Lecture 1 - Jennifer Flashcards
What is microbiology
The study of microscopic organisms
What is the oldest form of life on earth
Microbes
What are microbes
Tiny single cell organisms
Microbe fossils date back how many years
> 3.5 billion years
Name the 3 types of microbes
Eukaryotes
Archaea
Bacteria
Role of microbiology in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry
Production of important pharmaceuticals
•Glucose polymers
•Vitamins
•Amino acids
•Ion chelating agents
•Enzymes
•Antibiotics
Name the hormone necessary for the proper development of RBC (erythrocytes)
Erythropoietin
Example of Bacteria as producers of human substance
Erythropoietin is very difficult to isolate but now available in high quantity by cloning into bacteria and administering to patients who cannot make the erythropoietin substance themselves
Importance of microbiology in agriculture
Decomposition and recycling
•waste treatment
•soil fertility
Food production
•dairy industry
•spoilage
Animal and plant health
•benefits
•disease
Benefit of Legumes
Plants with root nodules containing bacteria that fix nitrogen -this reduces dependence on fertilisers
How do ruminant animals benefit from bacteria
Cattle and sheep have a special digestive vessel called the rumen filled with bacteria.Bacteria digest cellulose in grass and hay without this bacteria animals would not thrive
How does bacteria help in nutrient cycling
Carbon , nitrogen and sulphur microbial activities in soil and water convert these elements into forms plants can use (nutrition)
Examples of microbial diseases
Foot and mouth virus
Mad cow disease
Potato blight (fungus)
Role of microbiology in food industry
Food spoilage
Food borne pathogens
Dairy products - cheese , yogurt , buttermilk produced by microbial activity
Baked goods & alcoholic beverages- resulted from yeast activity
Animal feed
Food supplements (probiotics)
What percentage of microbes cause infection
1%
Are probiotics live or dead microorganisms
Live microorganisms
How do probiotics confer a beneficial health effect on the host
•favourably alter the intestinal micro flora balance
•inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria
•produce bacteriocins
•promote good digestion
•boost immune function and increase resistance to infection
What are bacteriocins
Substance produced by probiotic bacteria which acts as natural antibiotics to kill undesirable microorganisms
Name the original probiotic preparation
Yoghurt
Where are probiotics present
Fermented dairy products namely live culture yoghurt
Other than live culture yoghurt name other sources of probiotics
Supplements in
•powder
•liquid extract
•capsule
•tablet
When did the European Union ban the use of four antibiotics as growth promotors
In 1999
What are the principle causes of death worldwide
•Respiratory tract infection (RTI)
•Diarrhoeal diseases
Role of bacteriologists
Focus specifically on bacteria and how they help or hurt us
