GCMP2022 INTRODUCTION TO BASIC MICROBIOLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
MICROBIOLOGY

Prepared by;
SITI ZAIRINI BINTI AHMAD

TUTOR OF NURSING
ILKKM KUBANG KERIAN

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this learning session, the
students will be able to
1. Outline the definition, history and

importance of medical microbiology
2. Describe the taxonomy and

classification of microorganisms
3. Explain the common terminology used

in microbiology

INTRODUCTION

M Make up a large part of the planets living material
I Play a major role in maintaining the Earth’s ecosystem
C
R Microbes are microscopic-size organism

O May exist in form of unicellular, multicellular or cell cluster
O Cannot live alone

R Need a host to reproduce and grow

G Range in size from 20nm to 5mm or more in diameter

A Has six major types; bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae
N and viruses
I Are widespread in nature and beneficial to life but
S
M sometimes can cause serious harm

DEFINITION OF MICROBIOLOGY

The study of microorganisms is called microbiology

In Greek, microbiology comes from three words namely micros - small, bios - life, logos -
science.

Microbiology is a branch of science that studies microorganisms or microbes
(Brock, Brock & Ward, 1989)

Microbiology is a field of science that uses microscopy to study microbes or microorganisms.
(Black, 2012)

Medical microbiology is a branch of microbiology that studies microorganisms such as bacteria,
viruses, fungi and parasites that cause disease in humans.

(Subhash, 2012)

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

1. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
• Describes bacteria“animalcules”
• Using microscope (single convex lens and short
focal length)

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

2. Louis Pastuer (Golden Era Microbiology)

• Father of Medical Microbiology
• Proved that fermentation caused by microbial agent
• Germ theory – microorganisms are the causes of

infectious diseases
• Pasteurisation – boiling and cooling liquid
• Development of sterilization

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

3. Robert Koch
• Father of Bacteriology
• Koch’s Pastulates
• Staining techniques for bacteria
• Hanging drop method to detect motility
• Isolating pure culture of bacteria

HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY

4. Joseph Lister
• Father of antiseptic surgery
• Wound infection due to microorganisms

5. Edward Jenner
• Father of Immunology / vaccination

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• The care of Patients
– Better understanding of these microorganisms
– To prevent spreads of microorganism

• Break chain of infection

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• The major importance of medical microbiology is
that it helps in the identification, isolation, diagnosis
and treatment of pathogenic microorganisms and
also produces beneficial organisms such as yeasts
and some antibiotics.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• Biomedical research derives from many areas of life
and physical sciences, including biology. Biologists
use microbiology to develop new methods for
preventing illness. Microbiology gives the
information which further use to create the vaccines
and treatments for different diseases.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• Companies often employ microbiologists to develop
new products that kill viruses and bacteria. These
scientists help to diagnose diseases such as
meningitis and tuberculosis and help to prevent the
spread of diseases by identifying, containing and
treating disease in the human body.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• The work of medical microbiologists is constantly
evolving as new bacteria and infections are
identified and categorized. Biologists use knowledge
obtained from microbiology when studying the
immune system.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• Scientists study vitamin efficiency when determining
the effect that vitamin supplements have on
humans. Without microbiology, scientists would not
have the ability to see the inner structure of a cell
and learn how bacteria, viruses and protists
develop, grow and infect other cells.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• Microbiology plays a significant role in medical
devices, such as fluorescent fusion, which is used
for fast and precise detection of pathogens in tissue
samples. It is a technology for carrying out
immunofluorescence studies that may be applied to
find specific cells in complex biological systems.

IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

• The biggest example of medical microbiology is that
diabetics were given the injection of insulin obtained
from animals. But due to massive demand and also
compatibility problems as it was not human-derived,
there was a need for some other source of human
insulin. Then rDNA (Recombinant DNA) technique
involving E. coli bacteria was adopted to produce
large amounts of human insulin which are even safe.

TAXONOMY AND CLASSIFICATION
OF MICROORGANISM

LIVING CELLULAR MICROORGANISM







TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

BACTERIA

TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

ARCHAEA

TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

FUNGI

TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

PROTOZOA

TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

ALGAE

TYPES OF MICROORGANISM

VIRUS

COMMON TERMINOLOGY

• Pathogen • Aerobic /
• Virulent factor
• Commensal / Anaerobic
• Opportunistic
symbiosis • Obligate
• Normal Flora • Bactericidal
• Bacteriostatic

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Pathogen
Microorganism that can cause disease

• Aerobic
Growth with or required oxygen

• Anaerobic
Growth without or not required oxygen

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Virulent
The ability of a pathogen to cause a disease process
to occur in our bodies.

• Virulent Factors
The agent used by pathogens to sneak disease into
our system

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Opportunistic Infection
- An Infection caused by microorganisms that are
commonly found in the host’s environment.
- Infections caused by organisms in the normal flora

• Commensal / symbiosis
- Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship in which
one species benefits while the other species is not
affected

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Obligate

- Compulsory or strict.

Example :

- Obligate Aerobe = Organism which can only live-in
environment with good oxygen.

- Obligate Anaerobes = Organism which can only
live-in environments which lack oxygen.

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Normal Flora

Normal flora are the microorganisms that live on
another living organism (human or animal) or
inanimate object without causing disease.

TERMINOLOGY USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Bactericidal
An agent that kills bacteria

• Bacteriostatic
A drug that prevents bacterial growth and reproduction
but does not necessarily kill them. When it is removed
from the environment the bacteria start growing again.

THANK YOU…