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Known as the "father of microbiology" | Antom von Leeuwenhoek |
The microbes that usually live on or in a person are collectively referred as | Indigenous microflora |
Microbes that live on dead and decaying organic material are known as: | Saprophytes |
The study of algae is called: | Phycology |
The field of parasitology involves the study of which of the following types of organisms? | Arthropods, helminths, and certain protozoa |
Rudolf Virchow is given credit for proposing which of the following theories? | Biogenesis |
Which of the following microbes are considered obligatee intracelllar pathogens? | Richettsias, chlamydias, and viruses |
Which of the following statements is true? | Microbes are ubiquitous |
Which of the following are even smalle than viruses? | Prions and viroids |
Which of the following individuals introduced the terms "aerobes" and "anaerobes"? | Louis Pasteur |
A millimeter is equivalent to how many nanometers? | 1,000,000 |
What is the length of an average rod-shape bacterium (bacillus)? | 3 um |
What is the total magnification when using the high-power (high-dry) objective of a compound light microscope equipped with a X10 ocular lens? | 400 |
How many times better is the resolution of the transmission electron microscope than the resolution of the unaided human eye? | 1,000,000 |
How many times better is the resolution of the transmission electron microscope than the resolution of the compound light microscope? | 1,000 |
Microorganisms and their activities are vitally important to virtually all processes on Earth. Microorganisms matter because they affect every aspect of our lives – they are in us, on us and around us.
Microbiology is the study of all living organisms that are too small to be visible with the naked eye. This includes bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae, collectively known as 'microbes'. These microbes play key roles in nutrient cycling, biodegradation/biodeterioration, climate change, food spoilage, the cause and control of disease, and biotechnology. Thanks to their versatility, microbes can be put to work in many ways: making life-saving drugs, the manufacture of biofuels, cleaning up pollution, and producing/processing food and drink.
Microbiologists study microbes, and some of the most important discoveries that have underpinned modern society have resulted from the research of famous microbiologists, such as Jenner and his vaccine against smallpox, Fleming and the discovery of penicillin, Marshall and the identification of the link between Helicobacter pylori infection and stomach ulcers, and zur Hausen, who identified the link between papilloma virus and cervical cancer.
Microbiology research has been, and continues to be, central to meeting many of the current global aspirations and challenges, such as maintaining food, water and energy security for a healthy population on a habitable earth. Microbiology research will also help to answer big questions such as 'how diverse is life on Earth?', and 'does life exist elsewhere in the Universe'?
Introducing microbes
Bacteria
More than just pathogens - can be friend or foe.
Viruses
Smallest of all the microbes, but are they alive?
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Fungi
More than just mushrooms.
Protozoa
Microbes with a taste for poo and so much more.
Algae
Microbial powerhouses essential for life.
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Archaea
First found existing on the edge of life.
Prions
Mysterious misfolding proteins.
Microbes in the world
Microbes and the human body
Ever wondered why when we are surrounded by microbes we are not ill all the time?
Microbes and food
Food for thought – bread, chocolate, yoghurt, blue cheese and tofu are all made using microbes.
Microbes and the outdoors
The function of microbes as tiny chemical processors is to keep the life cycles of the planet turning.
Microbes and climate change
How are microbes contributing to climate change?