Welcome to MIC 428 Microbial Physiology Course

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Welcome to MIC 428 Microbial Physiology Course!
Lecture 1 Introductory Lecture
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Microbial Physiology What is that about?
Microbial
Physiology
What is physiology?
1. The study of the relationship of structure to
function of a particular structure.
2. The study of all the structures of an organism.
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The study of all the structures of an organism
Broad definition that encompass all of life
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Study of the life processes of an organism as
mediated by its structures operating together to
accomplish the common tasks of life.
Study of the life processes of a microorganism as
mediated by its structures operating together to
accomplish the common tasks of life.
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Where do microbes fit in the physiological
world? What is that they share with other life
forms, and how do they differ?
Microbes must accomplish in the space of a few
microns all the processes required for life that
are accomplished by large forms of life.
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
the same
different
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Models
What does a microbe
and an elephant
have in common? And the differences?
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
Small organism large surface-to-volume ratio.
Rod-shaped bacterium
S 2 r h
S / V 2 / r
V r2 h
Coccus
S 4 r2
S / V 3 / r
V 4/3 r3
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Major physiological implications
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Generation time of a typical microbe is between
20 and 3 h.
Generation time of an elephant 3 years.
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
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Structures composed of differentiated cells.
One can study an individual structure.
Structures are macromolecular aggregates.
One must study populations and observe an average
response.
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
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Survive in environments incompatible with large
life forms.
Metabolically and physiologically complex.
Can it survive in a hot spring? The depths of the
ocean? The Artics? Extreme PH?
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The comparative physiology of microbes and large
life forms
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Diversity regarding their nutritional
requirements.