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Microbiology - Overview of Microbiology

Terms

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Biology
study of living organisms
Microbiology
study of living organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye
Characteristics of Normal Microbiota (very important!)
1. FOUND in an on us: skin, throat, & gut
2. can PROTECT us from disease
3. some make VITAMINS for us (ex. Vitamin K, some B vitamins)
4. Some can cause OPPORTUNIST INFECTIONS
- uncontrolled proliferation (ex. Antibiotic treatment, immunocompromised)
- or get into the wrong place




What are some benefits of microorganisms? (most are harmless)
1. Energy/Environment
- biofuel production [ex. CH4 (methane), ethanol]
- bioremediation: clean up toxic pollutants such as oil, solvents, pesticides, heavy metals
2. Agriculture
- assist digestion of food in ruminant animals (ex. sheep, cattle, goats)
3. Food Industry
- production of vinegar, yogurt, pickles, cheese, sauerkraut, wine, beer, bread and chocolate
- production of food additives (ex. MSG, Aspartame)
4. Pharmaceutical Industry
- production of antibiotics, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive agents
- production of enzymes used as digestive aids (ex. Beeno)
5. Biotechnology
- production of recombinant human hormones (ex. Insulin), blood proteins (ex. tissue plasminogen activator, TPA), and immune modulators (ex. beta-interferon)











Pathogens
microbes that cause disease
Triage
the process of determining the most important people or things from amongst a large number that require attention
A child who has a fever, headache and stiff neck most likely has ______?
Meningitis
Nosocomial infection (Very important!)
infection acquired as a result of a stay in a hospital or other healthcare facility
3 ways to control microorganisms
1. Physical methods
2. Chemical methods
3. Antimicrobial drugs

4 Characteristics of Bacteria
1. very SMALL (2-8 micrometers x 0.2-2 micrometers)
2. UNICELLULAR (single-celled)
3. PROKARYOTIC (genetic material is not inside a nuclear membrane)
4. several SHAPES (coccus, bacillus, spirals and filamentous)


Where bacteria is found (from greatest to least greatest)
- human faces
- soil
- freshwater
- seawater inshore


4 Examples of bacterial pathogens
1. Mycobacterium tuberculosis: TB
2. Virbio cholera: cholera
3. Staphylococcus aureus: food poisoning, pneumonia, wound infections
4. Streptococcus pyogenes: strep throat, scarlet fever, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis


Staphylococcus aureus
- pneumonia
- food poisoning
- wound infections



Streptococcus pyogenes
- pneumonia
- strep throat
- scarlet fever
- necrotizing fasciitis


Fungi (singular: fungus)
- EUKARYOTIC: genetic material is enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus
- examples: yeasts, molds, mushrooms
Yeasts (Fungi)
1. UNICELLULAR (single-celled)
2. EUKARYOTIC (genetic material is enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus)
3. Some are BENEFICIAL
- used to make beer, wine and bread (ex. Saccharomyces cerevisiae - aka Baker's yeast, Brewer's yeast)
4. Also important in RESEARCH



Example of pathogenic yeasts (fungi) and its effects
Candida albicans which cause:
- mouth and vaginal infections
- opportunistic infections (HIV-AIDS patients and after antibiotic treatment)

Molds (Fungi)
1. FILAMENTOUS (shape)
- each filament is called a HYPHA (plural: hyphae)
- MYCELIUM: visible mass of filaments
2. WIDESPREAD
3. REPRODUCE by spores
4. Some cause SPOILAGE of foods (ex. bread, fruit)
5. Important for NUTRIENT RECYCLING in nature
6. Produce ANTIBIOTICS and other drugs






Mycosis (plural: mycoses)
a disease caused by infection with a fungus, such as ringworm, athlete's foot, or thrush.
5 types of chronic fungal infections (difficult to treat)
1. Systemic
2. Subcutaneous
3. Cutaneous (ex. Athlete's foot, ringworm)
4. Superficial
5. Opportunistic



4 Characteristics of Protozoa
1. UNICELLULAR
2. EUKARYOTIC
3. found in WATER (moist environments)
4. MOTILE (using cilia, flagella, or pseudopods)
5. Some cause DISEASES



Plasmodium
protozoa that causes malaria
Trichoderma Vaginalis
protozoa that causes urethritis and vaginitis
Giardia Lamblia
protozoa that causes Giardiasis (beaver fever)
Helminths
Ex. Parasitic Flatworms (Platyhelminthes) or Roundworms (Nematoda)
- MULTICELLULAR
- EUKARYOTIC
- Belongs to 2 PHYLA (a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom)


Platyhelminthes
Parasitic Flatworms
Examples:
1. Trematodes (flukes)
2. Cestodes (tapeworms)


Viruses
- Very small: 20-1000 nm length
- only seen by ELECTRON MICROSCOPE
- ACELLULAR
- Nucleic acid core (either DNA OR RNA)
- Protein Coat
- may have lipid envelope
- must replicate within a living host cell (uses host machinery to reproduce)
- infect bacteria (bacteriophages), plants, and animals (including humans)






Naming microorganisms
- bacteria, fungi, protozoa (but not viruses)
- names using LATINIZED BIOMIAL SYSTEM of genus (plural: genera) and species (specific epithet)
- italicized or underlined
- can be abbreviated (ex. E. coli)
- can be named after a person (ex. Theodor Escherich)
- can be descriptive (ex. Streptococcus pyogenes) - appearance of spherical cells in chains that form pus






Genus (plural: genera) name
- first name in naming microorganisms
- always CAPITALIZED
Species name
- follows AFTER genus
- NOT capitalized
Streptococcus
appearance of spherical cells in a chain
Pyogenes
forms pus
Why aren't we sick all the time?
1. Innate and adaptive immunity (3 lines of defence)
2. Practical applications of immunology (immunizations and diagnostics)
3. Disorders of the immune system

Diseases of the Digestive System
1. Clostridium Difficile: opportunisitc pathogen
2. Salmonella: food poisoning
3. E. coli O157:H7: food poisoning
4. Helicobacter pylori: ulcers


Diseases of the respiratory system
1. Pneumonia
2. TB
3. Influenza

Diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems
1. Gonorrhea
2. Clamydia
3. Syphilis

Diseases of the nervous system
1. Listeriosis
2. Meningitis
3. Botulism

Example of a disease of the cardiovascular system
Lyme Disease

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