"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..."
The study of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and single-celled organisms.
Microorganisms: Explain what microorganisms are, their types, and how they differ from one another.
Cell Structure: Disclose the structure, function, and classification of cells.
Microbial Nutrition: Detail how microorganisms get their nutrients and required growth factors.
Microbial Metabolism: Give an overview of the biochemical processes associated with microbial growth and energy production.
Microbial Genetics: Describe the genetic variation and adaptations of microorganisms.
Microbial Ecology: Study interactions between microorganisms and their surroundings.
Virology: Explore viruses and how they affect living organisms.
Immunology: Study the way organisms’ immune systems react to infections.
Medical Microbiology: Explain how microorganisms cause diseases and how they can be treated.
Industrial Microbiology: Explain Microorganisms' use in industry, like the manufacturing of food, pharmaceuticals, and other products.
Bioinformatics: Detail the study of computational methods in managing biological data.
Astrobiology: Explore how microorganisms can survive and evolve in extreme environments, including studying the likelihood of life on other planets.
Microbial Pathogenesis: Study the mechanisms and features that lead microorganisms to cause an illness in the body.
Microbial Genetics and Gene Regulation: Discuss the mechanism, expression, and transfer of genes in microorganisms.
Microbiology Laboratory: Learn the fundamental techniques used in microbiology, such as cultivation, staining, and isolation of microorganisms.
Microbial Diversity: Observe and analyze diverse species of microorganisms, including their classification and distribution.
Microbial Evolution and Phylogenetics: Chart the evolution and history of different microorganisms on Earth over time.
Bioremediation and Bioaugmentation: Study ways to use microorganisms to clean up environmental contaminants or increase the yield of a particular crop.
Quorum Sensing: Study communication among microorganisms that would terminate a particular behavior or promote a response.
Systems Biology: Investigate the interplay of multiple microbial factors at the molecular, cellular, and system levels.
Medical microbiology: Studies pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals, and how to prevent and treat them.
Environmental microbiology: Studies the roles of microorganisms in different environments, including their relationship with other organisms, biogeochemical cycles, and their impact on climate change.
Food microbiology: Studies microorganisms found in the production and preservation of food, their safety and spoilage, and how to control them.
Agricultural microbiology: Focuses on the use of microorganisms in agriculture, such as the use of bacteria to fix nitrogen in soil, and the use of microorganisms in the biological control of plant diseases.
Water microbiology: Focuses on the study of microorganisms in water, including the ecology and distribution of microorganisms in aquatic environments, water treatment and purification, and the prevention of waterborne disease.
Industrial microbiology: Investigates the role of microorganisms in industrial processes, such as fermentation, biofuel production, and the development of new biotechnologies.
Veterinary microbiology: Studies pathogens that affect animals and their impact on public health, and how to prevent and treat them.
Pharmaceutical microbiology: Focuses on the production and use of bacteria and other microorganisms in the production of vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines.
Geomicrobiology: Studies the interactions between microorganisms and minerals in soil, rocks, and sediments, and the impact of these interactions on nutrient cycling and environmental change.
Astrobiology: Focuses on the study of microorganisms in space, including their potential for life on other planets and their impact on the search for extraterrestrial life.
"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."