Introduction To Microbiology

Introduction to Microbiology
1
Introduction
• Definition:
• Microbiology is the branch of science that
deals with the study of micro organisms.
• Microorganisms are the living things which

cannot be seen with naked eyes but can be
seen with the help of microscope.
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Branches of microbiology
• Bacteriology ------- The study of bacteria

• Virology ---------- The study of viruses
• Protozology -------- The study of protozoa
• Immunology ------- The study of immunity
• Mycology ----------- The study of fungi
Phycology ---------- The study of Algae
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Terminology
• Pathogen: An organism which causes disease is called

pathogen.
• Parasite: An organism that lives in or on another species or
creature and obtains food and shelter without benefiting
but rather harming the host.
• Saprophyte: An organism that lives on or derives its food
from dead organic matter. E. g: Fungi
• Normal flora: The microbes that live in or on another
creature and benefiting each other in normal conditions.
• Vector: An animal usually an arthropode such as insect or
tick that transfers a pathogen to a person. 1) Mechanical
vector and 2) Biological Vector. 4
• Carrier: A carrier is an infected person or animal who
does not have apparent clinical disease but is a
potential source of infection to others.
• Infection: The entry of microorganism in the body is
known as infection.
• Incubation period: The period of proliferation of
microorganisms to show signs and symptoms after
their entry in a body is known as incubation period.
• Prodromal period: It is the interval between the
onset of symptoms of an infectious disease and the
appearance of characteristic manifestations.
• Prognosis: The prediction of the course of a disease.
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• Epidemiology: The study of occurrence of disease,
how, when and where it occurs and how it is
transmitted.
• Epidemic disease: An unusual sudden onset of a
disease which breaks out in a region of a country. eg.
Cholera, or any other disease broken out
• Endemic disease: A disease which is usually found in
an area in a country. eg, typhoid, etc
• Pandemic disease: An epidemic disease that occurs
worldwide.
• Sporadic disease: A disease which is found here and
there at intervals. eg. T.B, etc
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• Isolation: separation of infected persons for a
period of communicability of the disease.
Quarantine: limitation of the movement of
apparently well person or animal who has
been exposed to the infectious disease for a
duration of the maximum incubation period of
the disease.
• Inflammation: The response of body to
infection or injury which is characterized by
swelling, heat, redness and pain.
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• Pathogenicity: The ability of an organism to cause
disease.
• Virulence: The degree or intensity level of a pathogen.
• Toxin: A poisonous substance produced by a living
organism.
• Toxicant: A poisonous substance prepared by man.
• Antigen: Any substance usually made up of protein
that stimulates the immune response.
• Antibody: A protein that is formed as a result of the
immune response to an antigen.
• Sterilization: The process by which all forms
(vegetative and non-vegetative) of life is killed.
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• Bactericide: A substance or agent that kills
bacteria.
• Pasteurization: This is the method of heat
treatment at 63 C for 30 minutes to make it free
from specific germs.
• Disinfectant: An agent that kills microorganisms
by applying to inanimate (non living) objects.
• Antiseptic: An agent that kills microorganisms by
applying to living things.
• Vaccine: Attenuated or killed microbes or
inactivated toxins used to induce immunity.
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• Vaccination: The process of inducing immunity by
administrating a vaccine.
• Fomites: Inanimate object or material used by an
infected patient, which may transfer the infection to
another person by coming in contact. For example, Lenin,
clothes and other utensils.
• Eukaryotic Cell: A complete cell having a well defined
nucleus and other membranous structures. eg.
Multicellular(like animal and higher plant cells) and
unicellular (like protozones).
• Prokaryotic Cell: An incomplete cell having no well
defined nucleus and other membranous structures. They
are always unicellular. eg. Bacterial cell
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Human Five Pathogens
• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Protozons
• Fungi
• Helminths
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Introduction to Microbiology

• Microorganisms are the living things which

• Bacteriology ------- The study of bacteria

• Pathogen: An organism which causes disease is called

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