MIMG 6 Reading Notes I. Discovery of the Microbial World a. The origin of microorganisms i.

. Following discovery of microorganisms, question raised: Where did these microscopic forms originate? 1. Spontaneous generation theory: organisms can arise spontaneously from nonliving material a. Debunked by Francesco Redi, at end of 17th century i. Applied gauze to rotting meat, preventing fly eggs being laid and maggots being born b. Further debunked by Louis Pasteur i. Proved the air contains microorganisms; filtered air through a cotton plug, collecting microbes (then dropped them into an infusion of nutrients, in which the microbes proceeded to multiply) ii. Boiled broth with a swan-necked flask. c. Even further debunked by John Tyndall i. Scientists had difficulty verifying Pasteurs results; Tyndall simply realized that different infusions required different boiling times to sterilize. 1. Discovery of heat-resistant microbes, simultaneously discovered by Cohn (and named endospores) 2. The first microorganisms a. Speculations abound as to the origins of microbes. b. Current idea is that first microbes must have grown at very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen (to survive on early Earth). c. Perhaps life arrived on earth from space (field of astrobiology). b. Microbiology: a human perspective i. Overview 1. Microorganisms have a huge impact on our lives 2. Include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae, fungi, some multicellular parasites. 3. Defining characteristic is their very small size, and vast diversity. ii. Vital activities of microorganisms 1. Nitrogen production 2. Oxygen production 3. Degradation of materials otherwise difficult to degrade (also in digestion, sewage/wastewater treatment) iii. Economic applications in microbiology (biotechnology)

1. Food production (bread, beer, dairy) 2. Bioremediation degradation of environmental pollutants 3. Useful products from bacteria synthesis of cellulose, ethanol, insecticides, antibiotics, etc. iv. Genetic engineering 1. Introduction of genes from organism to a related/unrelated organism to confer new properties to that organism. 2. Notable achievements a. Microbes engineered to produce medically important products b. Microbes engineered to produce vaccines c. Gene therapy d. Plant transformation (resistance to disease) v. Medical microbiology 1. Some microbes kill people. 2. Past triumphs a. Medical microbiologys Golden Age 1875-1918, most diseasecausing bacteria identified, early work on viruses. The rest is history. i. Smallpox eradicated ii. Plague almost eradicated 3. Present and future challenges a. Emerging diseases i. Changing lifestyles bring opportunities for infection ii. Infectious agents (pathogens) can suddenly change and gain ability to infect new hosts b. Resurgence of older diseases i. Foreign visitors/travelers from abroad ii. Parents becoming lax about childhood vaccinations iii. Treatments used to prolong the life of old people can impair immune system c. Chronic diseases caused by bacteria 4. Host-pathogen interactions a. Only few bacteria cause disease b. Most bacteria are non-pathogenic, and even protective vi. Microorganisms as subjects for study 1. Good model organisms for study a. Same fundamental metabolic/genetic properties found in higher forms of life b. Easy to study in controlled environment, results can be obtained quickly c. The microbial world i. Domains three major groups

1. Bacteria (formerly eubacteria) a. Single-celled prokaryotes (having a nucleoid and no organelles) b. Have specific shapes, most commonly cylindrical, spherical, or spiral c. Have rigid cell walls (contain peptidoglycan, not found in other domains) d. Multiply by binary fission e. Many can move using appendages called flagella 2. Archaea a. Identical to Bacteria in shape, size, appearance, method of multiplication. b. Cell walls do NOT contain peptidoglycan c. Most distinguishing feature of Archaea is ability to grow in environments in which most organisms cannot survive. 3. Eukarya (eukaryotes) a. Can be single-celled or multi-celled b. Always contain a true membrane-bound nucleus, other organelles c. Microbial eukaryotes include algae, fungi, and protozoa. i. Algae 1. Single or multi-cellular 2. Contain chlorophyll to absorb light and photosynthesize 3. Rigid cell walls, chemical composition differing from Bacteria and Archaea 4. Many move by means of flagella ii. Fungi 1. Single or multi-cellular 2. Gain energy from organic materials. iii. Protozoa 1. Microscopic, single-celled 2. Complex organisms, larger than prokaryotes 3. No rigid cell wall; specific shape usually based on rigid covering beneath outer membrane of cell 4. Organic compounds as source of food. 5. Most groups of protozoa are mitle iv. Multicellular parasites 1. Roundworms, tapeworms, flukes 2. Collectively known as helminthes. ii. Nomenclature 1. Two-word naming system

a. Genus is capitalized b. Species is not capitalized c. Both are italicized d. Different species sometimes found under one genus e. Different strains sometimes found under one species d. Viruses, viroids, and prions i. Acellular, nonliving particles called agents (as opposed to organisms) ii. Viruses 1. Piece of nucleic acid surrounded by protein coat 2. Obligate intracellular parasites iii. Viroids 1. Single short piece of nucleic acid (RNA) without a protective coat 2. Can only reproduce inside cells, like viruses 3. Mostly cause plant diseases iv. Prions 1. Responsible for at least six fatal neuro-degenerative human diseases 2. Only protein, without any nucleic acid e. Size in the microbial world i. Microbes cover a tremendous range of size