what knowledge do microbes give humans prevent diseases
allow food storage and prevent food spoilages
stop transmission of diseases
Microbiology the study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye
microbial ecology the study of the relationship between microorganisms and their environment
competitive exclusion a way to kill the bad bacteria
- change in the pH
- secrete enzymes
- eat the food
bioremediation using microbes to clean up pollutants
Bacillus thuringienisis can kill insects but doesn't harm plants or animals
Order of the Scientific Method observe
hypothesis
prediction
experiment
consistency
theory
law
Mycology study of fungi
bacteriology study of bacteria
virology study of viruses
algology study of algae
protozoology study of protozoa
Robert Hooke • All living organisms are composed of little boxes or "cells"
• -came up with cell theory - that all microorganisms are made up of cells
-marked the beginning of the cell theory
Stuvia Study Pack | 2026-2027
, Microbiology Exam 1
Anton van Leeuwenhook • 1st cells observed under the microscope
also made the original electron microscope : 10 mil X
Rebecca Lancefield • came up with the system that help classifying different microorganisms
• it was all based on different polysaccharides in the cell wall
also helped discover Streptococcus pyognes - which is basically strep and we
know this because pyognes is a pus forming microorganism
Joseph Lister • discovered phenol: was used to stop surgical would infections
• usually in hospitals : Staphylococcus aures aka staph infection
at least 20% of population is a carrier for the staph infection and they carry it in
their noses
Louis Pasteur • father of microbiology and is the most important scientist in microbiology
• showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation
• Fermentation: conversion of sugar to alcohol in the absence of air
• Discovered that pasteurization was something that could stop food spoilage
• Pasteurization: the application of a high heat for a short time to kill harmful
bacteria in beverages
How was he lucky in his discovery of pasteurization?—there we're no endospores
and that would should have been detected during the search for spontaneous
generation but it didn't
Robert Koch Proved that bacterium causes anthrax and provided the experimental steps of
Koch's Postulate
Edward Jenner • Discovered vaccination (or the process of vaccination)
Did it through using cow parts to vaccinate a child to protect against small pox
Alexander Fleming • Discovered the 1st antibiotic
• It was penicillin and it was totally found by accident
Staphylacoccus agnues
Agostino Bassi Believed that silk worm disease was caused by a fungus
Ignaz Semmelweis • 1st person that came up with hand washing
starting with delivering babies and babies we're dying and then when they
washed their hands the death rate when way down
Stuvia Study Pack | 2026-2027