micropara

• Microorganisms are extraordinary diverse – of structure, function, habitat, and application
• Microorganisms are also called as "Microbes" that are indispensable to life on Earth
• Microorganisms are responsible for some of the deadliest human diseases
• Microorganisms form the basis of many industrial processes
• Until a few hundred years ago, nobody knew microorganisms existed
• Microbiology


  The science (Logos) of small (micro) life (bios)
• Microbiology


  The study of living organisms of microscopic dimension, or cannot be seen by our naked eye
• The term "microbiology" was given by French chemist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)
• Microbiology was the last of the three major divisions in biology to develop (the other two are Botany and Zoology)
• Microorganisms


  Organisms with a diameter of 1 mm or less
• Major fields of Pure Sciences (Microbiology)

  • Bacteriology
  • Mycology
  • Protozoology
  • Virology
  • Algology or Phycology
  • Parasitology
  • Microbial Ecology
  • Microbial Morphology
  • Microbial Physiology
  • Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Bacteriology


  Study of bacteria
• Mycology


  Study of Fungi (Achlorophyllous, Heterotropic, eukaryotic with rigid cell wall containing Chitin/cellullose)
• Protozoology


  Study of Protozoans (animal-like single celled eukaryotic organisms)
• Virology


  Study of viruses and viral diseases
• Algology or Phycology


  Study of algae (Micro- and macroalgae)
• Parasitology


  Study of parasitism and parasites (includes pathogenic protozoa, helminthes worms, and certain insects)
• Microbial Ecology


  Study of interrelationship between microbes and environment
• Microbial Morphology


  Study of detailed structure of microorganisms
• Microbial Physiology


  Study of metabolism of microbes at cellular and molecular levels
• Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology

  Study of genetic material, Structure and function and biochemical reactions of microbial cells involved in metabolism and growth
• Microorganisms are relevant to all of us and influence human life in both beneficial as well as detrimental ways
• Beneficial uses of microorganisms

  • Raw ingredient for the food production (bread, cheese, yogurt, alcohol, wine)
  • Required for the production of antibiotics (Penicillin, streptomycin, chloromycetin)
  • Maintenance of the stability of the biosphere (C, N, and S cycle)
  • Nutrient source of all ectotrophic food chains and webs
  • Production of vaccines, vitamins, enzymes
• Bioremediation


  A branch of biotechnology that employ microbes to degrade pollutants, industrial toxic wastes, and household garbage
• Beneficial uses of microorganisms

  • A common edible mushroom contain a protein lectin that can stop cancer cell multiplication (Enoki mushroom)
  • An endophytic Fungus Taxomyces andreanae is being used to produce Taxol (an antitumor diterpenoid) in barks of a tree called Pacific yew or Taxus brevifolia
• 10 major fields of applied microbiology

  • Industrial microbiology
  • Agricultural microbiology
  • Food microbiology
  • Dairy microbiology
  • Aquatic microbiology
  • Aeromicrobiology
  • Space microbiology
  • Medical microbiology
  • Public health microbiology
  • Microbial biotechnology
• Industrial microbiology


  Concern with industrial uses of microbes in production of alcohol beverages, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics, and other drugs
• Agricultural microbiology


  Study of relationships of microbes and crops and on control of plant diseases and improvement of yield
• Food microbiology


  Deals with interaction of microorganisms and food in relation to food processing, food spoilage, food borne disease and their prevention
• Dairy microbiology


  Deals with production and maintenance of quality control of dairy products
• Aquatic microbiology


  Study of microorganisms found in fresh water estuarine and marine waters
• Aeromicrobiology


  Deals with the role of aerospora in contamination and spoilage of food and dissemination of plant and animal diseases through air
• Space microbiology


  Deals with exploration of microbial life in outer space
• Medical microbiology


  Causative agents of disease, diagnostic procedure for identification of causative agents, preventive measures
• Public health microbiology


  Concerns with monitoring, control, and spread of diseases in community
• Peptidoglycan


  A closed macromolecule found in bacterial cell wall that defines its shape and preserves its integrity
• Lipoteichoic & teichoic Acid

  Help in bacterial cell surface charge and hydrophobicity
• Porins


  Beta barrel proteins that cross a cellular membrane and act as a pore, through which molecules can diffuse
• Lipopolysaccharides


  Large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide used as bacterial toxins
• Staining Reagents


  Used to stain specimens to facilitate histology or to elucidate important structures of microorganisms