Microbiology

Microbiology is drived from the Greek word mīkros, means "small";  bios, means "life"; and -logia is the study of microscopic organisms, which are defined as any living organism that is either a single cell (unicellular), a cell cluster (multicellular), or has no cells at all (acellular).

It is the science that deals with a population of invisible living creatures which are too small to be seen with naked eye.

MAJOR GROUP OF MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS:

§  Bacteria.

§  Fungi.

§  Protozoa.

§  Algae.

§  Parasites.

§  Viruses.

 BRANCHES OF MICROBIOLOGY:

§  Bacteriology: The study of bacteria.

§  Mycology: The study of fungi.

§  Protozoology: The study of protozoa.

§  Phycology (or algology): The study of algae.

§  Parasitology: The study of parasites.

§  Immunology: The study of the immune system.

§  Virology: The study of the viruses.

 DIFFERENT FIELDS OF MICROBIOLOGY:

1. Medical microbiology: The study of the pathogenic microbes and the role of microbes in human illness.
2. Pharmaceutical microbiology: The study of microorganisms that are related to the production of antibiotics, enzymes, vitamins, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products.
3. Industrial microbiology: The exploitation of microbes for use in industrial processes. Examples include industrial fermentation and wastewater treatment
4. Food microbiology and Dairy microbiology: The study of microorganisms causing food spoilage and food borne illness. Using microorganisms to produce foods, for example by fermentation.
5. Agricultural microbiology: The study of agriculturally relevant microorganisms. This field can be further classified into the following:
1. Plant microbiology and Plant pathology: The study of the interactions between microorganisms and plants and plant pathogens.
2. Soil microbiology: The study of those microorganisms that are found in soil.

6.      Veterinary microbiology: The study of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in animals.

1. Environmental microbiology: The study of the function and diversity of microbes in their natural environments.
6. Water microbiology (or Aquatic microbiology): The study of those microorganisms that are found in water.
7. Aeromicrobiology (or Air microbiology): The study of airborne microorganisms.
8. Epidemiology: The study of the incidence, spread, and control of disease.

BENEFITS OR USES OF MICROBIOLOGY:

a.       Production of Vinegar.

b.      Transformation of a Yeast Suspension into Beer.

c.       Suspension of Crushed Grapes into Wine.

d.      Synthesis of vitamins.

e.       Production of antibodies.

f.       Treatment of cancer.

g.      Production of vaccines.

HARM FULL EFFECTS OF MICROORGANISMS:

a.       They can cause diseases such Tetnus, Tuberculosis, Cholera etc.

b.      They are even responsible for food spoilage.