AY2024

What is Environmental
Microbiology?

ENVIRONMENTAL • the study of microbial processes in

the environment, microbial

MICROBIOLOGY communities
interactions
and microbial

• the study of living organisms of

ESE150 – Environmental Science and Engineering microscopic size which include
bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa
and viruses.

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Coverage of Environmental Microbiology Microbiology includes the study of

• Structure and activities of microbial microorganisms in relation to the following:
communities
• Microbial interactions and interactions 1. Their distribution in nature
with macroorganisms
2. Their relationship to each other and to other living
• Population biology of microorganisms organisms
• Microbes and surfaces (adhesion and 3. Their effects on human beings and on other animals
biofilm formation) and plants
• Microbial community genetics and 4. Their abilities to make physical and chemical changes
evolutionary processes in our environment
• (Global) element cycles and
biogeochemical processes 5. Their reaction to physical and chemical agents
• Microbial life in extreme and unusual https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/a
little-explored environments rticles/PMC7149796/figure/f1/

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Types of Microorganisms Bacteria Archaea

• Are prokaryotes (cells without • are single-celled organisms that form

nuclei) the third domain of life.
• Bluish-green bacteria as being • are extremophiles; they can tolerate
among the first living things on high salt concentrations and high
Earth. temperatures.
• minute, unicellular, plant-like • Archaea have various cell walls;
microscopic organisms which differ unlike bacteria, they lack muramic
Images grabbed from shutterstock.
from true plants in that they lack acid in their cell walls.
Prepared by: ACulala ESE-150-Environmental Science and Engineering chlorophyll.
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ESE150 - Environmental Science and Engineering 1

 AY2024

Fungi Protozoa Algae

Viruses
• Eukaryotic protists • microscopic aquatic plants which differ
from fungi and bacteria in their ability to
• Generally occur as single cells carry out photosynthesis
• Recognized by lack of cell walls • do not depend upon oxidation of matter
• Found in all moist habitats: sea, soil to survive
• a non-living super chemical that • commonly known as molds and and in freshwater • May be microscopic and float in surface
always invades living cells and, in a yeasts and have some similarities waters (phytoplankton) or macroscopic
sense, “poisons” them by with bacteria and live attached to rocky coasts
becoming a parasite. (seaweeds)
• Non-motile; filamentous (filament
• A virus cannot reproduce on its – interconnected cells)
own. • perform an essential role in the
• It parasitizes human, animal, plant, decomposition of organic matter
or bacterial cells and uses their and have fundamental roles in
DNA/RNA to reproduce itself. nutrient cycling and exchange

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Significance of Microorganisms
Parasitology
• Bacteria utilize organic matter for their food, although a few specialized • the study of parasites, their hosts, and the
bacteria can utilize inorganic compounds instead of organic compounds. Wastes relationship between them
comprise huge number of organic materials which can be degraded by bacteria.
• Viruses are intracellular parasites; they can cause diseases to man through • Environmental parasitology - deals with
contaminated food or water. Bacteriophages are viruses parasitic to bacteria the interactions between parasites and
• Algae are significant in ecological balance which takes place in stabilization ponds, pollutants in the environment
together with bacteria.
• Protozoa are disease-causing microorganisms which could be treated by special • A parasite is an organism that lives on or
procedures. in a host organism and gets its food from
or at the expense of its host. Image grabbed from Flaticon

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Application of Microbiology in Engineering: References:

• Environmental engineers are interested in microorganisms for at • https://laboratoryinfo.com/archaea-bacteria-differences-similarities-
least three different reasons: diagrams-examples/
• harmful microorganisms cause disease and need to be eliminated to • https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Types-of-Microbes.aspx
protect public health (disinfection, sanitizing, sterilization) • https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/bacteriacell.html
• useful microorganisms as food/medicines; catalysts in cleaning the • Lecture notes of Bonifacio Magtibay and Victor Sabandeja
environment (bioremediation, wastewater treatment, water
treatment); maintaining natural cycles
• nuisance microorganisms hinder the stable operation of
environmental engineering systems and need to be monitored and
controlled (environmental monitoring)

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