Chapter 1

Microorganisms and
Microbiology

OUTLINE
Introduction to Microbiology
Science of Microbiology
Microbial Cells
Microbial Community
Evolution and the Extent of Microbial Life
Impacts of Microorganisms on Human

Discovery Pathways in Microbiology

Introduction to Microbiology

Science of Microbiology
1. Understanding basic life processes
Microbes are excellent models for
understanding cellular processes in
unicellular and multicellular organisms
2. Applying that knowledge to the
benefit of humans
Microbes play important roles in
medicine, agriculture and industry

All Microbial Cells Share the Following

I. Properties of all cells
Metabolism

Growth

Evolution
Ancestral
cell

Cell

Distinct
species
Distinct
species

Environment
Fig 1.3

Some Microbial Cells Display the Following

II. Properties of some cells

Motility

Differentiation

Communication

Spore
Fig 1.3

All Microbial Cells Coordinate

Catalytic and Genetic functions

Fig 1.4

Microorganisms and Their Environments

Small lake Sewage sludge

In nature, microbial cells

live in populations with
other species.
Microbial community
Microbial ecosystem
Microbial ecology
Purple sulfur bacteria bloom
in a small lake
Fig 1.5

Evolution and the Extent of Microbial Life

The First Cells and the Onset of Biological Evolution
LUCA (last universal common ancestor)
First cells were all microorganisms

Life on Earth through the Ages

Anaerobic microorganisms
Cyanobacteria (generated O2)
Multicellular life forms

The Extent of Microbial Life

Total microbial cell numbers = 2.5 1030
Most cells are in the oceanic and terrestrial subsurface

Summary of Life on Earth through Time

Fig 1.6

Distribution of Microorganisms
in and on Earth

Impact of Microorganisms on Humans

Microorganisms as Agents of Disease
Microorganisms, Digestive Processes and Agriculture
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Cellulose-degrading microbes in the rumen

Microorganisms and Food

Fermentation and Food spoilage

Microorganisms and Energy

H2, ethanol and methane (biofuel)

Microorganisms and Environment

Bioremediation

Microorganisms and Their Genetic Resources

Biotechnology

Microbiologists Success in
Preventing Infectious Diseases
United States

Fig 1.8

Impacts of Microorganisms on Agriculture

Fig 1.9

Microorganisms for Biofuels

Natural gas (methane)

Ethanol plant
Fig 1.11

Pathways of Discovery
in Microbiology

Historical Roots of Microbiology

Microbiology began with the microscope
Robert Hooke (16351703): the first to describe
microbes: fungi fruiting bodies.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (16321723): the first to
describe bacteria.
Ferdinand Cohn (18281898):
1. discovered endospores in Bacillus
2. initiated bacterial classification
3. founded a scientific journal
4. devised the use of cotton for closing flasks and tubes

Robert Hooke (16351703)

Mold structures
on the surface of leather

Lens
Bellows

Fig 1.12

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (16321723)

Human blood smear
through his microscope
Lens

His microscope

His drawings

Fig 1.13

Main Biological Questions in the

Mid- and Late Nineteenth Century
1. Does spontaneous generation occur?
2. What is the nature of infectious
disease?

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Disproved theory of spontaneous
generation
Led to the development of methods for
controlling the growth of microorganisms
(aseptic technique)

Steam, forced
out open end

Nonsterile liquid
poured into flask

Liquid sterilized
Neck of flask
drawn out in flame by extensive heating

Fig 1.16a

Dust and microorganisms

trapped in bend

Open end

Long time

Liquid cooled
slowly

Liquid remains
sterile indefinitely

Fig 1.16b

Short time

Flask tipped so
microorganism-laden dust
contacts sterile liquid

Liquid putrefies

Fig 1.16c

Louis Pasteur (18221895)

Discovered that living organisms discriminate
between optical isomers.
Discovered that alcoholic fermentation was a
biologically mediated process (originally thought
to be purely chemical).
Developed vaccines for anthrax, fowl cholera, and
rabies.

Robert Koch (18431910)

Demonstrated the link between
microbes and infectious diseases.
Kochs postulates
Identified causative agents of anthrax
and tuberculosis.

KOCHs Postulates

Fig 1.19

Robert Koch (18431910)

Discovered that using solid media provided a

simple way of obtaining pure cultures:
Potato slices
Gelatin
Agar

Rise of Microbial Diversity

Martinus Beijerinck (18511931)
Developed enrichment culture technique
(Microbes isolated from natural samples in a highly selective
fashion by manipulating nutrient and incubation conditions)

Sergei Winogradsky (18561953)

Coined the concept of Chemolithotrophy
(Oxidation of inorganic compounds linked to energy
conservation)
Demonstrated that specific bacteria are linked to specific
biogeochemical transformations (e.g., S & N cycles)

Modern Era of Microbiology

In the 20th century, microbiology developed in
two distinct directions: Applied and Basic.

Subdisciplines
of Microbiology

Genomics Revolution
Led to systematic, technology-driven
research:
Genomics: study of entire genome
Transcriptomics: study of RNA patterns
Proteomics: study of all the proteins
produced by cell(s)
Metabolomics: study of metabolic
expression in cells