Course Description
• Microorganisms are the most diversified
and interesting to study. Microbiology is
one of the most active and promising field
in life sciences. I will try to integrate the
most classical and basic ideas, theories, and
concepts with the most recent advances in
microbiology, which are so exciting and full
of fun to know about.
Microbiology
fifth Edition (2002)
By M Prescott,
John P. Harley,
Donald A. Klein
The most learner-centered and user-friendly
Problem-based design
Concept networking approach
Brock Biology of Microorganisms
The most internationally recognized textbook in microbiology
For more useful aids, please visit:
1. www.mhhe.com/prescott5
2. 武汉大学/图书馆/网络课程/微生
物学
Introduction of Microbiology
• What is Microbiology?
The study of microorganisms, a
large and diverse group of
organisms that exist as single cells
or cell clusters.
We will discuss:
• the experimental basis of microbiology
• the general principles of cell structure and function
• the classification and diversity of microorganisms
• biochemical processes in cells
• the genetic basis of microbial growth and evolution
• the ecological activities of microorganisms in nature.
What are Microorganisms?
• Virus (病毒） Non-cell microbes
• Bacteria (细菌） Prokaryotes
• Archaea (远古细菌） (原核生物)
• Algae (藻类）
Eukaryotes
• Fungi (真菌:酵母、霉菌）
(真核生物）
• Protozoa (原生动物）
What are Prokaryotes?
Prokaryotes:
• Bacteria(细菌)
• Archaea(远古细菌)
• Actinomycetes(放线菌)
• Mycoplasma(支原体)
• Rickettsia(立克氏体)
• Chlamydia(衣原体)
• Cyanobacteria(蓝细菌)
What are Eukaryotic Microorganisms?
• Algae
• Fungi
• Slime molds(粘菌)
• Protozoa
（原生动物）
Prokaryotic and eukatyptic cells
Virus: Virus, Viroids（拟病毒）
and Prions（朊病毒）
Is Microbiology Useful?
Yes!
• As a basic biological science, the most
accessible research tools for probing the
nature of life processes
• As an applied biological science, many
large scale industrial processes are
microbially based: BIOTECHNOLOGY
• Biogeochemical cycling
Products from Microorganisms
Genetically Engineered Microorganisms
• Many high-value-added peptide drugs are produced
by genetically engineered micro-organisms:
Blood proteins ：Erythropoietin(促红细胞生成素)
Factors VII, VIII, IX
Human hormones ：Epidermal（表皮） growth
factor, Human growth hormone, Insulin（胰岛素）,
Nerve growth factor
Immune modulators ：a-Interferon（干扰素）, b-
Interferon
Vaccines ：Hepatitis B肝炎, Measles麻疹, Rabies狂 犬病
Microorganisms are enemy!
• Human disease： measles, mumps腮腺炎,
smallpox天花, AIDS, tuberculosis结核,
pneumonia, malaria疟疾
• Plant disease
• Animal disease: mouth-foot disease
• Antibiotics resistance
• population of water
• Food spoilage
Microorganisms as disease agents
The major causes of death between at the beginning of the twentieth
century and now
at the beginning of the twentieth century:
influenza and pneumonia and tuberculosis
Now: heart diseases and cancer
Why?
1.comprehensive understanding of disease processes
2.improved sanitary practices
3.the discovery and use of antimicrobial agents.
But, AIDS, multiple-drug-resistant pathogen still threat to survival.
Smallpox was eradicated, but pervasive illnesses as malaria,
tuberculosis, cholera(霍乱), African sleeping sickness（非洲昏睡病）,
and severe diarrheal腹泻 diseases still cause death.
Microorganisms and agriculture
• Legumes（豆科植物） live in close
association with special bacteria that form
structures called nodules根瘤 on their roots.
• Digestive organ of cattle and sheep are
called rumen瘤胃, in which microorganism
carry out the digestive process.
• Plant nutrition
• Harmful effects: animal and plant diseases
Microorganisms and the food industry
1. Food spoilage
2. Fermented foods via microbial activity
3. Alcoholic beverages
4. mushroom
Microorganisms, energy, and the
environment
Natural gas(methane): methanogenic(产甲烷)
bacteria
Crude oil: minimize microbial damage
Biofuels: methane and ethanol; phototrophic
microorganisms can harvest light energy.
Bioremediation生物修复:
consume spilled oil, solvents, and other
environmentally toxic pollutants.
The impact of microorganisms on human affairs
Important Persons in Microbiology History
1684 Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (discovery of bacteria)
1857-1864 Louis Pasteur (lactic acid fermentation, yeast
alcohol fermentation, spontaneous generation theory
“swan neck flasks”)
1881-1884 Robert Koch (pure culture, cause of
tuberculosis, Koch’s postulates, cause of (霍乱)
cholera）
1889 Martinus Beijerinck (concept of a virus)
1929 Alexander Fleming (discovery of penicilin)
1953 James Watson, Francis Crick (DNA structure)
1983 Luc Montagnier (discovery of HIV)
Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895)
Pasteur’s contributions:
• Final refutation of
spontaneous generation –
birth of microbiology as a
science
• Discovery of the existence
of anaerobic厌氧 life –
fermentation
• Vaccines
• Pasteurization Louis Pasteur working in his laboratory
1. Pasteur (1857) demonstrated that lactic acid
fermentation is due to the activity of
microorganisms.
2. Pasteur (1861) conflict over spontaneous
generation – birth of microbiology as a
science
3. Pasteur (1881) developed anthrax（炭疽热）
vaccine
4. Pasteurization
The spontaneous generation conflict
Spontaneous generation – that living
organisms could develop from nonliving or
decomposing matter.
Pasteur’s swan neck flasks used in his experiments
on the spontaneous generation of microorganisms
Conclusion:
Microorganisms are not spontaneously
generated from inanimate matter, but are
produced by other microorganisms
Robert Kock (1843 – 1910)
The recognition of microbial role in disease
Robert Kock in his laboratory
Koch’s postulates柯赫法则
• 1. The microorganism must be present in every case of the
disease but absent from healthy organisms.
• 2. The suspected microorganism must be isolated and grown
in a pure culture.
• 3. The same disease must result when the isolated
microorganism is inoculated into a healthy host.
• 4. The same microorganism must be isolated again from the
diseased host.
Question? some pathogens 病原菌cannot be grown in pure
culture outside the host; grow only in humans.
Alexander Fleming
(1881-1955)
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered
the antibiotic penicillin. He had
the insight to recognize the
significance of the inhibition of
bacterial growth in the vicinity of a
fungal contaminant when most
other scientists probably would
have simply discarded the
contaminated plates.
How are microorganisms cultivated?
• Petri Disks
• Shake Flasks
• Fermentor
Problem-based learning
• You want to be creative? Then, ask
questions that no one else has ever asked
before
• Ask questions and actively look for answers
Active participation
• You must ask me at least 10 questions
during the semester, send the questions to
me via Email. For each question, I give you
1 point.
How much of the new knowledge and
skills have you learned through English?
• In scientific field (Natural and Social
sciences), almost all the most important
advances are first published in English.
• How can you become world class
professionally if you learn everything new
in Chinese?
How much of the new knowledge and
skills have you learned through English?
• How much is satisfactory?
– For undergraduate students, 70% at least
– For graduate students, 90% at least
– For professors, 99% at least
• Otherwise, you will lose the competition in
job market even before you graduate from
school!
Think and answer following questions:
1. How did Pasteur's famous experiment defeat the theory of
spontaneous generation?
2. How can Koch's postulates prove cause and effect in a
disease?
3. Who was the first person to use solid culture media in
microbiology? What advantages do solid media offer for
the culture of microorganisms?
4. When and how Alexander Fleming discovered antibiotics?
5. Relationships between human and microorganism?