Lecture 1

An Overview Of Microbiology
Dr. Thaigar Parumasivam
Email: thaigarp@usm.my
 MICROBIOLOGY

- study of microbes, so small that a microscope is needed to

study them.
 MICROBIOLOGY (cont)
Branch Involved in the study of:
Bacteriology The bacteria – small single-celled prokaryotic organisms
Mycology The fungi, a group of eukaryotes that includes both microscopic (molds and yeasts) and
larger organisms (mushrooms, puffballs)
Protozoology The protozoa – animal-like and mostly single-celled eukaryotes
Virology Viruses – minute, noncellular particles that parasitize cells
Parasitology Parasitism and parasitic organisms – traditionally including pathogenic protozoa,
helminth worms and certain insects
Phycology or algology Simple photosynthetic eukaryotes, the algae, ranging from single-celled forms to large
seaweeds
Microbial morphology The detailed structure of microorganisms
Microbial physiology Microbial function (metabolism) at the cellular and molecular levels
Microbial taxonomy Classification, naming and identification of microorganisms
Microbial genetics, molecular biology The function of genetic material and biochemical reactions of cells involved in
metabolism and growth
Microbial ecology Interrelationships between microbes and the environment
 Impact of Microorganisms on Human Affairs

• Microorganisms as disease agents

 Impact of Microorganisms on Human Affairs (cont)

• Microorganisms and agriculture:

– formation of nodules on the roots of legumes
(atmospheric nitrogen converted into fixed
nitrogen compounds used for growth).
– play key roles in the cycling of important
nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, sulphur) in plant
nutrition.
Impact of Microorganisms on Human Affairs (cont)

• Microorganisms in dairy products:

– milk → excellent medium for the rapid growth of microorganisms
– yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk

• Microorganisms in food:
– Spoilage, i.e. changes in texture and flavour
– production of toxins, e.g. Staphylococcus, Clostridia
– used directly as a food source, e.g. yeast
Impact of Microorganisms on Human Affairs (cont)

• Industrial uses of microbial by-products:

– solvents, organic acids, alcohols, enzymes and antibiotics
• Microorganisms as biological tools:
– Genetic engineering/recombinant DNA technology
Products Applications
enzymes that metabolise petroleum clean up of oil spills
insulin treatment of diabetics
human-growth hormones treatment of growth disorders
animal-growth hormones stimulate growth for increased meat production
interferons treatment of viral infections
antibiotics improved or less expensive a/bcs
Impact of Microorganisms on Human Affairs (cont)

• Usefulness of microorganisms in research

– Simplicity of structure
– Less cost
– Rapid reproduction
 What then is microbiology all about?
➢ It is about living cells and how they work.
➢ It is about microorganisms capable of free-living existence.
➢ It is about microbial diversity and evolution.
➢ It is about what microbes do – in human society, in bodies of animals and
plants.
➢ It is about the role of microbiology and how it helps in the understanding
of the biology of higher organisms.
 General properties of cells

Cell is:
• fundamental structure unit of all
living organisms.
• self-contained unit separated from its
surroundings by a cytoplasmic
membrane.
 Unifying properties of cells

a) each cell has a cytoplasmic membrane surrounding it, forming

a boundary between the cell and the surroundings.
b) each cell contains cytoplasm.
c) each cell contains hereditary information stored in DNA.
d) each cell contains ribosomes where proteins are made.
e) each cell utilises energy from ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
 Types of cells

Eukaryotic Prokaryotic

Generally larger, more complex and Simple, no nuclear membrane, lack

possess a membrane-enclosed a true nucleus.
nucleus. E.g. E.g.
• Plants • Bacteria
• Animals
• Fungi
• Protozoa
• Algae
 Types of cells (cont)
Eukaryotic Prokaryotic
 A comparison of eukaryotic and prokaryotic
characteristics and structure
Characteristics and structure Eukaryote
Nucleus Present; DNA is in the form of chromosomes
enclosed in nucleus with nuclear membrane.
Nucleolus DNA Present; more than one chromosome; each
chromosome believed to be composed of single DNA
molecule; plasmid DNA uncommon.
Cell wall Present in most algae and fungi; absent in protozoa; Present in all groups except mycolasmas; peptidoglycan
absence of peptidoglycan layer.
Cytoplasmic membrane Contains sterols.
Respiration Associated with organelle called mitochondria.
Motility Flagella (cilia) or amoeboid movement; flagellum
more complex than prokaryote; some gliders.
Prokaryote
Absent; DNA dispersed in cell into nuclear areas but no
nuclear membrane.
Absent; single chromosome made of only one molecule
of DNA; extrachromosomal component, called plasmid
DNA is common.
layer present except in mycoplasmas.
Sterols absent except in Mycoplasma.
Associated with cytoplasmic membrane.
Flagella; axial filament and some gliders; flagellum has
simple construction.

Reproduction Sexual or asexual; conjugation part of reproductive Asexual (binary fission); conjugation rare and not part of
process; sporulation used as reproductive process. reproduction; sporulation used for survival value and not
as reproductive process except Streptomyces.

Size Usually larger than prokaryotes (average 20 µm). Smaller than eukaryote (average 1 to 6 µm).

Habitat Almost exclusive aerobic (presence of air) Aerobic and anaerobic (absence of air) environments.
environments.
 Bacteria

Major groups
of organisms
Algae Virus
studied in
microbiology

Protozoa Fungi
 Bacteria
- single-celled organisms of various shapes
- do not have a nucleus and lack membrane-enclosed intracellular
structures
- many absorb nutrients from the environment but some make their own
- widely distributed in nature and some cause disease
 Escherichia coli Vibrio cholera Staphylococcus aureus

Treponema pallidum Bacillus subtilis Streptococcus pyogenes

 Algae

- single-celled but some are large, complex and multicellular

- clearly defined cell nucleus and numerous membrane-enclosed
intracellular structures
- photosynthesise their own food
- widely distributed in both fresh water and oceans
- of little medical importance
 Green algae Chlorella

Red algae Brown algae

 Fungi
- yeasts and molds → single-celled microscopic organisms
- mushrooms → multicellular, macroscopic organisms
- have a cell nucleus and intracellular structures
- all absorb ready-made nutrients from their environment
- widely distributed in water and soil as decomposers of dead organisms
- some are important medically either as agents of disease or as sources of
antibiotics
 Bread mold Rhizopus Mushroom

Aspergillus niger Penicillium Yeast (Saccharomyces

chrysogenum cerevisiae)
 Protozoa

- single-celled with at least one nucleus and numerous

intracellular structures
- obtain food by engulfing or ingesting smaller microorganisms
- found in a variety of water and soil environments
- most can move but those that cause human disease, cannot
 Entamoeba histolytica Plasmodium falciparum

Paramecium aurelia Giardia lamblia

 Viruses
• lack the fundamental structure of living organisms.
• has no functioning cytoplasmic membrane that separates the virus from its surroundings.
• Viruses have no means of independent life-support activities.
• Viruses have a genetic molecule (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat.
• Although the viral genetic molecule is capable of directing viral reproduction, viruses do not have the
cellular support structures and metabolic machinery necessary to perform life functions.
• Viruses rely entirely on the metabolic activities of living cells to provide energy and materials for their
replication.
• On their own, viruses are inanimate objects, and can be considered as nonliving.
• However, when viruses enter (infect) living cells, the viral nucleic acid molecule has the capability of
directing the replication of the complete virus. Within a living cell, the viral nucleic acid assumes control of
the metabolic activities of that cell. In many cases, this leads to the replication of the virus and the death
of the host cell.
Adenovirus HIV virus

Hepatitis B virus Influenza virus