The Modern Age of Microbiology
Increase in the number of microbiological investigators. New Beginnings in Scientific Knowledge During the 1800s field of science. Including subjects called environmental science, immunology, epidemiology, and chemotherapy.
And reproduction Engineering microorganisms played an important role. The development of these methods is important because of microorganisms.
Is easy to grow and takes up little space. And is available in many billions. Much of what is learned about microbes can be applied to other organisms.
Including humans applies. In the rest of the text of this book, we examine the developments given in these branches of microbiology. Although thousands of books of this size would be required to use all the books known.
Once upon a time the developing science of microbiology. Answered questions about spontaneous generation. Due to fermentation, and disease, some more questions arose in each branch of new science.
Since the beginning of the 20th century. Microbiologists have been able to answer these new questions. In this section, we can consider some of the basic and applied research of the 20th century.
This chapter ends with some of the questions. That may inspire microbiological research for the next 50 years.
What are the basic chemical reactions of life?
Biochemistry began with the work of fermentation. By yeasts and bacteria and the discovery of enzymes. By Buchner in the Wiest findings. But many scientists thought that the metabolism of bacteria is little affected.
By the metabolism of plants and animals. The microbiologist Albert Calvin and his student C.B. V. N. N. These reactions. Are very few and their primary property. Is the transfer of electrons and hydrogen ions.
Taking this view, scientists can use microbes. As a model system to answer questions about metabolism in all living organisms. Research in the 20th century has confirmed this.
This approach is to understanding basic metabolic processes. But scientists have also confirmed an astonishing metabolic diversity. Basic biochemical research has many practical applications.
These include the following: Design of herbicides and insecticides. With no long-term environmental side effects. Diagnosing diseases and monitoring patient response to treatment. For example, doctors watch liver disease.
By measuring blood levels of certain enzymes and products of liver metabolism. Treatment of metabolic diseases. An example of this is the treatment of a disease called phenylketonuria.
Which is caused by the inability to metabolize. The amino acid phenylalanine by eliminating foods that contain a phenylalanine diet. Design of drugs to treat leukemia, and gout. Bacterial infections, malaria, AIDS, asthma, and heart attack.
How do genes work?
The scientific study of heredity began in the mid-1800s as a branch of botany. But scientists who studied microorganisms made great strides in the subjects.
Microbial Genetics
It was determined that genes are found in DNA molecules in 1958. By George Bedell and Edward Tatum in Bread Mold Neurolife Science.
Advances in the science of microbial genetics over the past 40 years. Have led to the development of many new disciplines. That are growing areas of scientific research.
Molecular Biology
Molecular biology incorporates aspects of biochemistry and cell biology. And genetics to interpret them at the molecular level. Molecular biologists have sequenced the genomes of many organisms.
Including humans and their many microbes. It is hoped that a complete understanding of the genomes of organisms. This will lead to practical ways to limit disease and correct genetic defects. And increase the effectiveness of agriculture.
The American Nobel laureate Linus Poling proposed in 1965. That gene sequence could provide a means of understanding evolutionary relationships. And processes, establishing taxonomic categories. That more reflected these relationships. do, and can identify the existence of microbes.
That has never been cultured in the laboratory. Two examples illustrate such uses of gene sequencing data. Significant differences in nucleic acid sequences between organisms reveal.
That cells belong to one of three major groups—bacteria, and archaea. In the 1990s scientists demonstrated. That cat scratch disease was caused by a bacterium. That had not been cultured.
The bacterium was discovered by identification. The sequence of a part of its ribonucleic acid. That was different from the known ribonucleic acid sequence.
Recombinant DNA Technology
Molecular biology using recombinant D.N. A. Technology 26 is preferred. To as genetic engineering. Geneticists manipulate genes in microorganisms and plants. And organisms for practical applications.
For example, when scientists introduced a human blood-clotting factor. Into the bacteria Escherichia coli, the technique has been shown to affect individuals.
With the disease hemophilia, who were before blocked with a blood-clotting factor. , which was harmful to the life of dangerous pathogens.
Gene Therapy
Recombinant DNA for gene therapy is a new area of study. A. Technology is used. It is a process that involves the insertion of a missing gene or the repair of a defective gene. In human cells.
In such procedures, researchers insert the desired gene into host cells. Since Koch and Pasteur, most research in microbiology has focused. On pure cultures of individual species.
But, microorganisms are not solitary in the "real world". Instead, they form natural microbial communities in soil and water. The human body, and other habitats.
Live in communities and these communities play an important role in processes. Such as the production of vitamins and bioreduction.
Microbial communities play an important role in the breakdown of dead organisms. And the reuse of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Martinus Bejjerinck discovered nitrogen gas.
Capable of converting nitrogen gas from the air into nitrate. Is the most important component of nitrogen used by plants. Rupp and the Russian microbiologist Sergiry Sergersky described the role of microorganisms.
Both of these microbiologists developed laboratory techniques. For many important aspects of environmental microbiology. A second role of bacteria. The environment is the cause of disease.
Although most microorganisms are not pathogens. In this book, we focus on pathogenic microbes. Because of the danger they pose to human health.
Investigate the symptoms and diseases and investigate. The diseases caused by them control their spread.
How do we prevent disease?
Why do some people get sick during flu season? While close friends and family stay well. The germ theory of disease makes. It is clear that microbes not only cause disease.
But can also protect the body—most of the time. get sick.
Jenner's and Pasteur's work on vaccines showed. That the body could protect itself from repeated diseases.
By the same organism. German bacteriologist Emil Wang and Japanese microbiologist. Shibaura Kitasato reported infection-fighting chemicals.
And cells were present in the blood. His study developed into the field of serology. The study of blood serum, the chemicals.
In the liquid part of blood that fights disease, and immunology. microbiology, the study of the body's defenses against specific pathogens.
Erlich introduced the idea of a "magic bullet" that could kill germs. But it was not until Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. In 1929 and Grafer Damach discovered sulfa drugs in 1935.
We study chemotherapy and some of the physical and chemical agents. Used to control microorganisms in the environment.
Science is built on asking and answering questions. A dedicated lens of curiosity. The Netherlands began in the last 350 years. When immunology, recombination d.n. A. Technologies and methods of bioremediation expanded. Yet, the saying is true that the more questions. We answer the more questions we have. What will microbiologists find next? The questions for the next 50 years are as follows.
- Can we develop successful programs to control?
- What is this physiology that is known by nucleic acid sequences? What has prevented researchers from growing them in the laboratory?
- Could bacteria and archaea be used in ultraminiature technologies? Such as living computer circuit boards?
- How can an understanding of microbial communities help to understand? The positive aspects of microbial action. The prevention and treatment of diseases, nutrient recycling, and pollution mitigation. And climate change mitigation?
- How can we reduce the risk of microbes becoming resistant to antimicrobial drugs? And prevent the re-emergence of infectious diseases.
Ellen staggered out of the room, screaming obscenities. And collapsing on the porch. Her parents were astounded to see that their kind, and thoughtful.
And the sweet girl had changed so over the past year. Unfortunately, he is also his brother. Ellen has almost involved 200 Europeans. And one Canadian due to a variety of Kritzfeldzkob diseases.
Because vCJD causes the brain to destroy nerve tissue. Affected by slow erosion and leaving. The brain is filled with spongy holes, these are neurological.
Allen's disease began with insomnia, depression, and confusion. But progressed to uncontrolled emotions. And verbal outbursts, agitation, coma, and death. Caused by an inability to coordinate. The illness usually lasts for a year, and there is no cure. Variable disease emerging disease is a disease.
Because it is new to a population or identified. Some researchers also include diseases. That has been eradicated but is now re-emerging. Variant C JD Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is caused. The mutation occurs in the elderly. The difference is that C.J.
The form of D. is caused by an acquired infection. And often kills people of a co-age group, like the participant in our story. For more information about vCJD, see. 629–630.
