JNTU B.Pharmacy III PHARMACEUTICAL MICROBIOLOGY Previous Question Paper (July-2021 - R17)

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and algae. Its history began with Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who first observed 'animalcules' using a simple microscope. Later, Louis Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation and developed pasteurization, while Robert Koch established the germ theory of disease through his postulates.

The branches of microbiology include:

• Bacteriology: Study of bacteria.
• Mycology: Study of fungi.
• Virology: Study of viruses.
• Phycology: Study of algae.
• Immunology: Study of the immune system's response to microbes.

The scope and importance of microbiology are vast, particularly in pharmacy. It is essential for the production of antibiotics, vaccines, and vitamins. It also plays a critical role in quality control, ensuring the sterility of pharmaceutical products, monitoring environmental hygiene in manufacturing plants, and understanding the mechanisms of microbial spoilage and resistance.

Isolation of pure cultures is the process of obtaining a population of cells derived from a single parent cell. Common methods include:

• Streak Plate Method: A loop is used to streak a sample across the surface of an agar plate to dilute the microbes until individual colonies form.
• Pour Plate Method: The sample is diluted in molten agar and poured into a Petri dish, allowing colonies to develop both on and within the medium.
• Spread Plate Method: A small volume of diluted sample is spread evenly over the surface of a solidified agar plate.

Preservation methods maintain the viability and genetic stability of pure cultures over time:

• Refrigeration: Storing cultures at 0-4°C to slow metabolic activity for short-term maintenance.
• Deep Freezing: Storing cultures in a freezer at -50°C to -95°C, often with cryoprotectants like glycerol.
• Lyophilization (Freeze-drying): The culture is frozen and then dehydrated under a vacuum, allowing for long-term storage in a stable, powder-like state.