Brief History of Microbiology
The human eye is able to visualize much of what we see every day, and yet there is a whole
world of organisms living among and within us that are not seen. The things that we cannot see
with the naked eye are called microscopic organisms because humans need equipment such as
microscopes that help to magnify these organisms in order to see them.
Microscopes have the capacity to magnify objects many times and there many types of
microscopes that can be used for lab and research applications. As technology advances,
scientists have been able to visualize even more types of organisms in both static and dynamic
states.
Examples of three types of microscopes
Monocular and Binocular Compound Microscopes
Dissecting Microscope, Stereomicroscope
Operator using a transmission electron microscope
1665-the first observations
1665: Robert Hooke reported that living things are composed of little boxes, or cell
1673-1723: Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was considered “father of microbiology” He was first to
describe live microorganisms in detail
1976-1876-Germ Theory of Disease
1796: Edward Jenner inoculated a person with cowpox virus, who was then protected from
smallpox. This was the first vaccination.
*Vaccination is derived from vacca, for cow
*The protection is called immunity
1840s: Ignaz Semmelweis-advocated hand washing to prevent transmission of puerperal
(childbirth) fever
1860s: Joseph Lister-used a chemical disinfectant (phenol) to prevent surgical wound infections
1876: Robert Koch-provided experimental steps(Koch’s postulates), proved that a specific
microbe causes a specific disease (anthrax)
, 1858-Cell Theory
Cell theory: all living things are composed of cells and come from preexisting cells
1868: Rudolf Virchow hypothesized (said) that cells arise from preexisting cells.
1857-1914-Godlen Age of Microbiology
The period from m1857 to 1914 has been appropriately name the Golden Age of Microbiology.
Rapid advances led to the establishment of microbiology. Discoveries included both the agents
of many diseases and the role of immunity in preventing and curing disease.(Tortora, Funke, &
Case, 2013)
Beginning with Louis Pasteur’s work, discoveries included the relationship between microbes
and disease, immunity, and antimicrobial drugs.
*Pasteur showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation
*Fermentation is the conversion of sugar to alcohol to make beer and wine. Doesn’t produce
ATP just keeps things going (regenerates carrier molecules)
*Determined that microbial growth is also responsible for spoilage of food.
*Developed pasteurization of the application of a high heat for a short time to destroy
microorganisms without destroying beverages such as wine or beer
1928-1940s-Discovery and use of Antibiotics
1928: Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic
*Fleming observed that Penicillium fungus made an antibiotic, penicillin that killed S. aureus
1940s: Penicillin was tested clinically and mass produced
Microorganisms
Microorganisms are very diverse and are found in all three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria,
and Eukarya
Two types of cell classification
The human eye is able to visualize much of what we see every day, and yet there is a whole
world of organisms living among and within us that are not seen. The things that we cannot see
with the naked eye are called microscopic organisms because humans need equipment such as
microscopes that help to magnify these organisms in order to see them.
Microscopes have the capacity to magnify objects many times and there many types of
microscopes that can be used for lab and research applications. As technology advances,
scientists have been able to visualize even more types of organisms in both static and dynamic
states.
Examples of three types of microscopes
Monocular and Binocular Compound Microscopes
Dissecting Microscope, Stereomicroscope
Operator using a transmission electron microscope
1665-the first observations
1665: Robert Hooke reported that living things are composed of little boxes, or cell
1673-1723: Anton Van Leeuwenhoek was considered “father of microbiology” He was first to
describe live microorganisms in detail
1976-1876-Germ Theory of Disease
1796: Edward Jenner inoculated a person with cowpox virus, who was then protected from
smallpox. This was the first vaccination.
*Vaccination is derived from vacca, for cow
*The protection is called immunity
1840s: Ignaz Semmelweis-advocated hand washing to prevent transmission of puerperal
(childbirth) fever
1860s: Joseph Lister-used a chemical disinfectant (phenol) to prevent surgical wound infections
1876: Robert Koch-provided experimental steps(Koch’s postulates), proved that a specific
microbe causes a specific disease (anthrax)
, 1858-Cell Theory
Cell theory: all living things are composed of cells and come from preexisting cells
1868: Rudolf Virchow hypothesized (said) that cells arise from preexisting cells.
1857-1914-Godlen Age of Microbiology
The period from m1857 to 1914 has been appropriately name the Golden Age of Microbiology.
Rapid advances led to the establishment of microbiology. Discoveries included both the agents
of many diseases and the role of immunity in preventing and curing disease.(Tortora, Funke, &
Case, 2013)
Beginning with Louis Pasteur’s work, discoveries included the relationship between microbes
and disease, immunity, and antimicrobial drugs.
*Pasteur showed that microbes are responsible for fermentation
*Fermentation is the conversion of sugar to alcohol to make beer and wine. Doesn’t produce
ATP just keeps things going (regenerates carrier molecules)
*Determined that microbial growth is also responsible for spoilage of food.
*Developed pasteurization of the application of a high heat for a short time to destroy
microorganisms without destroying beverages such as wine or beer
1928-1940s-Discovery and use of Antibiotics
1928: Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic
*Fleming observed that Penicillium fungus made an antibiotic, penicillin that killed S. aureus
1940s: Penicillin was tested clinically and mass produced
Microorganisms
Microorganisms are very diverse and are found in all three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria,
and Eukarya
Two types of cell classification
