Robert Hooke
 Observed that plant material was composed of
cells
o Thin slice of cork where he saw little boxes
which is referred to as a cell
o Proponent of the cell theory
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
 First to observe microorganisms
o Giardia lamblia – first observed by
Leeuwenhoek
 Old name: Cercomonas intestinalis
 “Old man with eyeglasses” where the
flagella represent the beard, while the
sucking discs represent the eyeglasses
 Coined the term “animalcule” referring to small
organisms
 Father of Microbiology
Francesco Redi
 Opposed the theory of spontaneous generation
o Theory suggests that microorganisms exist
without known reason before its growth or
appearance
 Demonstrated that maggots only appear on
decaying meat only when flies can lay eggs on the
meat
o Experiment proper (Jars with decaying
meat):
 Jar 1 (open jar): maggots appeared
 Jar 2 (closed jar): no maggots
 Maggots: Larvae of flies
John Needham
 Proponent of theory of spontaneous generation
 Microbial growth appeared on heated broth
Lazzaro Spallanzani
 Opposed the theory of spontaneous generation
 Repeated the experiment of Needham
o Explained that microbial growth on broth was
due to microorganisms in the air
Rudolf Virchow
 Introduced the concept of biogenesis but it was
credited to Louis Pasteur
o Concept of biogenesis – all cells come from
pre-existing cells
Louis Pasteur

Demonstrated
that
microorganisms
are
everywhere but the air itself does not create
microorganisms
 Discovered 3 vaccines (CAR)
o Cholera
o Anthrax
o Rabies
 Discovered Pasteurization
o Process of sterilizing milk and alcoholic
beverages through exposure to temperatures
of 63-65°C for 30 minutes, or 70-72°C for 15
seconds.
 Father of Modern Microbiology
Edward Jenner
 Discovered smallpox vaccine and the concept of
vaccination
o If a healthy human was affected by cowpox
(present in cows and cats), that person will be
immune to smallpox
o Smallpox: aka Variola
o Cowpox: aka Vaccinia, hence the word
vaccines
o Variola is the first disease eradicated by
science
Paul Ehrlich
 Father of chemotherapy
o Previously, it was referring not only to cancer
drugs but also antibiotics (e.g Salvarsan)
o Chemotherapy – the treatment of diseases by
chemical compounds
 Discovered the 1st chemotherapeutic agent
o Magic bullet – killed the pathogen but did not
cause harm to the patient
 Synonyms: Salvarsan, Arsphenamine,
C606
Alexander Fleming
 Discovered the 1st antibiotic
o Penicillin – from Penicillium notatum
Selman Waksman
 Discovered streptomycin
from
Streptomyces
griseus
o
DOC for TB and tularemia
 Tularemia – aka Rabbit Fever and caused
by Francisella tularensis
Emil von Behring
 Developed the method of producing immunity by
using antitoxin against diphtheria
o
Diphtheria – caused by Corynebacterium
diphtheriae