Introduction to

Microbiology

BY
ZAINAB MUGHAL
(MICROBIOLOGIST)
Contents

 Microorganism
 Microbiology
 Field of microbiology
 History or contribution of scientist in Microbiology
1. Antony von leeuwenhook
2. Robert Koch
3. Louis pasteur
4. Edward Jenner
5. Francesco Redi
 Microbes/Microorganisms

 A microorganism (or microbe) is a tiny living organism that is too

small to be seen with the naked eye and requires a microscope for
observation.

 Examples: Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses

 Microbiology

 The word "microbiology" originates from the combination of three Greek words:
mikros meaning small
bios meaning life
logos meaning study

 Microbiology is the branch of science that deals with the ‘study of Small life’ or
organisms that are too small to be seen with naked eyes.
.
Various fields of microbiology

1. Virology
2. Mycology
3. Bacteriology
4. Immunology
5. Phycology
6. Environmental microbiology
7. Food microbiology
8. Environmental microbiology
 branches of microbiology

 Virology --------- study of viruses, their structure, classification,

replication, genetics, and effects on living organisms.
 Bacteriology -------- study of bacteria, including their classification,
physiology, genetics, and roles in health, disease, and the environment.
 Mycology ------- study of fungi, including their classification, growth,
reproduction, and impact on health and industry.
 Immunology ------- study of the immune system, including how it
defends against pathogens, autoimmune diseases, and immune
responses to vaccines.
 CONTINUE

 Phycology /Algology ---------study of algae, including their

taxonomy, structure, ecological roles, and economic importance.
 Protozoology ---------Study of protozoa , their classification, life
cycle, physiology, genetics, and their role in both ecological systems
and human health.
 Environmental microbiology -------study of microorganisms in
natural environments, including soil, water and air
 Food microbiology ------study of the role of microorganism in food
spoilage and making
 History
OR
CONTRIBUTION OF SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD OF MICROBIOLOGY
Antony von Leeuwenhook (Father of
Microbiology)
Francesco Redi (FATHER OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY)
Robert Koch (Father of modern
Bacteriology)
Louis Pasteur ( Father of modern
Microbiology )
Edward Jenner(Father of Immunology )
 Eukaryotes

 Eu----True Karyon-----nucleus
 Eukaryote, any cell or organism that possesses a clearly defined
nucleus.
 The eukaryotic cell has a nuclear membrane that surrounds the
nucleus.
 Eukaryotic cells also contain other membrane bounded organelles.
 EXAMPLE : Plants, animals , fungi , algae
 Prokaryotes

 Pro ------False/before Karyon------Nucleus

 prokaryote, also spelled procaryote, any organism that lacks nuclear
membrane and other membrane bounded organelles.
 Example : Bacteria
 Unicellular and multicellular

 Unicellular organisms are made up of only one cell that carries out
all of the functions needed by the organism.

 Multicellular organisms are composed of more than one cell.

Multicellular organisms use many different cells to function.
SHAPES AND ARRANGEMENT OF
BACTERIA
MICROORGANISM
S
 Bacteria

 0.2 to 5 micrometer
 Microscopic (not visible with naked eye )
 Unicellular (Single cell organism )
 Prokaryotic (Have nucleoid)
 Heterotroph or autotroph (photosynthesis or chemosynthesis)
 Bacteria reproduce primarily by binary fission (asexually)
 Some bacteri are pathogenic and some useful
 Live in soil ,water ,food ,on living body and inside the living
body.
 Continue

 Pathogenic Bacteria:
 Some bacteria can cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants.
 Beneficial Bacteria:
 Many bacteria are beneficial and play important roles, such as:
 Gut bacteria (like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) help with digestion.
 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (like Rhizobium) help plants by converting nitrogen
from the atmosphere into a usable form.
 Decomposers break down organic matter, recycling nutrients in ecosystems.
 used in fermentation
 used in biotechnology).
 Virus

 Obligate intracellular parasite

 Can only multiply in living cells.
 20-300 nanometer
 Infectious agent
 Smallest of all microbes
 Fungi

 Fungi are unicellular or multicellular

 Multicellular except yeast
 Eukaryotic
 Decomposers
 Heterotroph
 Fungi are associated with humid and local environment
Algae

 Eukaryotic
 Photosynthetic (have chlorophyl) autotroph
 Some Unicellular but other are multicellular
 lack the true roots, stems, leaves, and multicellular.
 Most algae are aquatic
 protozoa

 Unicellular .
 Eukaryotes.
 Some are parasite and some are predators.
 Include amoeba ,paramecium ,euglena ,plasmodium
 They live in a wide variety of moist habitats including fresh
water, marine water and the soil
 Structure of bacteria

 Cell wall
 Cell membrane
 Nucleoid
 Cytoplasm
 Ribosomes
 Plasmid
 Flagella
 Pili
 Capsule
 Spore
 Cell wall

 Cell wall
 Outermost membrane of bacterial cell
 Function
 Give shape to the cell and protect from outside environment
 Composition
 Bacterial cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan
 Bacteria classification on the basis of cell wall
 On the basis of cell wall bacteria are divided into two groups
 Gram positive
 Gram negative
 Gram positive : Cell wall is made up of thick peptidoglycan layer (20-80nm thick)
 Gram-negative : Cell wall is made up of thin peptidoglycan layer (2-7nm thin)
 Gram-Positive Bacteria:

 Thick peptidoglycan layer (20–80 nm)

 Peptidoglycan is made of:
 N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
 N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)
These are linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds and cross-linked by peptide chains.
 Teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids:
 Help with rigidity
 Involved in ion transport and cell wall maintenance
 Contain mycolic acid (Acid-fast bacteria)
 No outer membrane
GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA

 Thin peptidoglycan layer (2–7 nm)

 Peptidoglycan is made of:
 N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)
 N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)
 Outer membrane is present and contains:
 Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) – act as endotoxins
 Porins – allow passage of small molecules
 Periplasmic space between inner membrane and outer membrane
 Cell membrane

 Cell membrane
 It is also called as plasma membrane / cytoplasmic membrane
 It is present inside the cell wall
 Function
 It is semi permeable membrane
 It regulate to transport of material in and out of the cell
 Composition
 It is composed of lipid bilayers
Nucleoid (nucleus like)

 It do not contain nuclear membrane.

 It is in irregular shape.
 The genome or genetic material present inside this structure.
 It contain genetic material DNA and RNA.
Cytoplasm

 It is a jelly like substance,

 It is present inside the cell.
 In which all the organelles float.
Types of Glycocalyx:

 Capsule
 Well-organized, tightly bound to the cell wall
 Not easily washed off
 Usually made of polysaccharides or polypeptides
 Seen in many pathogenic bacteria
 Slime Layer
 Loosely attached, irregular, and unorganized
 Easily washed off
 Also made of polysaccharides
 Helps with motility and biofilm formation
Glycocalyx
 Capsule

 Gelatinous layer
 Not all bacteria contain capsule
Function
 Virulence factor ( it enhance the ability of bacteria to cause disease)
Composition
 It is composed of polysaccharide and polypeptides
Structure
 It is thick ,hard and has gummy nature ------provide adhesion
 Tightly attached to cell wall
Examples : Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus anthracis.
FUNCTION OF CAPSULE

 Protection from Phagocytosis

 Prevents Desiccation (Drying Out)
 Adhesion to Surfaces
 Protection from Antimicrobial Agents
 Virulence Factor
 Slime

 Gelatinous layer
 Not all bacteria contain slime
Function
 Virulence factor (Adhesion , Biofilm , antibiotic resistance)
Composition
 It is composed of polysaccharide and water
Structure
 It is loosely attached to cell wall
Examples: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Spore

 Highly resistance and dormant structure

 Bacteria produce spore in undesirable condition ( Lack of nutrition , Unfavourable
temperature or PH)
 Not all bacteria produce spore
 Produce by some Gram Positive bacteria
Function
 Allow the bacteria to survive in unfavourable condition
Examples : Clostridium botulinum,Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani,
Bacillus anthracis
Flagella

 Singular called flagellum

 Long , Hair like structure
Function
 Help in locomotion (movement), in adhesion , sensory function
Composition
 Composed of flagellin ( protein)
 Difference Between Pili and Fimbriae

Feature Fimbriae Pili

Structure Shorter, thinner, more numerous Longer, thicker, fewer in number

Length Short (a few micrometers) Longer (can be >10 µm)

Mostly for conjugation and some for
Function Mainly attachment to surfaces
motility
Found in both Gram-positive and
Presence Mostly found in Gram-negative bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria
F/Sex pili used in DNA transfer
Special Types No special types
(conjugation)

Role in
Helps bacteria adhere to host cells Transfers genetic material
Virulence
Ribosomes

 It is called as the protein factory

Function
 Help in Synthesis of protein
Composition
 Bacterial ribosomes contain ribosomal RNA and are composed of two
subunits
1. large subunit (50S)
2. small subunit (30S)
which together form the 70S ribosome.
Plasmid

 Extra chromosomal circular double strands DNA

 Replicate independently
 More than one in number
 Vary in size
Function
 Provide genetic advantages
 Nutritional types of bacteria

Energy Sources Electron source Carbon source

 Photolithoautotrophy Light Inorganic CO2

 Photoorganoheterotrophy Light organic Preformed C

Chemcial Inorganic CO2

 Chemolithoautotrophy

 Chemolithoheterotrophy Chemcial Inorganic Preformed C

 Chemoorganoheterotroph y Chemical organic Preformed C

 CONTINUE

Parasitic :
 A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at
the expense of its host.
Saprophytic
 bacterium, that lives on and gets its nourishment from dead organisms or decaying
organic material.
Symbiotic
 Symbiotic bacteria is the one which forms association with either plant , animal or
fungus
 Terminologies

 Aerobic bacteria : That can survive in the presence of oxygen

 Anaerobic bacteria: That can survive in the absence of oxygen
 Obligate aerobic : That can only survive in the presence of oxygen and can kill in absence of
oxygen
 Obligate anaerobic : That can only survive in the absence of oxygen and can kill in the
presence of oxygen
 Facultative anaerobic : That survive in the presence of oxygen but can also survive in the
absence of oxygen
 Facultative aerobic : That survive in the absence of oxygen but can also survive in the
presence of oxygen
 IMPORTANCE OF MICROBIOLOGY IN
NURSING

 Microbiology in nursing is vital for infection control, preventing the spread

of pathogens in healthcare settings.
 It helps to administer antibiotics effectively, to concider microbial
resistance and patient safety.
 Microbiology help to interpreting diagnostic test results, help in patient
care.
 It help in sterilization and disinfection practices, reducing the risk of
infections.
 It also help in administer vaccination.