History of Microbiology
1. Define:
Microbiology - The science or study of organisms too small to be viewed with the naked eye. In this class, the organisms considered (the microorganisms or microbes) include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae and a variety of multicellular parasites. Viruses, viroids and prions are non-cellular microscopic entities that are also important to microbiologists.
Abiogenesis - (a=without, bio=life, genesis=beginnings) The theory of abiogenesis is the theory that living organisms can arise from non-living materials. The spontaneous generation of living organisms from materials such as mud, dew, water and a variety of other substances was widely accepted prior to the work of Redi, Spallanzani and Pasteur.
Koch's postulates - A series of experimental steps or procedures that could be used to prove that a specific type of microorganism was responsible for causing a specific disease. Koch proved that the bacteria now called Bacillus anthracis were the etiological agents of anthrax. These steps include: 1) find the suspected causative agent in every case of disease; 2) isolate the microorganisms involved and grow them in pure form, 3) inoculate a normal healthy susceptible animal with the suspect causative agent and see disease symptoms develop, 4) reisolate the microorganisms from the newly diseased animal.
Etiological - Disease causing. Etiology is the science dealing with the causes of disease. The use of Koch’s postulates proved that many bacteria were etiological agents.
Magic Bullet - Terminology used by Paul Ehrlich (1810) in reference to chemical agents which could be taken internally to kill the microorganisms that were causing disease. The search for "magic bullets" led to the development of antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics).
2. Microorganisms were used for food processing and preservation. Examples include the fermentation of grains and fruit juices, the production cheese, yogurt and leavened bread. Fermented products would keep longer than fresh juice or milk, and fermentation occurred naturally where refrigeration was not available.
3. Microbiology/ Eukaryotic microorganisms include protozoa, algae, fungi and multicellular parasites. Prokaryotic microorganisms include bacteria and archaea. The viruses, viroids and prions are non-cellular, but are often included.
4. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek/ abiogenesis
5. He developed a crude form of microscope (magnified objects about 266x), observed living microorganisms, and documented his findings with an established scientific organization (British Royal Society or Royal Society of London).
6. abiogenesis/ Louis Pasteur
7. Lazzaro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur (Note - many other investigators conducted experiments in attempts to prove or disprove the theory of abiogenesis.)
8. fermentation/Pasteurization
9. Joseph Lister/ He washed his hands and his instruments between patients and used carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic.
10. Koch’s postulates provided proof that bacteria could cause disease. Prior to this documentation, many people insisted that disease was the result of sinful behavior. Koch provided proof that microorganisms were responsible.
11. inoculate a healthy, susceptible animal with the suspected microbe, and watch for disease symptoms to develop.
12. Petri developed the Petri dish, a flat container that would allow microorganisms to be observed and manipulated easily without contamination of cultures.
13. vaccine
14. prevent disease (vaccination)/cure disease (antibiotics)
15. Hesse developed the use of agar as a solidifying agent in microbiological media.
16. Paul Ehrlich
Copyright 2002 Sierra College Biological Sciences Department
Last updated: 01/18/02.
