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Resource Center
Microbiology/Virology
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What is Microbiology/Virology?
Microbiology is one of the branches of modern biology. Among the groups of organisms classified as microorganisms, there are simple unicellular forms (cocci, bacilli, viruses, and spirochetes) and multicellular forms (filaments and sheaths). The microbiome includes blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), fungi, protozoa, and bacteria.This discipline includes fundamental research on the biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host response to these agents.Microbiology is a science that studies the life activities and biological characteristics of all kinds of tiny organisms.
Virology is a new subject which takes virus as the research object and forms through the mutual penetration and fusion between virology and molecular biology. Viruses can infect all forms of life (bacteria, plants, protozoa, fungi, insects, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals). Virology focusses on the following features of virues i.e. structure, classification, pathogenicity, interaction with the host cell and their use in therapeutics and research.It provides theoretical basis and scientific basis for the development of genetic engineering vaccines and antiviral drugs, as well as the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of viral diseases.
History of Microbiology
Microbiology is an old discipline, dating back to the mid-1670s, when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed ‘animalcules’ using a lens, before being latterly formalized by Pasteur, Koch and others in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Anyone lucky enough to study microbiology at any level will discover the fascinating unseen world of bacteria, archaea, algae, protozoa and viruses, and the myriad biologies to understand. Microbiology has also long been associated with industrial applications in food and drink, biofuels and commodity chemicals. More recently, microbiology has enjoyed increased attention, owing to interest in CRISPR genome editing, which was predated by more than 30 years of work on the exquisitely interesting biology of CRISPR systems in bacteria and archaea. Moreover, the explosion of interest in microbiomes has generated widespread interest in the microbial communities that exist everywhere, from remote tundras to our guts, and reinforces the idea that intimate partnerships between microorganisms and their environments underpin climate, ocean, human, animal, plant and insect biology, and therefore health.
Branches of Microbiology
Taxonomy
Study
1
Bacteriology
the study of bacteria
2
Immunology
the study of the immune system
3
Mycology
the study of fungi, such as yeasts and molds
4
Nematology
the study of nematodes (roundworms)
5
Parasitology
the study of parasites
6
Phycology
the study of algae
7
Protozoology
the study of protozoa, single-celled organisms like amoebae
8
Virology
the study of viruses
Why Study Microbiology?
Microbiology has an impact on human health.Microbes act as source of food.
They play significant role in decomposition and help animals to digest grass.
They provide safe drinking water and develop biodegradable products.
Bacteria are used to clean up oil spills called as bioremediation.
Microbes are used in foodstuffs like beer, wine, cheese, bread, antibiotics, insulin, genetic engineering, etc.
Microbiology helps to research which results in healthier livestock and disease-free crops.
Branches of Microbiology
Taxonomy
Study
1
Bacteriology
the study of bacteria
2
Immunology
the study of the immune system
3
Mycology
the study of fungi, such as yeasts and molds
4
Nematology
the study of nematodes (roundworms)
5
Parasitology
the study of parasites
6
Phycology
the study of algae
7
Protozoology
the study of protozoa, single-celled organisms like amoebae
8
Virology
the study of viruses
| Taxonomy | Study | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bacteriology | the study of bacteria |
| 2 | Immunology | the study of the immune system |
| 3 | Mycology | the study of fungi, such as yeasts and molds |
| 4 | Nematology | the study of nematodes (roundworms) |
| 5 | Parasitology | the study of parasites |
| 6 | Phycology | the study of algae |
| 7 | Protozoology | the study of protozoa, single-celled organisms like amoebae |
| 8 | Virology | the study of viruses |
Why Study Microbiology?
Microbiology has an impact on human health.
Microbes act as source of food.
They play significant role in decomposition and help animals to digest grass.
They provide safe drinking water and develop biodegradable products.
Bacteria are used to clean up oil spills called as bioremediation.
Microbes are used in foodstuffs like beer, wine, cheese, bread, antibiotics, insulin, genetic engineering, etc.
Microbiology helps to research which results in healthier livestock and disease-free crops.
Relationship between Microbiology and Virology
The difference between microbiology and virology is that microbiology is the branch of biology that deals with microorganisms, especially their effects on man and other living organisms while virology is the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses and viral diseases. Virology is often considered a part of microbiology pathology.
Because of rapid growth rate and relative simplicity, microbes are often the experimental subjects of choice for examining basic genetic and biological phenomena.
Virology holds a central position in both microbiology and public perception, never more than now as we face the challenge of a new viral pathogen.
Reference
https://www.microbiologypro.com/frontiers-of-microbiology/Nature Microbiology at 5 [J]. Nature Microbiology, 2021, 6(1): 1-2.
https://microbiologynote.com/branches-of-microbiology
https://www.microbiologypro.com/frontiers-of-microbiology/
Nature Microbiology at 5 [J]. Nature Microbiology, 2021, 6(1): 1-2.
https://microbiologynote.com/branches-of-microbiology