"A microorganism, or microbe, is an organism of microscopic size, which may exist in its single-celled form or as a colony of cells."
An in-depth study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae, including their morphology, physiology, and classification.
Introduction to Microorganisms: Understanding what microorganisms are, their classification and role in the ecosystem.
Microbial cell structure: Understanding the anatomy of a bacterial cell, including the various structures like cell wall, membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes.
Microbial Growth: The process of how microorganisms grow and divide, including factors that influence microbial growth like temperature, pH, among others.
Microbial Genetics: Understanding the mechanism of inheritance and genetic variation in microorganisms, including DNA replication, transcription, and translation.
Bacteriology: Study of bacteria including their classification and characteristics, the role of bacteria in ecology, and their impact on human health.
Virology: The study of viruses, their structure, replication, and their impact on human health.
Mycology: Introducing fungi and their role in the ecosystem, including their impact on human health, and their uses in industry.
Parasitology: Understanding protozoa and parasitic worms, their structure, biology, and impact on human health.
Microbial Ecology: The study of the interaction of microorganisms with each other and their environment.
Immunology: The study of the immune system, including its functions and the response of microorganisms to the immune system.
Epidemiology: The study of the spread and control of infectious diseases in populations, including risk factors and outbreak investigations.
Microbial-based industries: Understanding the numerous uses of microorganisms in various industries like food production, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
Food Microbiology: Understanding the role of microorganisms in the food industry and their impact on food safety.
Biotechnology: Examining the application of microbes in the production of various commercial products, including food, healthcare, and environmental products.
Antimicrobial agents: Understanding the different antimicrobial agents used in the treatment and control of microbial infections, including antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants.
Sterilization: The process of eliminating or destroying all forms of microbial life from the surface or medium being used. It is the highest level of microbial control.
Microbial diversity: Understanding the vast variety of microbial species, their distribution in the ecosystem, and how they interact with each other.
Microbial pathogenesis: Understanding the mechanism by which microbes cause disease in humans and other organisms.
Microbial interactions: Studying the relationship between microorganisms and other organisms in the ecosystem, including symbiotic, commensal and parasitic relationships.
Microbial physiology: Understanding the relationship between microbial structures, functions and the environment in which they grow.
Bacteria: Single-celled, prokaryotic organisms that are found in every environment on Earth. They can be beneficial, harmful or neutral to humans.
Archaea: Another type of single-celled, prokaryotic organism that is distinct from bacteria. They are found in extreme environments such as hot springs, salt flats, and deep ocean vents.
Fungi: A group of eukaryotic microorganisms that includes yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They are important decomposers and can also cause infections in humans.
Viruses: Non-living particles that require a host cell to replicate. They are responsible for a range of human diseases such as the flu, HIV, and COVID-19.
Protozoa: Unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are found in water and soil. Some are parasitic and can cause infections in humans.
Algae: Photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms that range from unicellular to multicellular forms. They play a crucial role in the food chain and are used in biotechnology applications.
Helminths: Multicellular parasites that can infect humans and animals. They include tapeworms, roundworms, and flukes.
Prions: Misfolded proteins that can cause neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals.
Viroids: Small, circular RNA molecules that can cause disease in plants.
"The scientific study of microorganisms began with their observation under the microscope in the 1670s by Anton van Leeuwenhoek."
"In the 1850s, Louis Pasteur found that microorganisms caused food spoilage, debunking the theory of spontaneous generation."
"In the 1880s, Robert Koch discovered that microorganisms caused the diseases tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, and anthrax."
"Because microorganisms include most unicellular organisms from all three domains of life they can be extremely diverse."
"Some are adapted to extremes such as very hot or very cold conditions, others to high pressure, and a few, such as Deinococcus radiodurans, to high radiation environments."
"Microorganisms also make up the microbiota found in and on all multicellular organisms."
"There is evidence that 3.45-billion-year-old Australian rocks once contained microorganisms, the earliest direct evidence of life on Earth."
"Microbes are important in human culture and health in many ways, serving to ferment foods and treat sewage, and to produce fuel, enzymes, and other bioactive compounds."
"Microbes are essential tools in biology as model organisms."
"Microbes have been put to use in biological warfare and bioterrorism."
"Microbes are a vital component of fertile soil."
"In the human body, microorganisms make up the human microbiota, including the essential gut flora."
"The pathogens responsible for many infectious diseases are microbes and, as such, are the target of hygiene measures."
"The possible existence of unseen microbial life was suspected from ancient times, such as in Jain scriptures from the sixth century BC India."
"The two of the three domains, Archaea and Bacteria, only contain microorganisms."
"There are also many multicellular organisms that are microscopic, namely micro-animals, some fungi, and some algae, but these are generally not considered microorganisms."
"Microorganisms can have very different habitats, and live everywhere from the poles to the equator, deserts, geysers, rocks, and the deep sea."
"Some are adapted to extremes such as very hot or very cold conditions, others to high pressure, and a few, such as Deinococcus radiodurans, to high radiation environments."
"Microorganisms serve to ferment foods and treat sewage."