Micro-organisms
"Microbe" is a term used to describe very small living organisms. It means the same things as microorganisms!! Examples of microbes include: Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses. Many of these microbes are very helpful to us, but some cause us harm.
All micro-organisms live on other organic matter. If these micro-organisms live on LIVING ORGANISMS we call them PARASITES. These are the disease causing or pathogenic bacteria.
If the micro-organisms live on DEAD ORGANISMS we call them SAPROPHYTES. These saprophytic microbes are of great importance because they help bring about decay (eg: compost), so they decompose material.
All micro-organisms live on other organic matter. If these micro-organisms live on LIVING ORGANISMS we call them PARASITES. These are the disease causing or pathogenic bacteria.
If the micro-organisms live on DEAD ORGANISMS we call them SAPROPHYTES. These saprophytic microbes are of great importance because they help bring about decay (eg: compost), so they decompose material.
General Structure
Fungi & Yeasts
General introduction to Fungi: A good start point to explain to you what fungi actually are:
|
|
How to grow a pure culture of a fungus:
|
Death is what fungi are all about. By feasting on the deceased remains of almost all organisms on the planet, converting the organic matter back into soil from which new life will spring, they perform perhaps the most vital function in the global food web. Fungi, which thrive on death, make all life possible. Below is a 10 min intro to the fungi. It is quite fast and detailed.
You wil be absolutely amazed by this video clip which tells you all about the microbes which are on YOU!!!
|
Fungi: How they can save the world. This is a Ted talk which runs for about 20 mins
|
Bacteria
Viruses
This is a very simple and straight forward explanation of viruses by the Amoeba Sisters. It runs for about 7 minutes
|
|
Respiration in Microbes
Respiration in cells
All cells carry out some sort of “respiration”.
Respiration is a chemical process that releases energy from carbohydrate/glucose molecules.
The energy is converted into small packages in molecules called ATP.
Cells use the ATP as energy sources for all the chemical reactions they need to do.
For a whole organism this means that it has energy to move, grow, repair and reproduce. (Metabolism - to carryout MRS GREN actions)
Aerobic Respiration: The most efficient form of respiration is aerobic respiration which uses oxygen to completely breakdown the glucose molecule into CO2 and H2O.
Anaerobic Respiration: Lots of organisms have a back up system of releasing energy from carbohydrates/glucose when oxygen is in short supply or is unavailable. So they can switch to anaerobic respiration when needed.
Anaerobic respiration is much less efficient than aerobic respiration. The glucose molecule is only partly broken down.
In animals the glucose is broken down into lactic acid. Later, when oxygen does become available again the lactic acid is broken down by the oxygen to CO2 and H2O.
In microbes the glucose is broken down into alcohol in the process called fermentation.
Obligative vs Facultative:
Obligative aerobic organisms can only carry out Aerobic respiration
Obligate anaerobic organisms can only carry put Anaerobic respiration
Facultative organisms are able to switch between the 2 kinds of respiration. This is a big advantage as it can supply an extra boost of energy in times of stress – it can mean the difference between life and death!!
All cells carry out some sort of “respiration”.
Respiration is a chemical process that releases energy from carbohydrate/glucose molecules.
The energy is converted into small packages in molecules called ATP.
Cells use the ATP as energy sources for all the chemical reactions they need to do.
For a whole organism this means that it has energy to move, grow, repair and reproduce. (Metabolism - to carryout MRS GREN actions)
Aerobic Respiration: The most efficient form of respiration is aerobic respiration which uses oxygen to completely breakdown the glucose molecule into CO2 and H2O.
Anaerobic Respiration: Lots of organisms have a back up system of releasing energy from carbohydrates/glucose when oxygen is in short supply or is unavailable. So they can switch to anaerobic respiration when needed.
Anaerobic respiration is much less efficient than aerobic respiration. The glucose molecule is only partly broken down.
In animals the glucose is broken down into lactic acid. Later, when oxygen does become available again the lactic acid is broken down by the oxygen to CO2 and H2O.
In microbes the glucose is broken down into alcohol in the process called fermentation.
Obligative vs Facultative:
Obligative aerobic organisms can only carry out Aerobic respiration
Obligate anaerobic organisms can only carry put Anaerobic respiration
Facultative organisms are able to switch between the 2 kinds of respiration. This is a big advantage as it can supply an extra boost of energy in times of stress – it can mean the difference between life and death!!
Helpful Microbes
One of the ways we use microbes is to treat our sewage. The following is a good quick 3 min summary
A basic explanation of the biological process of sewage treatment is below. Clip is about 14 mins long.
|
The next clip is about how cheese is made... it is about 4 mins long and explains how cheese is made. From the gross science website!!
Composting is one of the main ways that the average person can use microbes in everyday life. A 15 min clip on the problem with our waste and why we should compost!
Search for the TED talk about "how microbes make us who we are". It is an extension activity for you. It runs for about 20 minutes and is a fascinating insight onto the effect microbes can have on us.
|
Harmful Microbes
HARMFUL MICROBES: Causing Disease
Microbes that cause disease are called Pathogens. They are said to be "pathogenic".
Most microbes cause disease because of their life processes. As they live, they sometime make harmful waste products called toxins. These can affect our cells and our bodies. Others cause cells to die. Viruses do this as they are parasitic on cells.
Parasites are organisms which live at the expense of a host.
Some terms to learn:
Antibiotics: Inhibits (Stops) bacterial growth
Antiseptics: Prevent growth
Disinfectants: Inhibit growth
Bactericides: Kill bacteria
Bacteriostatics: Stop growth
Antiviral: Prevent viral reproduction: new drugs;
Sterile; Has been heated for a period of time to kill all microbes
Note antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, they are not effective against fungi, yeasts or viruses
Microbes that cause disease are called Pathogens. They are said to be "pathogenic".
Most microbes cause disease because of their life processes. As they live, they sometime make harmful waste products called toxins. These can affect our cells and our bodies. Others cause cells to die. Viruses do this as they are parasitic on cells.
Parasites are organisms which live at the expense of a host.
Some terms to learn:
Antibiotics: Inhibits (Stops) bacterial growth
Antiseptics: Prevent growth
Disinfectants: Inhibit growth
Bactericides: Kill bacteria
Bacteriostatics: Stop growth
Antiviral: Prevent viral reproduction: new drugs;
Sterile; Has been heated for a period of time to kill all microbes
Note antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, they are not effective against fungi, yeasts or viruses
Diagnosing disease using smell: a 3 min clip from gross science
|
|
A 20 min clip on the beginnings of modern medicine |
|
Immunity: our natural defence against disease
This clip is very advanced and gives a lot of detail if you want to find out more!!
|
|
The Lymphatic system |
|
Vaccination: Protection from disease
A Vaccine is a dead or weakened form of the actual disease, usually given in the form of an injection
Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection, but this "imitation" infection does not cause illness. It does, however, cause the immune system to develop the same response as it does to a real infection so the body can recognize and fight the vaccine-preventable disease in the future.
Vaccinations are an example of Passive Immunity.
Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection, but this "imitation" infection does not cause illness. It does, however, cause the immune system to develop the same response as it does to a real infection so the body can recognize and fight the vaccine-preventable disease in the future.
Vaccinations are an example of Passive Immunity.
The story of immunization and how Dr Edward Jenner developed the first ever vaccinations: |
|
What is the problem with antibiotic use?
Karl Close on Bacterial infections and resistance from antibiotics, 15 mins.
|
|
Real promises of Dragon's blood...see link below
Plague: A Game to play: Infect the world, learn more about viruses so you can evolve your virus!!
Technical Information on Influenza virus
Nat Geo article solves the mystery of why this flu was so deadly for people ages 18-29, killing 50 million world wide. NZ lost more that 5,000 people.
The link below is a NZ site which summarizes everything you need to know.