- Evolved as a result of a need to develop and test the germ theory of disease as well as the need to search for ways to prolong the spoilage of agricultural products
- Initial advances in bacteriology focused on finding bacteria that caused a certain disease
- Koch's Postulates were often used to prove this relationship between the pathogen and the disease

History of the Study of Bacteriology

- Recent work in bacteriology has been focused on vaccines as well as antibiotics

Modern Focuses of Bacteriology

Bacteriology is the study of bacteria and how that affect human health as well as agriculture

Michigan State University

Google

Bacteria are prokaryotic microorganisms found in nearly every habitat on Earth, including within and on the human body. As prokaryotes, their genetic material (DNA) is not housed within a true nucleus. Most bacterial cells feature cell walls containing peptidoglycan. While many bacteria are harmless or beneficial, some act as pathogens and cause diseases in humans and other animals.

Bacteria

While microbiology broadly encompasses the study of all microorganisms, microbiologists in practice typically specialize in one of several subfields. These major disciplines include bacteriology (bacteria), mycology (fungi), protozoology (protozoa), parasitology (helminths and other parasites), and virology (viruses). Immunology is also frequently included in microbiology because host-pathogen interactions are central to understanding infectious disease processes. Other areas of specialization include clinical, environmental, applied, and food microbiology.

Disciplines in microbiology

- Shiel Jr., W. C., Dr. (2018, December 11). Definition of Bacteriology. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.medicinenet.com/bacteriology/definition.htm
- Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Introduction to Bacteriology. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8120/

References for Disciplines of Microbiology

https://openstax.org/details/books/microbiology/

Microbiology covers the scope and sequence requirements for a single-semester microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of the text make the material interesting and accessible while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter. Microbiology’s art program enhances students’ understanding of concepts through clear and effective illustrations, diagrams, and photographs.

Microbiology is produced through a collaborative publishing agreement between OpenStax and the American Society for Microbiology Press. The book aligns with the curriculum guidelines of the American Society for Microbiology.

OpenStax Microbiology Textbook

Diseases that require arthropod vectors:
- Anaplasmosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Epidemic Typhus
- Murine (Endemic) Typhus
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Lyme Disease
- Relapsing Fever
- Trench Fever

Zoonotic Febrile Diseases

TSS is caused by a toxemic infection of the pathogen *Staphylococcus aureus*.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

Streptococcal Toxic Shock-like Syndrome is caused by the pathogen *Streptococcus pyogenes*. 

Streptococcal Toxic Shock-like Syndrome

Puerperal Sepsis is most often caused by the pathogen *Streptococcus pyogenes*, but can also be caused by *Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Chlamydia spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Bacteroides spp.,* and *Clostridium spp.*

Puerperal Sepsis

Infectious Arthritis can be caused by many bacteria, most notably caused by the pathogens *S. aureus* or *Neisseria gonorrhoeae*. 

Infectious Arthritis

This inflammation of bone tissue is most commonly caused by the pathogen *S. aureus*, but can also be caused by *M. tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, S. agalactiae*, Enterobacteriaceae species, and other microorganisms

Osteomyelitis

Rheumatic Fever is caused by infections of *S. pyogenes* that have nonsuppurative sequelae.

Rheumatic Fever

Bacterial Endocarditis can be caused by an infection of any of the following pathogens: *Staphylococcus aureus, viridans streptococci, Enterococcus faecalis, Haemophilus spp., Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens*, and *Kingella kingae*.

Bacterial Endocarditis 

Bacterial Pericarditis can be caused by *Staphylcoccus spp.* or *Streptococcus spp.*

Bacterial Pericarditis 

Gas Gangrene is caused by the endospores of the pathogen *Clostridium perfringens*.

Gas Gangrene

Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is caused by the pathogen *Francisella tularensis*.

Tularemia

There are four pathogens that can cause Brucellosis in humans: *B. abortus, B. canis, B. suis*, and *B. melitensis*.

Brucellosis

Cat Scratch Disease is caused by the pathogen *Bartonella henselae.*

Cat Scratch Disease

Rat-bite fever can be caused by two pathogens: *Streptobacillus moniliformis* or *Spirillum minor*

Rat- Bite Fever

Plagues are a disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by the bacterium, *Yersinia pestis*. Humans usually get the plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with the plague.

Plague

Bacteriology

- The Immune System
- CDC
- Morphology and Classification of Bacteria

References for Bacteria

These are diseases caused by bacteria and spread to humans by arthropods.

Vector borne bacterial diseases

Bacteria are classified based on size, shape and arrangement. 

Morphology & Classification of Bacteria

Bacteria are diverse in their functions, structure and genomes. Some important classes and phyla among bacteria are:
- Proteobacteria
- Nonproteobacteria Gram-Negative Bacteria 
- Phototrophic Bacteria
- Gram-Positive Bacteria
- Deeply Branching Bacteria

Bacterial Diversity

Bacterial vaccines are made from whole bacteria, their secreted toxins, or capsular polysaccharides.

- Live-attenuated bacterial vaccine

- Vaccines that generate toxin-specific neutralizing antibodies

- Subunit/Conjugate vaccines

Types of Bacterial Vaccines

Which of the following statements is true about bacteria?

What is a characteristic feature of bacterial cell walls?

Which of the following is true about the nutritional modes of bacteria?

Which of the following bacteria is known to cause tuberculosis?

Bacteria possess diverse metabolic capabilities that allow them to thrive in various environments using different nutrients. Some are photosynthetic, such as oxygenic cyanobacteria and anoxygenic green sulfur and nonsulfur bacteria, which derive energy from sunlight and fix carbon dioxide. In contrast, nonphotosynthetic bacteria obtain their energy from organic or inorganic compounds.

Bacterial Metabolism

Prokaryotic cells possess a variety of specialized internal and external structures. A typical rod-shaped bacterium features a thick outer capsule, a thinner cell wall, and an innermost plasma membrane. Externally, it may have long projections called flagella, a shorter projection called a pilus, and numerous very short projections known as fimbriae. Internally, the plasma membrane encloses a fluid called cytoplasm, which contains ribosomes, small spheres called inclusions, a large folded loop of DNA known as the nucleoid, and a small loop of DNA called a plasmid. Other structures sometimes present include mesosomes and endospores.

Bacterial Structures

Vegetative cells represent the normally active, growing, and metabolizing state of bacterial cells. While bacteria are generally observed as vegetative cells, some genera possess the ability to transition from this state to form dormant endospores when environmental conditions become unfavorable for survival.

Vegetative Cells

The study of viruses and virus like agents. It deals heavily in their structure, classification, evolution, method of infection, effects of infection and how to cure or treat the infections.

Virology

Protistology

Mycology

Parasitology is a subfield of microbiology focused specifically on the study of helminths and other parasites.

Parasitology

Immunology is the study of the immune system. It is frequently included within the field of microbiology because understanding host-pathogen interactions is central to comprehending the processes of infectious diseases.

Immunology

Which of the following disciplines in microbiology focuses on the study of viruses?

Which discipline in microbiology is primarily concerned with the study of fungi?

Which discipline in microbiology focuses on the study of the immune system?

Which discipline in microbiology is primarily concerned with the study of parasites?

Protozoology is a specialized subfield of microbiology that focuses specifically on the study of protozoa.

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