Microbiology demystified

Introduction xiii Acknowledgments xix CHAPTER 1 The World of the Microorganism 1 Types of Microorganisms 2 What Is a Microorganism? 4 What’s in a Name: Naming and Classifying 5 How Small Is a Microorganism? 7 Your Body Fights Back 7 History of the Microscope 9 How Do Organisms Appear? 10 Germ Theory 12 Vaccination 15 Killing the Microorganism 16 Quiz 19 CHAPTER 2 The Chemical Elements of Microorganisms 23 Everything Matters 24 Chemical Elements and the Atom 24 A Dinner Table of Elements: The Periodic Table 27 The Glowing Tale of Isotopes 27 Around They Go: Electronic Configuration 29 Before James There Was Bond . . . Chemical Bond 29 Decoding Chemical Shorthand 31 vii CONTENTS For more information about this title, click here I Just Want to See Your Reaction 31 Molarity: Hey, There’s a Mole Amongst Us 36 An Unlikely Pair: Inorganic and Organic 37 The Blueprint of Protein Synthesis 42 The Power House: ATP 44 Quiz 44 CHAPTER 3 Observing Microorganisms 47 Size Is a Matter of Metrics 47 Here’s Looking at You 51 What Big Eyes You Have: Magnification 52 The Microscope 54 Preparing Specimens 60 Quiz 64 CHAPTER 4 Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cells 67 Prokaryotic Cells 68 Eukaryotic Cells 78 Quiz 83 CHAPTER 5 The Chemical Metabolism 87 Riding the Metabolism Cycle 87 Catabolic and Anabolic: The Only Reactions You Need 88 A Little Give and Take: Oxidation-Reduction 88 Making Power: ATP Production 89 What’s Your Name: Naming and Classifying Enzymes 89 Brewing Up Protein 90 The Magic of Enzymes: Enzyme Activities 90 The Krebs Cycle 94 Fermentation 97 Other Catabolic Pathways 97 Photosynthesis 98 Quiz 100 viii CONTENTS CHAPTER 6 Microbial Growth and Controlling Microbial Growth 103 Chemical Requirements for Microbial Growth 104 Culture Media 105 Phases of Growth 109 Measurements of Microbial Growth 110 Establishing Bacterial Numbers by Indirect Methods 111 Controlling Microbial Growth 112 Microbial Death Rates 113 Action of Antimicrobial Agents 113 Chemical Agents That Control Microbial Growth 114 Quiz 116 CHAPTER 7 Microbial Genetics 119 Genetics 120 DNA Replication: Take My Genes, Please! 120 Protein Synthesis 123 Controlling Genes: You’re Under My Spell 124 Mutations: Not a Pretty Copy 125 Quiz 127 CHAPTER 8 Recombinant DNA Technology 131 Genetic Engineering: Designer Genes 132 Gene Therapy: Makes You Feel Better 134 DNA Fingerprinting: Gotcha 134 Recombinant DNA Technology and Society: Too Much of a Good Thing 136 Quiz 137 CHAPTER 9 Classification of Microorganisms 139 Taxonomy: Nothing to Do with the IRS 139 Nomenclature of Taxonomy: Name Calling 140 CONTENTS ix Classification: All Natural 146 Quiz 148 CHAPTER 10 The Prokaryotes: Domains Archaea and Bacteria 151 Archaea 152 Aerobic/Microaerophilic, Motile, Helical/Vibroid, Gram-Negative Bacteria 154 Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci 155 Facultatively Anaerobic Gram-Negative Rods 156 Anaerobic Gram-Negative Cocci and Rods 158 Rickettsias and Chlamydias 158 Mycoplamas 159 Gram-Positive Cocci 160 Endospore-Forming Gram-Positive Rods and Cocci 162 Regular Nonsporing Gram-Positive Rods 163 Irregular Nonsporing Gram-Positive Rods 164 Mycobacteria 164 Nocardia Forms 165 Quiz 165 CHAPTER 11 The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths 167 Fungi 168 Algae 171 Protozoa 174 Helminths 178 Quiz 182 CHAPTER 12 Viruses, Viroids, and Prions 185 Viruses 185 Viroids 192 Prions 193 Quiz 193 x CONTENTS CHAPTER 13 Epidemiology and Disease 197 What Is Epidemiology? 197 Classification of Disease 198 Infection Sites 199 Disease Transmission 201 The Development of Disease 203 Epidemiological Studies 204 Control of Communicable Diseases 205 Nosocomial Infections 206 Who Is Susceptible? 206 Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections 207 Quiz 207 CHAPTER 14 Immunity 211 What Is Immunity? 211 Types of Immunity 213 A Closer Look at Antigens 214 A Closer Look at Binding 214 B Cells 216 Lasting Immunity 218 Antibodies Used for Diagnosing Diseases 218 Chemical Messengers 218 T Cells 219 Macrophages and Natural Killer Cells 220 Quiz 221 CHAPTER 15 Vaccines and Diagnosing Diseases 223 What Is a Vaccine? 223 Types of Vaccines 224 Developing a Vaccine 225 Diagnosing Diseases 226 Quiz 228 CONTENTS xi CHAPTER 16 Antimicrobial Drugs 231 Chemotherapeutic Agents: The Silver Bullet 231 Antimicrobial Activity: Who to Attack? 233 The Attack Plan 235 Exploring Antimicrobial Drugs 237 Chemotherapy Tests 246 Quiz 247 Final Exam 249 Answers to Quiz and Exam Questions 265 Index 269