Chapter 1: The Main Themes of Microbiology
What is abiogeneisis?
(beginning in the absence of life): the belief in spontaneous generation as a source of life.
Describe Prions.
- Discovered in 1982 - Pure protein infectious agent - If ingested, can change your normal prions into infectious prions - Neurological diseases, such as Long incubation and "Mad Cow Disease"
Who was Ignaz Semmelweiss?
- In 1840's, he demonstrated that physicians routinely transmitted puerperal fever (childbed fever) from one obstetrical patient to another. He did this by observing a difference in incidence in clinical wards. More patients of physicians had more incidences of childbed fever than those of midwives because doctors would go to the maternity ward after visiting the autopsy room. - He proved effectiveness of antiseptic use and routine hand washing. Washing hands in a chlorine solution between patients dramatically reduced infections.
What are the 2 categories of microbes that are prokaryotes?
1. Bacteria 2. Archaea
What are the 3 basic cell lines that appeared during evolutionary history.
1. Bacteria 2. Archaea 3. Eukaryote
What are the 7 major groups of microorganisms?
1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Algae 4. Protozoa 5. Helminths 6. Viruses 7. Archaea
What are the 4 categories of microbes that are eukaryotes?
1. Fungi 2. Algae 3. Protozoa 4. Helminths
What are 3 important fields of biotechnology?
1. Genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology) 2. Agricultural Microbiology 3. Bioremediation
Who is Louis Pasteur?
1. In 1864, he disproved spontaneous generation once and for all. He used swan-necked flasks • Untreated air allowed in and out of flasks • No growth in undisturbed flasks • Contacting the broth with the dust results in rapid microbial growth 2. Showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation 3. Proved that microbial growth is also responsible for spoilage of food. 4. Demonstrated that these spoilage bacteria could be killed by heat that was not hot enough to evaporate the alcohol in wine 5. Postulated that if wine can be infected by microbes, people can too. This is the beginning of the germ theory of disease
What are the 2 lifestyles of microorganisms?
1. Majority of them live a free existence 2. Some are termed parasites
What are the 6 characteristics of living organisms?
1. Metabolism 2. Reproduction 3. Differentiation 4. Communication 5. Locomotion 6. Evolution
Microbes have been recently associated with what diseases that were once considered noninfectious?
1. Multiple sclerosis 2. Diabetes 3. Gastric ulcers 4. Cancer
Out of the 6 characteristics that define living organisms, which 2 characteristics do viruses have?
1. Reproduction 2. Evolution
Microbes that exist within and beneath the earth's crust have a significant influence on what?
1. Soil formation 2. Mineral extraction 3. Weathering
Until the ______, many people believed in spontaneous generation?
1860's
What was the life expectancy in 1700 and why?
25 years and because death due to infectious disease was very common.
Up to __% of cancers in low-income countries are caused by viruses or bacteria, while less than __% of malignancies in the developed world are microbially induced.
26; 7
Microbes 1st appeared how many years ago?
3.5 billion years ago
Microbial photosynthesis accounts for >___% of the atmospheric oxygen on earth.
70
The microorganisms that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter and wastes are called A. Decomposers B. Prokaryotes C. Pathogens D. Eukaryotes E. Fermenters
A
Which of the following does not indicate microbe involvement in energy and nutrient flow? A. Formation of oxygen by an oxygenic photosynthesis B. Formation of greenhouse gases C. Formation of soil D. Digestion of complex carbohydrates in animal diets E. Decomposition of dead matter and wastes
A
Who developed the first rabies vaccine in 1885? A. Pasteur B. Lister C. Leeuwenhoek D. Redi
A
Describe Protozoans.
A group of single-celled, eukaryotic organisms - "Animal-like" protista - Absorb or ingest organic chemicals. Don't do photosynthesis. - May be motile via pseudopods, cilia, or flagella
What is a virus particle/virion?
A more specific name for a virus when it is outside of its host cells.
What is microbiology?
A specialized area of biology that deals with living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoans and viruses.
What is the cell theory?
All living things are composed of cells and come from preexisting cells
What was the first kind of photosynthesis?
Anoxygenic photosynthesis. It was produced by bacteria and it did not produce oxygen
Who is considered the father of bacteriology and protozoology?
Anton Von Leeuwenhoek
Who was the first to observe microorganisms?
Anton Von Leeuwenhoek
Organisms called parasites are A. Always classified in the kingdom Monera B. Always harmful to their host C. The decomposers in ecosystems D. Always a virus E. Free-living
B
The Dutch merchant who made and used quality magnifying lenses to see and record microorganisms was A. Francesco Redi B. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek C. Louis Pasteur D. Joseph Lister E. Robert Koch
B
The first prokaryotes appeared about ___ billion years ago. A. 5 B. 4 C. 3 D. 2 E. 1
B
Using microbes to detoxify a site contaminated with heavy metals is an example of A. Biotechnology B. Bioremediation C. Decomposition D. Immunology E. Epidemiology
B
Who invented photosynthesis?
Bacteria
Why are helminths included in the study of infectious disease?
Because of the way they are transmitted and the way the body responds to them, though they are not microorganisms
Which area of biology states that living things undergo gradual structural and functional changes over long periods of time? A. Morphology B. Phylogeny C. Evolution D. Genetics E. None of the choices is correct
C
Which of the following is not a human use of microorganisms? A. Baking bread B. Treating water and sewage C. Breaking down chocolate D. Mass producing antibiotics E. Cleaning up oil spills
C.
Why are microbes difficult to study?
Can't be seen directly, must be analyzed through indirect methods in addition to using microscopes.
Which activity is an example of biotechnology? A. Bacteria in the soil secreting an antibiotic to kill competitors B. A microbiologist using the microscope to study bacteria C. Egyptians using moldy bread on wounds D. Eschericia coli producing human insulin E. Public health officials monitoring diseases in a community
D
What is bioremediation?
Decomposition of harmful chemicals by microbes or consortia of microbes.
Describe Bacteria.
Domain of prokaryotes with peptidoglycan in their cell walls and circular chromosome(s). This group of small cells is widely distributed in the earth's habitats. - For energy, use organic or inorganic chemicals, or photosynthesis
Describe Archaea.
Domain of prokaryotic single-celled organisms of primitive origin that have unusual anatomy, physiology, and genetics and live in harsh habitats. - Lack peptidoglycan - Not known to be pathogens
The number one worldwide infectious diseases are A. AIDS related diseases B. Diarrhea diseases C. Malaria diseases D. Measles E. Respiratory diseases
E
Which of the following is a unique characteristic of viruses that distinguishes them from the other major groups of microorganisms? A. Cause human disease B. Lack a nucleus C. Cannot be seen without a microscope D. Contain genetic material E. Lack cell structure
E
Who came up with the term vaccination?
Edward Jenner
T/F: A scientist studying helminths is working with bacteria.
False
T/F: All microorganisms are parasites.
False
T/F: Members of the kingdom Fungi are photosynthetic.
False
Yeasts are members of Kingdom ______ and Domain ______
Fungi; Eukarya
How did Needham respond to Spallanzani's findings?
He said a "vital force" in the air was kept out of the flasks by the seal • Importance of oxygen was just being discovered • Seemed to support Needham's argument
Who is Francesco Redi?
He was the first scientist to challenge spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots did not arise spontaneous in 1668.
Who is Robert Hook?
In 1665 he observed thin slices of cork through a microscope • Saw small boxes and he called them "cells" • Beginning of Cell Theory
Who was John Needham?
In 1745, he tried to prove that spontaneous generation DID occur for microorganisms by heating chicken broth and corn broth, placing them into covered flasks and then observed that they soon were teeming with microbes
Who was Lazzaro Spallanzani?
In 1767, he tried to disprove Needham's work by heating broth after they were sealed and observed that no microbes developed.
Who was Edward Jenner?
In 1796, he inoculated a person with a cowpox virus and that person was then protected from small pox. He termed the name "vaccination" from "vacca" for cow. He not able to explain how the vaccine worked
In general, how do bacterial and archaeal cell differ from eukaryotic cells?
In general, bacterial and archaeal cells are ~10x smaller than eukaryotic cells, and they generally lack many of the eukaryotic cell structures such as organelles
Why was the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis important?
It produced oxygen and was much more efficient in extracting energy from sunlight than anoxygenic photosynthesis.
Describe Fungi
Macroscopic and microscopic heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that can be uni- or multicellular. - Chitin cell walls - Use organic chemicals for energy. Chemoheterotrophic. - Molds and mushrooms are multicellular - Yeasts are unicellular
Describe Viruses.
Noncellular, parasitic, protein-coated genetic elements, dependent on their infected host. - All cause disease
How many microbes are associated with disease?
Only a small percentage
Anoxygenix photosynthesis later evolved into what?
Oxygenic photosynthesis
Who proved that microbial growth is responsible for spoilage of food?
Pasteur
Who showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation?
Pasteur
Describe Algae.
Photosynthetic plantlike organisms that generally lack the complex structure of plants; they may be single-celled or multicellular and inhabit diverse habitats such as marine and freshwater environments, glaciers, and hot springs. - "Plant-like" protista - Cellulose cell walls - Produce molecular oxygen and organic compounds - Does not infect us directly, but can produce toxins that are harmful to us
Why are microbes easy to study?
Reproduce rapidly; large populations can be grown in the laboratory.
Who began the cell theory?
Robert Hooke
Microbes are ubiquitous. What does that mean?
They are present everywhere at the same time, which is another indication of the huge influence they have.
How does bacteria spoil wine?
They use alcohol and produce acetic acid (vinegar)
T/F: Many chronic conditions are found to be associated with microbial agents.
True
T/F: One distinguishing characteristic of the archaebacteria is that they live in extreme environments.
True
T/F: Researchers are trying to show if microbes can live in Antarctica glaciers perhaps they can live on planets with similar conditions.
True
T/F: The fossil record has established that prokaryotes existed on earth for approximately 2 billion years before eukaryotes appeared.
True
T/F: • All bacteria and archaea are microorganisms, but only some eukaryotes are microorganism.
True
What is genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology)?
a field involving deliberate alterations (recombinations) of the genomes of microbes, plants, and animals through special technological processes in order to create new products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
What are microorganisms/microbes?
a living thing ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification; an organism of microscopic size.
What is the "real" definition of germ?
a rapidly growing cell.
What are organelles?
a small component of eukaryotic cells that is bounded by a membrane and specialized in function
What is a parasite?
an organism that lives on or within another organism (the host), from which it obtains nutrients and enjoys protection. The parasite produces some degree of harm in the host.
What is a pathogen?
any agent that causes disease
What is biogenesis?
belief that living things can only arise from others of the same kind
What is fermentation?
conversion of sugar to alcohol
Microbes are essential for __________ of dead matter and nutrient _________
decomposition; cycling
What is spontaneous generation?
early belief that living things arose from vital forces present in nonliving, or decomposing, matter.
When humans manipulate the genes of microorganisms the process is called
genetic engineering
Define microscopic.
invisible to the naked eye
Who is Anton Von Leeuwenhoek?
o 1670'S merchant and amateur scientist • Magnifying lenses were his hobby o Described "animalcules" • First observation of microorganisms o Father of bacteriology and protozoology
Describe Helminths.
parasitic invertebrate animals such as worms. - Eukaryotes - Multicellular animals - Transmitted similarly to bacterial diseases - The body responds to them in the same way as bacterial diseases
Older diseases that are experiencing recent increases in prevalence are referred to as what?
reemerging diseases.
What is phycology?
study of algae
What is mycology?
study of fungi
What is bacteriology?
study of prokaryotes
What is protozoology?
study of protozoa
What is immunology?
study of the immune system
What is virology?
study of viruses
What is evolution?
the accumulation of changes that occur in organism as they adapt to their environments.
What is decomposition?
the breakdown of dead matter and wastes into simple compounds that be directed back into the natural cycle of living things.
What is the theory of evolution?
the evidence cited to explain how evolution occurs.
What is biotechnology?
the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.
What is pasteurization?
the process of heat processing a liquid or a food to kill pathogenic bacteria to make the food safe to eat
Who are Franz Shulze and Theodore Schwann?
these two scientists independently performed experiments that supported the idea that forces in the air were the source of life by allowing air to pass through strong acid solutions into the boiled infusions, and by passing air into the flasks via red-hot tubes respectively. In neither instance did microorganisms appear.
