Themes in Microbiology
Sofronio Agustin
Professor
LECTURES IN
MICROBIOLOGY
LESSON 1

Topics Covered
Scope of Microbiology
Importance of Microorganisms
Characteristics of Microorganisms
History of Microbiology
Taxonomy

Scope of Microbiology
Microbiology
study of organisms too small to be seen by
the naked eye.
Microbes or Microorganisms
commonly referred to as “germs” or “bugs”
include
bacteria,
viruses,
fungi,
algae,
protozoa and helminths.
Prions
(“infectious
proteins”)
are
recent
addition.

Branches of Study
Bacteriology
study of bacteria
Mycology
study of fungi and yeast
Virology
study of viruses
Parasitology
study of parasitic protozoans and
helminths
Immunology
study of the humoral and cellular
immune response to disease
agents and allergens

Epidemiology and Public Health
Microbiology
distribution and spread of diseases and their control and prevention
Food Microbiology
use of microbes in the production of food products and drinks
Agricultural and Veterinary Microbiology
use of microbes to increase crop and livestock yield and control of
plant pests and animal diseases
Environmental Microbiology
study of the beneficial and harmful effects of microbes on the
environment
Specializations in Microbiology

Importance of Microbiology
First bacteria
Photosynthesis and decomposition
Human use of microorganisms
Infectious diseases

The Progenote
Evolutionary Timeline: Bacteria appeared 3.5 billion years ago

Photosynthetic Microbes
Microbes are involved in photosynthesis and accounts for
>50% of earth’s oxygen.
Also involved in decomposition and nutrient recycling.

Beneficial Uses of Microbes
Extraction of copper from ore

Beneficial Uses of Microbes
Synthesis of drugs, hormones and enzymes

Beneficial Uses of Microbes
Bioremediation is the use of microbes to degrade organic
matter in sewage and detoxify pollutants such as oil spills.

Modern Uses of Microbes
Biotechnology
,
the use of microbes as miniature
biochemical factories to produce food and chemicals is
centuries old.
Genetic engineering
makes use of molecular biology
and recombinant DNA techniques as new tools for
biotechnology.
Gene therapy
replaces missing or defective genes in
human cells through genetic engineering.
