Microbiology Branches and Microorganism Characteristics

Branches of Microbiology

• Bacteriology: study of bacteria
• Virology: study of viruses
• Mycology: study of fungi
• Parasitology: study of parasites
• Microbial ecology: study of interactions between microorganisms and their environment

Microorganism Characteristics

• Microscopic size: too small to be seen with the naked eye
• Unicellular: single-celled organisms
• Eukaryotic or prokaryotic: cells with or without a true nucleus
• Autotrophic or heterotrophic: ability to produce own food or require external food sources

Microbial Growth and Reproduction

• Binary fission: process of cell division
• Spore formation: dormant, resistant structures for survival
• Colonial growth: growth of microorganisms in a group
• Generation time: time required for a population to double

Microbial Metabolism

• Aerobic: requires oxygen for growth
• Anaerobic: does not require oxygen for growth
• Fermentation: process of energy production in absence of oxygen
• Respiration: process of energy production in presence of oxygen

Microbial Interactions

• Symbiosis: close, long-term relationships between different species
• Mutualism: both species benefit from interaction
• Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected
• Parasitism: one species benefits, the other is harmed

Microbial Control and Applications

• Sterilization: complete elimination of microorganisms
• Disinfection: reduction of microorganisms
• Antimicrobial agents: substances that inhibit or kill microorganisms
• Vaccines: preparations that stimulate immune responses
• Microbial biotechnology: use of microorganisms for industrial, medical, and environmental applications

Branches of Microbiology

• Study of bacteria is known as Bacteriology
• Virology is the study of viruses
• Mycology is the study of fungi
• Parasitology is the study of parasites
• Microbial ecology is the study of interactions between microorganisms and their environment

Microorganism Characteristics

• Microorganisms are microscopic in size, too small to be seen with the naked eye
• Microorganisms are unicellular, meaning they are single-celled organisms
• Microorganisms can be either eukaryotic (with a true nucleus) or prokaryotic (without a true nucleus)
• Microorganisms can be either autotrophic (producing their own food) or heterotrophic (requiring external food sources)

Microbial Growth and Reproduction

• Binary fission is the process of cell division in microorganisms
• Spore formation is a mechanism for microorganisms to survive in dormant, resistant structures
• Microorganisms can grow in colonies, a group of microorganisms
• Generation time is the time required for a population of microorganisms to double

Microbial Metabolism

• Aerobic microorganisms require oxygen for growth
• Anaerobic microorganisms do not require oxygen for growth
• Fermentation is a process of energy production in microorganisms in the absence of oxygen
• Respiration is a process of energy production in microorganisms in the presence of oxygen

Microbial Interactions

• Symbiosis is a close, long-term relationship between different species
• Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the interaction
• Commensalism is a type of symbiosis where one species benefits, and the other is unaffected
• Parasitism is a type of symbiosis where one species benefits, and the other is harmed

Microbial Control and Applications

• Sterilization is the complete elimination of microorganisms
• Disinfection is the reduction of microorganisms
• Antimicrobial agents are substances that inhibit or kill microorganisms
• Vaccines are preparations that stimulate immune responses
• Microbial biotechnology is the use of microorganisms for industrial, medical, and environmental applications