FOOD MICROBIOLOGY

INDEX
 INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
Food microbiology is the study of
the microorganisms that inhibit,
create, or contaminate food,
including the study of
microorganisms causing food
spoilage, pathogens that may cause
disease especially if food is
improperly cooked or stored.
 Microscopic organisms,
commonly known as
microorganisms or
microbes, are found all
around us and even
inside our bodies. The
category ‘Microbes’
includes a massive
range of organisms
including bacteria,
fungi, viruses, algae,
protozoa.
TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS
 BACTERIA

• Prokaryotic microorganisms that do not

contain chlorophyll.
• Unicellular and do not show branching.
• Broadly classified as prokaryotic(lacks
nucleus) and eukaryotic(contains nucleus).
• Consists of cell wall, cell membrane,
flagellum, cytoplasm with 70s ribosome,
single super coiled chromosome and
plasmid.
• Can be visualized only under a
microscope.
 FUNGI

• Eukaryotic cells with a true nucleus.

• Multicellular and their cell wall is
composed of chitin.
• They form characteristic filamentous
tubes called hyphae that help
absorb material. The collection of
hyphae is called mycelium.
• Fungi reproduce by releasing
spores.
 PROTOZOA
• Unicellular aerobic eukaryotes.
• They have a nucleus, complex
organelles,
• Their cell walls are made up of
cellulose.
• Protozoa have been traditionally
divided based on their mode of
locomotion: flagellates produce
their own food and use their whip-
like structure to propel forward,
ciliates have tiny hair that beat to
produce movement, amoeboid
have false feet or pseudopodia
used for feeding and locomotion, EXAMPLES OF TYPES
and sporozoans are non-motile. OF PROTOZOA
• They also have different means
of nutrition, which groups them as
autotrophs or heterotrophs.
 ALGAE

•Photosynthetic, eukaryotic
organisms
•Can be unicellular(Chlorella) or
multicellular (giant kelp).
•Most are aquatic and autotrophic.
•Can reproduce both asexually and
sexually.
 VIRUSES

They go into host cells and

reproduce.
They have the ability to move
genetic information from one cell to
another.
Useful in cloning of DNA and
genetic engineering.
The RNA or DNA is carried in a
capsid made p of capsomeres.
They can infect animals, plants,
fungi and bacteria.