Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 39 views

    Chapter 10

    Uploaded by

    Marlop Casicas
    This document provides an overview of microbial ecology and microbiology. It discusses the indigenous microflora that normally reside on and within the human body, including bacteria found in the skin, ears, eyes, respiratory tract, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract. It describes both the beneficial and harmful roles of the indigenous microflora, including providing vitamins, preventing colonization by pathogens, and acting as opportunistic pathogens. The document also discusses microbial communities called biofilms, applications of microbes in agriculture and elemental cycling, and the use of microbes in biotechnology industries like food/beverage production and pharmaceuticals.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Chapter 10

    Uploaded by

    Marlop Casicas
    39 views21 pages
    This document provides an overview of microbial ecology and microbiology. It discusses the indigenous microflora that normally reside on and within the human body, including bacteria found in the skin, ears, eyes, respiratory tract, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract. It describes both the beneficial and harmful roles of the indigenous microflora, including providing vitamins, preventing colonization by pathogens, and acting as opportunistic pathogens. The document also discusses microbial communities called biofilms, applications of microbes in agriculture and elemental cycling, and the use of microbes in biotechnology industries like food/beverage production and pharmaceuticals.

    Original Title

    CHAPTER 10 -

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document provides an overview of microbial ecology and microbiology. It discusses the indigenous microflora that normally reside on and within the human body, including bacteria found in the skin, ears, eyes, respiratory tract, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract. It describes both the beneficial and harmful roles of the indigenous microflora, including providing vitamins, preventing colonization by pathogens, and acting as opportunistic pathogens. The document also discusses microbial communities called biofilms, applications of microbes in agriculture and elemental cycling, and the use of microbes in biotechnology industries like food/beverage production and pharmaceuticals.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    39 views21 pages

    Chapter 10

    Uploaded by

    Marlop Casicas
    This document provides an overview of microbial ecology and microbiology. It discusses the indigenous microflora that normally reside on and within the human body, including bacteria found in the skin, ears, eyes, respiratory tract, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract. It describes both the beneficial and harmful roles of the indigenous microflora, including providing vitamins, preventing colonization by pathogens, and acting as opportunistic pathogens. The document also discusses microbial communities called biofilms, applications of microbes in agriculture and elemental cycling, and the use of microbes in biotechnology industries like food/beverage production and pharmaceuticals.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 21

    Chapter 10

    Microbial Ecology
    and Microbial
    Biotechnology
    BURTON'S MICROBIOLOGY
    FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES
    Chapter 10 Outline

    • Introduction
    • Symbiotic Relationships Involving Microorganisms
    • Indigenous Microflora of Humans
    • Beneficial and Harmful Roles of Indigenous Microflora
    • Microbial Communities (Biofilms)
    • Agricultural Microbiology
    • Microbial Biotechnology
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans
    Normal flora of the oral cavity
    • Includes all the microbes (bacteria,
    fungi, protozoa and viruses) that reside
    on and within a person; sometimes
    referred to as our “normal flora”
    • Blood, lymph, spinal fluid, and most
    internal tissues and organs are normally
    free of microorganisms (i.e., they are
    sterile).
    • Transient microflora take up temporary
    residence on and within humans.
    • Destruction of resident microflora
    disturbs the delicate balance between
    host and microorganisms.
    Areas of the body where most of the
    indigenous microflora reside.
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Skin


    – Primarily bacteria and fungi –
    about 30 different types; most
    common = Staphylococcus spp.
    – Number and variety of
    microorganisms depend on:
    •Amount of moisture present
    •pH
    •Temperature
    •Salinity
    •Presence of chemical wastes
    and other microbes
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Ears and Eyes


    – Middle ear and inner ear are usually sterile; outer ear and auditory canal contain
    the same microorganisms as on the skin
    – Eye is lubricated and cleansed by tears, mucus and sebum – few
    microorganisms present

    • Microflora of the Respiratory Tract


    – Divided into upper respiratory tract (nasal passages and throat) and lower
    respiratory tract (larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs)
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Respiratory Tract, cont.


    – Upper respiratory tract (nasal passages
    and throat) has an abundance of
    microorganisms; many are harmless,
    some are opportunistic pathogens
    – Carriers harbor virulent pathogens in their
    nasal passages or throats, but do not have
    the diseases usually caused by these
    pathogens
    •Examples: people harboring the bacteria
    that cause diphtheria, pneumonia,
    meningitis, and whooping cough
    – Lower respiratory tract is usually free of
    microbes
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Oral Cavity (Mouth)


    – A shelter for numerous anaerobic
    and aerobic bacteria; remaining
    food particles provide a rich
    nutrient medium for bacteria
    – Careless dental hygiene may cause:
    •Dental caries (tooth decay)
    •Gingivitis (gum disease)
    •Periodontitis
    – The most common organisms
    Peptostreptococcus
    within the indigenous microflora of
    the mouth are various species of
    alpha-hemolytic streptococci
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Gastrointestinal (GI)


    Tract
    – The colon (large intestine) contains
    the largest number and variety of
    microorganisms of any colonized
    area of the body; an estimated 500-
    600 different species - primarily
    bacteria.
    – Colon is anaerobic; bacteria in colon
    are mostly obligate-, aerotolerant-,
    and facultative anaerobes.
    – Many of the microflora of the colon
    are opportunists.
    Indigenous Microflora of Humans

    • Microflora of the Genitourinary (GU) Tract


    – The GU tract consists of the kidneys, ureters,
    urinary bladder, urethra, and parts of the
    female/male reproductive systems
    – Kidney, ureters and urinary bladder are usually
    sterile; the distal urethra and its external
    opening harbor many microbes including
    bacteria, yeasts and viruses
    – Most frequent causes of urethral infections
    Chlamydia trachomatis
    include Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria
    gonorrhoeae, and mycoplasmas
    – The male and female reproductive systems are
    usually sterile, with the exception of the vagina
    Beneficial and Harmful Roles of Indigenous
    Microflora
    • Humans derive many benefits from their
    indigenous microflora; examples - vitamins
    K and B12.
    • Microbial Antagonism
    – Means “microbes versus microbes”
    – Many members of our indigenous
    microflora are beneficial in that they
    prevent other microbes from
    becoming established
    – Other examples of microbial
    antagonism involve:
    •Production of antibiotics and E. coli
    bacteriocins (antibacterial proteins);
    an example is colicin, produced by
    E. coli
    Beneficial and Harmful Roles of Indigenous
    Microflora
    • Opportunistic Pathogens and Biotherapeutic
    Agents
    – Opportunistic pathogens are those
    microorganisms that “hang around,” waiting
    for the opportunity to cause infection
    •Examples: E. coli, other members of the
    family Enterobacteriaceae, S. aureus, and
    Enterococcus spp.
    – The delicate balance of the indigenous
    microflora can be upset by antibiotics, other
    types of chemotherapy, and changes in pH
    – Bacteria and yeasts used to stabilize the
    microbial balance are called biotherapeutic
    agents or probiotics
    Beneficial and Harmful Roles of Indigenous
    Microflora
    Microbial Communities

    • It is rare to find an ecologic niche in which only


    one type of microorganism is causing a
    particular effect
    • Microorganisms are often organized into
    biofilms – complex communities of assorted
    organisms. Biofilms are everywhere; example
    – dental plaque.
    • Biofilms consist of a variety of different species
    of bacteria plus a gooey polysaccharide that
    the bacteria secrete; the bacteria grow in tiny Iodine staining of biofilm plaque
    clusters called microcolonies, separated by (upper right)
    water channels
    • Biofilms have medical significance; they form
    on urinary catheters and medical equipment
    and can cause diseases like endocarditis
    Microbial Communities
    • Microbes commonly associated with biofilms
    on medical devices include the yeast,
    Candida albicans, and bacteria like
    Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp.,
    Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas
    aeruginosa.
    • Biofilms are very resistant to antibiotics and
    disinfectants
    – Antibiotics that are effective against
    pure cultures of organisms have been
    found to be ineffective against those Biofilm on contact lenses
    same organisms within an actual biofilm
    • Bacteria in biofilms produce different types
    of proteins that may not be produced by the
    bacteria in pure culture.
    Synergistic Infections

    • When 2 or more organisms “team


    up” to produce a disease that neither
    could cause by itself
    • The diseases are called synergistic
    infections, polymicrobial infections,
    or mixed infections
    – Examples:
    •Acute necrotizing ulcerative
    gingivitis (ANUG, trench
    mouth, or Vincent’s disease).
    •Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
    Agricultural Microbiology
    • There are many uses for microorganisms
    in agriculture
    • Role of Microbes in Elemental Cycles
    – Microorganisms play an important
    role in the cycling of nutrients and
    elements like nitrogen, carbon,
    oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
    •N2 is converted by nitrogen-fixing
    bacteria and cyanobacteria into
    ammonia (NH3) and ammonium
    ion (NH4).
    Agricultural Microbiology

    Root nodules
    Agricultural Microbiology

    • Other Soil Microorganisms


    – There are a multitude of other
    microorganisms in soil –
    bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa,
    viruses, and viroids; many are
    decomposers.
    – A variety of human pathogens
    live in soil including Clostridium
    spp. (such as C. tetani and C.
    botulinum) and the spores of
    Bacillus anthracis.
    Biotechnology

    • Defined as “any technological application that


    uses biological systems, living organisms, or
    derivatives thereof, to make or modify
    products or processes for specific use”
    • Microbes are used in a variety of industries,
    including the production of certain foods and
    beverages, food additives, vaccines, and
    antibiotics.
    • Microbes are used in the production of foods
    like bread, cheeses, olives, pickles, vinegar
    and yogurt, as well as in the production of
    alcoholic beverages like beer and wine.
    • Many antibiotics and drugs are produced in
    pharmaceutical companies by fungi and
    bacteria (penicillin for example).
    THANK YOU!

    You might also like