Unit 1. GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
LECTURE 1. SUBJECT AND AIMS OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY. MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF MICROORGANISMS. MICROSCOPIC RESEARCH METHOD
Questions for discussion
1. The subject of Medical Microbiology and its importance for practical health care. The history of Microbiology.
2. Taxonomy, system and nomenclature of microorganisms.
3. Microbiology research methods.
4. Simple and complex staining techniques. The mechanism of smear staining. Staining properties of microorganisms.
5. Light microscope, its main characteristics. Types of light microscopy (dark-field, fluorescent). Immersion microscopy principles. Electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy.
6. Morphology of bacteria.
7. Structure of the bacterial cell: genome, cytoplasm, ribosome. Structure, functions and methods of detection.
8. Shell of bacteria: cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall, capsule. Structure, functions and methods of detection.
9. Flagella, fimbria (pili). Structure, functions and methods of detection.
10. Bacterial spores. Their role and structural features. Spore formation and methods of detection.
Question 1. The subject of medical microbiology and its importance in practical health care. The history of microbiology
Medical microbiology is the study of causative agents of infectious diseases in humans and their reactions to such infections. It deals with aetiology,
pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, specific treatment and control of infection (immunisation).
The subject of Medical Microbiology is the study of microorganisms that cause infectious disease.
Importance of Medical Microbiology for practical health care
Medical Microbiology is essential for:
• diagnosis of human infectious diseases in the laboratories;