An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes classified as microorganisms.

Microorganisms can be classified on the basis of cell structure, cellular metabolism, or on differences in cell components such as DNA, fatty acids, pigments, antigens, and quinones. Bacterial Morphology: Basic morphological differences between bacteria. The most often found forms and their associations.

In many distinct areas of microbiology, the ability to identify microorganisms has important application. For example, in food microbiology it is important to be able to accurately identify food spoilage contaminants. In microbial ecology, the identification of microorganisms helps us characterize biodiversity.

Some factors and infections that can lead to acute inflammation include: acute bronchitis, appendicitis and other illnesses ending in “-itis” an ingrown toenail. a sore throat from a cold or flu….Acute inflammation

• exposure to a substance, such as a bee sting or dust.
• an injury.
• an infection.

The four cardinal signs of inflammation are redness (Latin rubor), heat (calor), swelling (tumor), and pain (dolor). Redness is caused by the dilation of small blood vessels in the area of injury.

The inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause. The damaged cells release chemicals including histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These chemicals cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling.

Clinically, acute inflammation is characterized by 5 cardinal signs: rubor (redness), calor (increased heat), tumor (swelling), dolor (pain), and functio laesa (loss of function) (Figure 3-1).

The goals of the inflammatory response are to: Prevent initial establishment of infection or remove damaged tissue. Prevent the spread of infection or repair damaged tissue. Recruit effector cells if the immune cells of the innate immune system cannot control infection or repair damaged tissue.

It is now recognized that inflammation induced by microbial infection and tissue damage is an essential mechanism of innate immune response. Proper inflammatory responses provide broad spectrum protection against infections and orchestrate long-term adaptive immunity toward specific pathogens.

Inflammatory diseases include a vast array of disorders and conditions that are characterized by inflammation. Examples include allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, coeliac disease, glomerulonephritis, hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, preperfusion injury and transplant rejection.

The cells of the immune system can be categorized as lymphocytes (T-cells, B-cells and NK cells), neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages. These are all types of white blood cells.