread, cheese, yogurt,
alcohol, wine, beer, antibiotics (e.g. penicillin, streptomycin, chloromycetin), vaccines,
vitamins, enzymes and many more important products.
• Microorganisms are indispensable components of our ecosystem.
HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

• Antony Van Leeuvenhoek was the first person to observe and accurately
describe microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa) called 'animalcules' (little animals)
in 1676.
• He was a Dutch linen merchant whose hobby was constructing simple microscopes
composed of double convex lenses held between two silver plates.
• Leeuvenhoek was the 1st person to produce precise and correct descriptions of
bacteria and protozoa using microscope he made himself.
• Because of this extraordinary contribution to microbiology, he is considered as the
"Father of bacteriology and protozoology".
CLASSIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS

• A classification system based on the scheme of assigning individuals to group and


assigning these to progressively more inclusive and broader groups is called a
hierarchial scheme of classification. The formal system of organizing, classifying and
naming living things is called taxonomy (Gr. Taxis = arrangement + nomas = name).
• The primary goals of taxonomy are classification, nomenclature and identification.
These three areas are interrelated and play a vital role in keeping a dynamic
inventory of the extensive array of living things.
• The orderly arrangement of organisms into group according to evolutionary
relationship is termed as classification. Nomenclature is the process of assigning
names to the various taxonomic ranking of each microbial species. The process of
discovering and recording the distinguishing features of organism is called
identification.
CLASSIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS

• Carolus Linnaeus was a Swedish naturalist, called as 'Father of Taxonomy' classified the
organisms according to his own system of classification (Binomial system).
• The name of the organism starts with the generic (Genus) name that is always capitalized,
which is followed by the species name that begins with small letter. Both names should be
written in italics or underlined if italics are not available ex . Eschericia coli.
• According to him existing species of plants and animals were the descendents of the previous
created species. A number of species have been named in honour of a scientist who originally
discovered the microbe or who had made outstanding contribution to the field. For example,
E.coli, the generic name Escherichia is named after Theodor Escherich, a german bacteriologist
who first described the bacterium, and specific name coli refers to the colon which is
appropriate because this organism is an enteric resident of humans.
MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROORGANISMS

1. Microscopic Nature
• Most microorganisms are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
• They require microscopes for visualization and study.
2. Simple Structure
• Microorganisms generally have a simpler structure compared to multicellular organisms.
• They may lack complex organ systems but have specialized structures for survival.
3. Unicellular or Multicellular
• Many microbes, such as bacteria and protozoa, are unicellular (single-celled).
• Some, like fungi and algae, can be multicellular.
MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROORGANISMS

4. Rapid Growth and Reproduction


• Microorganisms multiply quickly, often within minutes or hours.
• They reproduce by binary fission (bacteria), budding (yeast), or spore formation (fungi).
• Viruses replicate inside host cells.
5. Diverse Metabolic Activities
• Microbes can survive in extreme conditions due to diverse metabolic pathways.
• Some are autotrophic (make their own food, e.g., cyanobacteria), while others are
heterotrophic (depend on other organisms for food).
• Some use oxygen (aerobes), while others grow without oxygen (anaerobes).
MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROORGANISMS

7. Genetic Variability and Adaptability


• Microorganisms mutate and adapt quickly to environmental changes.
• This ability contributes to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
8. Ability to Cause Disease (Pathogenicity)
• Some microbes cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants (pathogens).
• Others are beneficial and play a role in digestion, decomposition, and biotechnology.
MICROSCOPY

➢ Microscopy is the study of small


objects and structures using a
microscope, an instrument that
magnifies objects beyond the range of
human vision.
➢ Microscopy in microbiology is the use
of microscopes to study microscopic
organisms and their structures and
functions.
➢ The microscope is one of the
microbiologist's greatest tools.
PRINCIPLE OF A COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

Commonly, the specimen or object to be examined is mounted on a


transparent glass slide and positioned on the specimen stage between the
condenser and objective lenses. A beam of visible light from the base is
focused on the specimen by a condenser lens. The light emitted by the
specimen is captured by the objective lens, which magnifies it inside the
body tube to create the primary image. This image is once more magnified
by the ocular lens or eyepiece. If a higher magnification is required, the
compound microscope’s nosepiece is rotated after low power focusing in
order to align the higher magnification objective with the lighted portion of
the slide.
THANK YOU.

"A person who never made a


mistake never tried anything new"
—Albert Einstein.

You might also like