MICRO 06 Lect 1 - LECTURES IN MICROBIOLOGY Themes in...

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.