Premium Essay

Microorganisms

In:

Submitted By gillz
Words 1792
Pages 8
In this essay I will be analysing micro organisms and disease. Firstly I will be defining micro organisms and then explaining the key features of the main categories of microorganisms. Followed by the roles of commensals and pathogens I will then go on to explain how micro organisms are transmitted and the routes of entry to and exit from the human body of micro organisms. I will also be explaining the logical sequence of events that occur from entry of a micro-organism to the body to the appearance of symptoms of a disease and then go onto discuss why not all infections lead to a disease. Finally I will explain a logical sequence the signs, symptoms and treatments of yellow fever which is an infectious disease.

Micro organisms are living organisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses) which are too small to even be seen with the naked eye but visible under a microscope also named microbe. There are five types of living micro organisms these are bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and algae. Microorganisms are widespread in nature and are beneficial to life, but some can cause serious harm. They can be divided into six major types: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.

Bacteria are unicellular organisms. The cells are described as prokaryotic because they lack a nucleus. They exist in four major shapes: bacillus (rod shape), coccus (spherical shape), spirilla (spiral shape), and vibrio (curved shape). Most bacteria have a peptidoglycan cell wall they divide by binary fission and they may possess flagella for motility. The difference in their cell wall structure is a major feature used in classifying these organisms. Bacteria can be further divided based on their response to gaseous oxygen into the following groups: aerobic is living in the presence of oxygen, anaerobic which means it is living without oxygen, and facultative anaerobes which can

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Microorganism

...Microorganism The study of microorganisms is called microbiology. Microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, archaea or protists, but not viruses and prions, which are generally classified as non-living. Most microorganisms are single-celled, or unicellular, but some are microscopic, and some unicellular protists are visible to the average human. Microorganisms live almost everywhere on Earth where there is liquid water, including hot springs, on the ocean floor, and deep inside rocks within Earth's crust. Microorganisms are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystems as they act as decomposers. As some microorganisms can also fix nitrogen, they are an important part of the nitrogen cycle. However, pathogenic microbes can invade other organisms and cause diseases that kill millions of people every year. Microorganisms can be found almost anywhere in the taxonomic organization of life on the planet. Bacteria and archaea are almost always microscopic, while a number of eukaryotes are also microscopic, including most protists and a number of fungi. Viruses are generally regarded as not living and therefore are not microbes, although the field of microbiology also encompasses the study of viruses. Habitats and ecology Microorganisms are found in almost every habitat present in nature. Even in hostile environments such as the poles, deserts, geysers, rocks, and the deep sea, some types of microorganisms have adapted to the extreme conditions and sustained colonies; these organisms...

Words: 496 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Microorganism Lab

...The scientific study of microorganism is known as microbiology. Microorganisms are small living things or organisms that cannot be seen without the use of a microscope. The microorganism can be categorized as eukaryotes for instance plant, animal, protozoa, fungi and they can also be grouped into prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea. This paper will focus on how to identify an unknown bacterium. Bacteria which is also known as the bacterium is a non-cellular microbe that lacks membrane organelles, nucleus, and cell walls. Although bacteria are very small, they have a large diversity and they are different in shapes and sizes. Bacteria have three shapes which are bacilli (rod) shaped, cocci (round) shaped and spirilla (spiral) shaped. The...

Words: 433 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Isolation of Microorganisms from Evironmental Samples

...University of Santo Tomas College of Science Isolation of Microorganisms from Environmental Samples Experiment 6 (Group 6) JALIPA, Jomari T. JAVIER, Rhea A. JIMENEZ, Ma. Mikaela P. JURILLA, Joaquim Gerardo L. March 2016 ABSTRACT The exercise aims to enumerate the various microbial species that are present in a particular environment by collecting different substances such as pond water and soil that will be the source of microorganisms to be isolated and identified. Moreover, this exercise also aims to isolate microorganisms from the environment. This will be done by exposing half-strength Nutrient Agar plates to a specific site the experimenters chose. After which, the Agar plate will be incubated and the colonies formed were observed in the laboratory. INTRODUCTION There are approximately 10,000 named species of microorganisms. It is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 100,000 more unidentified species for every identified one (Truckee Meadows Community College, n.d.). Upon appearance, these microbes have evolved, diversified and virtually occupied every habitat possible on earth; from extreme environments to the corners of our nails, or from the deepest parts of the ocean to the tip of the high mountains. The ubiquity of these microorganisms causes them to populate in natural environments whether suspended in air, in water or associated with other organisms (ie: humans). Different surfaces whether inside or outside...

Words: 1518 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

How Do Microorganisms Grow On Different Surface Research

...Karam Eeso Mrs.Derousie Chemistry P.5 11/1/2015 The Study of How Microorganisms Grow on different Surfaces Research When people think of microorganisms, they think of dangerous viruses that kill people. But most microorganisms are harmless, some even help humans. Some bacteria produce antibiotics, some live in animal guts, they convert nitrogen into better form, and some break down organic matter.(Brian Speer, 1994). Studying how microorganisms grow on different organic surfaces helps people stay safe from the harmful microorganisms. If there is an organic surface that grows less microorganism, then people cans start building countertops, sinks and other surfaces that needs to be kept sanitary. When there are less sick people, then everyone...

Words: 822 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Microoranisms

...Introduction Microorganisms are all around us and we interact with them all the time every day. Everyday microorganisms spread or grow. Contaminants such as bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous, meaning they exist everywhere, and they are able to spread or grow as well. Epidemiology is the study of how, when, where, what, and who are involved in the spread and distribution of diseases. The experiment presented was designed to study the epidemic of microorganisms in or on an object of our everyday life. The fish tank in the biology lab is a piece of equipment that houses an environment inside an environment, thus it changes constantly and deals with infinite microorganisms. My group of amateur scientists predicted that there is more bacteria living and spreading in the inside of the tank than the outside of the tank due to its environment it houses inside. The goal of the experiment is to prove using samples from cotton swabs inside and outside the tank and observing those 3 days in algar plates after how there is more colonies of bacteria inside than outside. Materials and Methods Materials we used to execute the experiment were a fish tank, 4 cottons swabs or q-tips, and 4 agar plates to contain the samples from the cotton swabs. The first step in the procedure was to find the naturally contaminated fish tank in our everyday environment. Next you acquire 4 cotton swabs or samples inside and outside the fish tank environment using q- tips. This is done by wiping 2 q- tips...

Words: 640 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

History of Micro

...Leewenhoek first to observe live microorganisms through the magnifying lenses of more than 400 microscopes he constructed Is spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) of microbial life possible? Francesco Redi set out in 1668 to demonstrate that maggots did not arise spontaneously from decaying meat. Proved flies had to lay eggs for larvae to appear (2 experiments) John Needham found that even after he heated nutrient fluids (chicken broth and corn broth) before pouring them into covered flasks, the cooled solutions were soon teeming with microorganisms. Claimed that microbes developed spontaneously from fluids. Lazzaro Spallanzani suggested that microorganisms from the air probably had entered Needham’s solution after they were boiled. Showed that nutrient fluids heated after being sealed in a flask did not develop microbial growth Rudolf Virchow challenged the case of spontaneous generation with the concept of biogenesis, the claim that living cells can arise only from preexisting living cells. Louis Pasteur showed that microorganisms can be present in nonliving matter- on solid, in liquids, and in the air. (proved that spontaneous generation was false) He demonstrated conclusively that microbial life can be destroyed by heat and that methods can be devised to block the access of airborne microorganisms to nutrient environments (aseptic techniques – techniques that prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms ) 1st vaccine – Edward Jenner...

Words: 803 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Infection Control

...1.1 Identify the differences between Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and parasites. The common characteristics of bacteria: Bacteria are microscopic single-cell organisms. Different types of bacteria can be identified by their size and shape. Bacteria can multiply outside the body. Most bacteria need moisture, time, warmth and nutrients to survive and multiply. Some bacteria are helpful. Some bacteria produce toxins which cause unpleasant symptoms. Most bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. The common characteristics of viruses: Viruses can only be seen with an electron microscope because they are so small. Only one or two particles are required to cause an infection. Viruses cannot survive for very long outside the body. Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics but in some cases are treated with antiviral medication. The best defence against viruses is immunisation. Viruses can mutate to create new strains. Viruses can only multiply once they invade their host cell. The common characteristics of fungi: Fungi appears in the form of yeasts and moulds. Fungi infections can be localised or systemic. Some fungi are helpful. Fungi infections are treated with antifungal medication. The common characteristics of parasites: Parasites can live in or on the host body. Parasites survive by feeding from a host. Parasites are controlled and destroyed by antiparasitic medication. 1.2 Identify...

Words: 1129 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Organisms in a Drop of Water (Unedited)

...Organisms in a Drop Of Water Edelene B. Polo BS Biology-1A July 11, 2012 A scientific paper submitted to Professor Jocelyn E. Serrano in partial fulfilment of the requirements in General Biology1, 1st Semester 2012-2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 ABSTRACT 4 I. INTRODUCTION 4 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS 6 A. Location and Duration of the Study 6 B. Hay Infusion 6 C. Treatments 6 D. Materials during the Experiment 7 E. Actual Experimentation 7 a. Tap Water 7 b. Water from the river stored in a room temperature 8 c. Water from the river stored in a dark room 8 F. Flow Chart of the Procedure 9 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 16 Tap Water 16 Water from the River Stored In a Room Temperature 17 Water from the River Stored In a Dark Area 18 IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 19 A. Summary 19 B. Conclusion 20 BIBLIOGRAPHY 21 APPENDIX (LIST OF PLATES) 22 Plate 1.. 23 Plate 2.. 23 Plate 3.. 24 Plate 4.. 24 Plate 5. 25 Plate 6. 25 Plate 7. 26 Plate 8.. 26 Plate 9 27 Plate 10. 27 ABSTRACT The laboratory study was conducted at Room 106 in CSB3 of Bicol University College of Science, Legaspi City from July 2-5, 2012. Water sample was collected from Travesia River in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Tap water was collected from the faucet at Polo’s Residence in Villa Maria Subdivision Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Dried Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrical) or locally known as Gogon grass was collected from Mabugos, Guinobatan...

Words: 2255 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Identification of Unknown Organism

...Kimberly White Unknown #13 Enterococcus faecalis Escherichia coli November 12, 2014 Dr. Brenda Deming Microbiology 2420 Fall 2014 Section 01 Introduction Microorganisms, which play an important role in the ecology of life, can be both beneficial as in the decomposition of waste products and harmful in the way that they can cause illness, diseases and even death in animals and humans. The purpose of this study was to identify two unknown organisms from a single mixed culture broth by using biochemical tests and procedures learned in the microbiology laboratory and the Biology 2420 Laboratory Manual for Microbiology by Mary Hearron, Ed. D. and Brenda Deming, Ph. D., M, T. (ASCP) (1). Materials and Methods On November 5, 2014, unknown #13, a mixed broth containing two unknown organisms was obtained from an arrangement set up by Dr. Deming. Each student chose an unknown from the arrangement and was not assigned a particular number to ensure that the project was blind and not rigged in any way. From that point, streak plates and biochemical testing was conducted to determine, the A and B unknowns. All media and biochemical tests were labeled with the name date, time, unknown A or B, and the test being conducted to eliminate confusion and errors. All procedures used unless otherwise noted were taken directly from the Biology 2420 Laboratory Manual for Microbiology by Mary Hearron, Ed. D. and Brenda Deming, Ph. D., M, T (ASCP) (1) and verified with A Photographic Atlas...

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Isolation, Identification of Microbes Isolated from Thar Desert

...to identify the characterization, isolation and identification of microorganism from the desert soil. In the present study, thermal resistant and osmotolerant bacteria from the Thar soils were reported. Bacteria were isolated from 20 soil samples of 100gm each, collected from sand dunes. As Thar Desert were also evaluated for their plant growth promontory effects in terms of seed germination, shoot and root length elongation and total biomass production. It also tells about the occurrence of nodulated legumes. Most of the bacteria grow best in normal environmental conditions, but some grow in extreme conditions like extremes of pH, temperature, high salt reservoirs of microorganisms, as bacteria, protozoans, yeasts, molds, and microscopic worms are routinely found in this environment and are continuously submitted to environmental and anthropogenic perturbations which can lead to serious modifications of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity present in desert soil, therefore some of the fungi like Thermophilic fungi are also present in these conditions. Moreover DNA Based Identification and Characterization of microorganisms were also done from the soil of Thar Desert. Along with this, application of the microorganism isolated from the thar desert are like in biofertiliser, for medicinal parouses etc., example Ricinus communis etc., as nitrogen fixing organisms .Some of the examples of the microorganisms found in thar desert soil are rhizobacteria, Thermonospora archaea...

Words: 800 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Unknown Microbes

...Microbiology is requires not only an academic understanding of the microscopic world but also a practical understanding of lab techniques and procedures used to identify, control, and manipulate microorganisms. The proper identification of a microorganism is not only important in a microbiology lab but also in the medical, industrial, and pharmaceutical fields. In this lab report, lab techniques and procedures learned during this course were performed to assess each students’ practical knowledge in microbiology. 6In area of fields I mention earlier microbiology is very important to our vaccination and antibiotics we are using, understand that microorganism play a key role in maintaining life on earth, fixing gases and breaking down dead plant and animal matter into simpler substances that are used at the beginning of the food chain 6. Biotechnologists can also exploit the activities of microbes to benefit humans, such as in the production of medicines, enzymes and food. The goal of this lab report is 1) to demonstrate comprehension of the methods and lab techniques learned during the semester 2) to explain the tests performed on each isolated unknown that led to the identification of each unknown 3) and to give a background on the characteristics, pathogenicity and some uses of one of the identified unknowns. II. Introduction In this lab report I will discuss how I came to find my two unknown bacteria. Each bacteria have undergo many different test to eventually identifying...

Words: 464 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Ge150

...Cover page: Writing Assignments 1 & 2 William H Johnson Jr. Survey of the Sciences Week 1 Assignment 1 – Writing Assignment 1: Science in the media Assignment 2 – Writing Assignment 2: The Process of Science Date of assignment: 12/18/2013 Date turned in: 12/18/20 My best teacher was my French language instructor by the name of Cilote Yves, from France and he was the most encouraging and patient professor I have ever met. He always went the extra mile to make sure that his students understood what they were been taught and in turn have them implemented in real-time scenarios. He was both an instructor and a mentor and made his course very interesting and likeable. He provided all the tools and incentives that were needed for us to accomplish whatever project we undertook! He was also very involved in our lives on and off campus and was very, very, down-to-earth and did everything he could to make sure no one dropped out of school and stayed to the very end. He will truly remain one of the best to me! Cover page: Writing Assignments 1 & 2 William H Johnson Jr. Survey of the Sciences Week 1 Assignment 1 – Writing Assignment 1: Science in the media Date of assignment: 12/18/2013 Date turned in: 12/18/2013 Unit 1: writing Assignment 1. Science in the Media Title 1: Kids' Reading Success Boosted by Long-Term Individualized Instruction Results were based on studies and research carried out by scientists and psychologists, and teachers and...

Words: 1054 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Lab 3

...the two is that bactericidal kills bacteria directly. While bacteriostatic stops the bacteria from growing. Bactericidal will injure the plasma membrane and the cell will leak out, killing it. Bacteriostatic stops bacteria from replicating. The main difference between sterilization and disinfection is, that sterilization kills all microorganisms, while disinfection eliminates harmful microorganisms from inanimate objects and surfaces. Sources: http://study.com/academy/lesson/types-of-antibiotics-bacteriocidal-vsbacteriostatic-narrow-spectrum-vs-broad-spectrum.html http://www.diffen.com/difference/Disinfect_vs_Sterilize B. List five sterilization methods, how they work, and what they are used for. The first form is steam. A machine called an autoclave is heated to 121-134 degrees Celsius. You hold the object there for 15 minutes for 121 degree Celsius or 3 minutes at 134 degree Celsius. It is used to inactivate all fungi, bacteria, viruses, and also bacterial spores. The second form is heating. This is performed by heating with flame, incineration, boiling of water, tantalization, or dry heat. These methods inactivate and kill microorganisms in objects like glass, metals. The third form is chemical sterilization, Chemicals like Ethylene oxide, Ozone[->0], Bleach, Glutaraldehyde and Formaldehyde, Phthalaldehyde, Hydrogen Peroxide,...

Words: 774 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Boss

...Hhfghghkh hghjhjhj ghjugihjklhk fghjghkk gfjhyuihy jhjhgfhh. Hghy , hyjjngh hgjh\ Jghklhjlhj. Gjkgjkgjkgh Gfgghghkgk gkghklgnko giognkghmkl gfkbklg;klgbklklbnklgl One of the greatest concerns for the water consumers with respect to the quality of drinking water is contamination with pathogenic microorganisms. Certain microorganisms, including various bacteria, viruses, and parasites, are well-known water contaminants, of which several may lead to waterborne disease and epidemics. The aim of the present study the prevalence of bacterial contaminants from lake water in and around Ranipet, Vellore District and associated risk factors. The collected samples were processed for bacterial isolation using the nutrient agar, mac conkey agar, blood agar and EMB agar. The conventional methods of swabbing and streaking were used. Pure colonies of isolates organisms were identified and characterized using standard microbiological technique. The bacteria were isolated from water samples yielded 16 isolates representing 6 different types of bacterial species viz., E.coli, K. pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae Proteus Sp, Pseuodomonas aeromonas and S.aureus. From this study it was concluded that the water is commonly contaminated with microbes. Samples were collected from different parts of BHEL, Ranipet, Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India during March 2012. The samples were collected from the different habitats like lake water and sediment soil at the depth of 10-25 cm. Samples were collected...

Words: 308 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Pond Water

...Title: Pond Microorganisms Lab Observation: Different types of organisms live in different ecosystems. Question (Problem): What types of microorganisms are found in pond water in a North Carolina pond? Hypothesis: If samples from a pond ecosystem are examined under a microscope, then ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Materials: (List the materials used in this experiment here.) Procedure: 1. Collect a few drops of water from the bottom of your water sample using an eye dropper. 2. Place a drop on the center of the microscope slide. 3. Cover the slide with a cover slip by lowering the cover slip at an angle over the water drop in a manner that spreads out the water drop, but does not trap air bubbles. 4. Observe the prepared slide under the microscope. 5. Use the picture ID sheet to identify the organisms observed. 6. Draw a picture in a data table of each organism observed. 7. Write the name of the organism under the picture, if the organism can be identified. 8. Describe each organism using qualitative (adjectives) and quantitative (measurements and counts) terms. 9. Repeat steps 1 to 8 until enough organisms are found. Results: (Describe what you observed. List the different types of organisms found and how many of each type of organism was found. Write a description of each organism (step 8).) Hint: A data table with a title and...

Words: 350 - Pages: 2