"Microbiology is the scientific study of microorganisms, those being of unicellular (single-celled), multicellular (consisting of complex cells), or acellular (lacking cells)." - "Microbiology (from Ancient Greek μῑκρος (mīkros) 'small', βίος (bíos) 'life', and -λογία (-logía) 'study of') is the scientific study of microorganisms..."
It is the study of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses).
Basic microbiology concepts: Introduction to microorganisms, their classification, morphology, physiology and growth.
Cell structure and function: Structure and composition of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic cells, and their organelles.
Genetics of microorganisms: Mechanisms of microbial gene transfer, gene expression and regulation.
Microbial diversity: Study of the diversity and evolution of microorganisms in different habitats.
Microbial ecology: Study of the interactions between microorganisms and their environment, including how they acquire nutrients and form communities.
Microbial physiology: Understanding of microbial metabolism, energy generation, and adaptation to different environments.
Microbial pathogenesis: Mechanisms of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, including virulence factors, host-pathogen interactions, and course of disease.
Immunology: Understanding of the immune system, including its cells, organs, and mechanisms of response to infection.
Genomics and metagenomics: Concepts of genome sequencing and analysis of microbiomes.
Biotechnology: Applications and importance of microorganisms in industrial and medical fields.
Microbial evolution and genetics: Concepts of genetic diversity, horizontal gene transfer, and phenotypic variation of microorganisms.
Biogeochemical cycles: Study of microbial activities in the global cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements.
Microbial bioremediation: Strategies of microorganisms in environmental cleanup of pollutants.
Biofilms: Study of microbial communities that grow on surfaces and their role in microbial ecology, pathogenesis, and biotechnology.
Microbial interactions with plants and animals: Roles and mechanisms of microorganisms in plants’ health and growth, and animal-microbe symbiosis.
Microbial symbiosis: Study of the beneficial or harmful associations between microorganisms and their hosts.
Microbial physiology in extreme environments: Study of microorganisms in extreme conditions such as high pressure, temperature, salinity, and radiation.
Microbial biochemistry: Understanding of the biochemical processes in microorganisms, their energy metabolism, and biosynthetic pathways.
Microbial biotechnology: Applications of microorganisms in food and beverage production, antibiotic and drug development, bioremediation, and environmental monitoring.
Microbial forensics: Use of microbiological evidence in criminal investigations, terrorism, and bioterrorism.
Microbial systematics: Principles and methods of microbial classification, phylogeny, and taxonomy.
Microbial genetics engineering: Techniques of genetically manipulating microorganisms for biotechnological and medical applications.
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of soils: Roles of microorganisms in soil processes and nutrient cycling.
Microbial processes in wastewater treatment: Understanding the microbial activities in wastewater treatment and bioremediation for environmental protection.
Bioreactor engineering: Design and operation of bioreactors for industrial and environmental applications.
Medical microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms that cause diseases in humans and animals.
Environmental microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms in the environment, including in soil, water, air, and plants.
Agricultural microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms involved in agriculture, including those that promote nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and plant growth, as well as those that cause plant diseases.
Food microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms that affect food quality and safety, including those that cause spoilage and foodborne illnesses.
Industrial microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms used in biotechnology and industry, including those used to produce antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, and fermented foods.
Veterinary microbiology: This is the study of microorganisms that affect animal health, including those that cause diseases in livestock, pets, and wildlife.
Microbial ecology: This is the study of the interactions between microorganisms and their environment, including the roles of microorganisms in nutrient cycling, ecosystem functioning, and biogeochemical processes.
Evolutionary microbiology: This is the study of the evolution of microorganisms and their genomes, including the mechanisms of gene transfer, adaptation, and speciation.
Systems microbiology: This is the study of microbial communities and their interactions, including the metabolic networks and signaling pathways that underlie microbial behavior.
Astrobiology: This is the study of the origin, distribution, and evolution of life in the universe, including the search for microbial life beyond Earth.
"Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, protistology, mycology, immunology, and parasitology."
"Eukaryotic microorganisms possess membrane-bound organelles and include fungi and protists, whereas prokaryotic organisms—all of which are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking membrane-bound organelles and include Bacteria and Archaea."
"Microbiologists traditionally relied on culture, staining, and microscopy for the isolation and identification of microorganisms."
"However, less than 1% of the microorganisms present in common environments can be cultured in isolation using current means."
"With the emergence of biotechnology, Microbiologists currently rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence-based identification, for example, the 16S rRNA gene sequence used for bacterial identification."
"Viruses have been variably classified as organisms, as they have been considered either as very simple microorganisms or very complex molecules."
"Prions, never considered as microorganisms, have been investigated by virologists, however, as the clinical effects traced to them were originally presumed due to chronic viral infections, virologists took a search—discovering 'infectious proteins'."
"The existence of microorganisms was predicted many centuries before they were first observed, for example by the Jains in India and by Marcus Terentius Varro in ancient Rome."
"The first recorded microscope observation was of the fruiting bodies of molds, by Robert Hooke in 1666."
"But the Jesuit priest Athanasius Kircher was likely the first to see microbes, which he mentioned observing in milk and putrid material."
"Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is considered a father of microbiology as he observed and experimented with microscopic organisms in the 1670s."
"Scientific microbiology developed in the 19th century through the work of Louis Pasteur."
"In medical microbiology, Robert Koch made significant contributions."
"'μῑκρος' (mīkros)" translates to "small" in Ancient Greek, as used in the term "microbiology."
"Virology is one of the sub-disciplines of microbiology that focuses on the study of viruses."
"Prokaryotic organisms—all of which are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking membrane-bound organelles and include Bacteria and Archaea."
"Microbiologists rely on molecular biology tools such as DNA sequence-based identification, for example, the 16S rRNA gene sequence used for bacterial identification."
"Antonie van Leeuwenhoek observed and experimented with microscopic organisms in the 1670s."
"Microbiology encompasses numerous sub-disciplines including virology, bacteriology, protistology, mycology, immunology, and parasitology."