Introduction To Microbiology
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ScribdTranslationsIntroduction To Microbiology
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ScribdTranslationsINTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms, living beings that do not
They can be seen with the naked eye. Microbiology not only deals with the classification of
microorganisms (taxonomy) but also studies the role that these
they act as disease agents, the changes they produce in the
environment and the products they manufacture.
Microbiology encompasses the study of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Thus,
virology is the study of acellular organisms called viruses, bacteriology is the
study of unicellular organisms without a nucleus called bacteria. Other branches of the
Microbiology includes mycology, which studies fungi, and parasitology, which studies parasites.
parasites.
Microorganisms can also be studied from a functional perspective and
Thus we have microbial ecology, which studies the interaction between the
microorganisms and their environment. Industrial microbiology is the study of the
activities of microorganisms applicable in industrial processes. The
Sanitary microbiology deals with microorganisms in relation to the
health preservation and its role as a cause of diseases.
HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY.
Four phases can be distinguished. The first has been called Period.
speculative, and it ranges from antiquity to the discovery of the first
microscopes. The second stage goes from the microscopists (1675) to the mid-
19th century. The third phase includes the cultivation of microorganisms and extends to
end of the 19th century. The fourth phase extends to our days with a multitude of approaches.
in microbial study and with the emergence of what we can call Sciences
"emancipated" such as Virology, Immunology, etc.
Important events in the development of microbiology were:
- In 1675, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch trader, made the first
microscope and observed in a drop of pond water tiny animals that
they moved to those he called 'animalcules'. Simultaneously, the Englishman Robert
Hooke described filamentous fungi with a compound microscope.
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- In 1750, Lazaro Spallanzani conducted experiments that demonstrated that the
microorganisms were not produced by spontaneous generation (dispute between
Spallanzani and Needham.
- In 1840, Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that what was causing the enormous
the mortality in their hospital was the transmission through the hands of the
students, who passed without washing between the autopsy rooms and the delivery rooms,
of something he called "putrefactive matter".
- In 1860, Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) initiated modern microbiology. Among
1860-1890 developed a large part of the fundamental techniques that are still used today.
are employed today and established that the causes of infectious diseases
They were microorganisms. He developed the first vaccines (anthrax and rabies) and
established the scientific principles of immunization.
- In 1867, Joseph Lister applied Pasteur's principles to the prevention of
surgical infection introducing the use of phenol and mercury salts
to achieve asepsis in the operating room.
- In 1882, Robert Koch established his postulates that must be met for
decide whether a determined microorganism is the causal agent of a
specific infectious disease:
The pathogenic agent must be present in sick individuals.
The microorganism must be able to be isolated from the sick host in culture.
pure.
The microorganism grown in pure culture, when inoculated into animals
healthy, induce the disease in them.
Among these inoculated experimental animals that are already sick, it is possible to
re-isolate the microorganism.
- Subsequent to the establishment of Koch's postulates, it was discovered
viruses, microorganisms that do not grow in artificial media without cells like
the bacteria.
- It is currently known that there are diseases that require their development.
require the collaboration of more than one microorganism and that some
microorganisms are capable of causing various diseases.
Despite all this, the rigorous application of Koch's postulates allowed for the
quick discovery of the etiological agents of most diseases
infectious diseases such as cholera in 1883 (Vibrio cholerae), Malta fever in 1887
(Brucella) and syphilis in 1905 (Treponema pallidum).
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IMPORTANCE OF MICROBIOLOGY
Microbiology is an extraordinarily relevant biological science for the
humanity, since microorganisms are present in all habitats and
Earth's ecosystems and their activities have a great impact on
numerous fields of interest:
Microorganisms were the first to appear in evolution, and they make up
surely the largest part of the biomass of our planet. It is estimated that only
we have described less than 10% of the existing microorganisms, so
Biologists have a great task ahead to study this part of biodiversity.
Microbial activities support the biogeochemical cycles of the Earth: the
carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphorus cycles depend in a way
fundamental of microorganisms.
Microbial metabolic activities are exceptionally diverse, being
some of them exclusive to the prokaryotic world. Basic biology has here a
large field of study.
The applied aspect and the economic and social impact of microorganisms is
huge, and here we will give a brief overview:
Beneficial aspects:
All cultures developed a multitude of drinks and foods empirically.
derived from microbial fermentations: wine, beer, bread, fermented vegetables,
etc.
Production of a multitude of industrial products: alcohols, organic acids,
antibiotics, enzymes, polymers, etc.
Genetic engineering began with microorganisms, which continue to play a role.
a fundamental role in the new generation of recombinant medications and
novel therapies.
In its harmful aspect, Microbiology pays special attention to the
pathogenic microorganisms, especially those that affect humanity:
Microbial diseases have been a cause of great ills to our species.
It should be remembered that the plague caused the death of a third of the population in the 14th century.
European population, and by the 15th century it affected more than 75%.
Since the time of the discovery of America, explorations have entailed the
intense traffic of pathogens from one place to another. The disappearance of good
part of the indigenous population was largely due to not having defenses against
the European smallpox, but at the same time the discoverers imported syphilis to Europe.
It is not necessary to highlight the role that medical microbiology has played, since the
the era of Pasteur and Koch, in the fight against infectious diseases
(antisepsis, disinfection, sterilization, chemotherapy). And although we now have
new challenges (AIDS, hemorrhagic fevers, etc.), there is no doubt that the
Microbiology is contributing to not losing this ongoing battle against the
pathogenic germs.
Apart from all these activities of microorganisms on humans, there are
It is important to note that there are germs that affect animals and plants.
industrial facilities that affect food, etc., representing many others
areas of attention for Microbiology.
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