Micro-organisms and their activities are vitally important to virtually all processes on Earth. Micro-organisms matter because they affect every aspect of our lives — they are in us, on us and around us. Microbiology is the study of all living organisms that are too small to be visible with the naked eye. This includes bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae, collectively known as 'microbes'.
Microbiologists study microbes, and some of the most important discoveries that have underpinned modern society have resulted from the research of famous microbiologists, such as Jenner and his vaccine against smallpox, Fleming and the discovery of penicillin, Marshall and the identification of the link between Helicobacter pylori infection and stomach ulcers, and zur Hausen, who identified the link between papilloma virus and cervical cancer.
The scientific process of freely moving genes from one organism to another, isolating DNA and manipulating results is all hosted by bacteria. Microbiology has come a long way since it was first pioneered by Dutch draper and hobbyist glass grinder Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek in the 17 th century. ACG, world leading suppliers of fully integrated solutions to the global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, is rebranding with a commitment to Celebrating World Science Day, Nov 10 has seen renewed calls for more young people to follow careers in science and technology to help tackle International life sciences equipment company Eppendorf, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has completed its conversion to the European Quell Therapeutics has expanded operations to develop and scale production of its multi-modular engineered Treg cell therapies for clinical trials at In This Edition Articles - Advancements in Freeze drying production and the impacts on scale, sustainability and compliance - Face-to-face events finally start up - But how will attendance f News section.
Inspiring young scientists to meet Global Challanges Nov 10 Conversion to European public limited company completed Nov 05 Winning Images highlight diversity of Biological and How is Cannabis Analysed? Fast, easy measurement of hydrogen and wax content i Inspiring young scientists to meet Global Challanges. Conversion to European public limited company completed. Also known as roundworms, nematodes include a variety of organisms worms found in a variety of environments on earth they can be found in soil, mud, sands, mountains, etc.
According to studies, nematodes are some of the most abundant organisms on our planet. Nematology, as a branch of microbiology, has allowed for the classification of these worms based on their general morphology, habitats as well as whether or not they cause diseases, etc. Those who study nematology are known as nematologists. Apart from taxonomy, microbiology is also classified into pure sciences. Some of the most common categories include:.
This makes it possible to understand how the organism interacts and affects its surroundings. It is used to identify the different strains and phenotypes of an organism and classify the organisms as such.
Whereas taxonomy classification gives focus to the organism and its general characteristics, applied microbiology is focused on how various organisms can be used applied in given processes or the impact they can have in different industries. Some of the most important branches of microbiology based on application include:. Food microbiology. As such, microbiology gives special attention to such microorganisms as molds, yeasts, and bacteria among others that either benefit or have negative effects on the quality of food material with public health concern in mind.
Medical Microbiology. This is the branch of microbiology that is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases caused by different types of organisms infection agents. This sub-discipline is therefore related to a number of other fields including virology, bacteriology, immunology, and germicrobiology.
Industrial microbiology. This branch of microbiology is concerned with the use of given microorganisms for industrial production. Here, research studies are directed towards the use of these organisms to increase and maximize yields in industries like fuel, pharmaceutical, and chemicals among others. Here, the use of microorganisms makes it possible to mass produce for a big market.
Agricultural microbiology. Agricultural microbiology is concerned with microbes associated with plants and animal diseases and production. As such, it is not only concerned with the medical significance of these organisms, but also their economic importance for farmers and the industry as a whole.
In the process, agricultural microbiology is aimed to solve issues identified in agricultural practices while helping increase yields for farmers. He used single-lens microscopes to make the first observations of bacteria and protozoa, and his work with animals helped disprove the theory of spontaneous generation. Why is microbiology important? What do microbiologists do? Depending on the employer, this can include: Studying the prevention, diagnosis and control of infections and specific diseases Ensuring food and drink is safe to consume Understanding the role that microbes play in climate change Developing green technologies Work environment Microbiologists typically spend most of their time in a hospital, office or laboratory environment, where they conduct specific experiments and analyse the results.
Most microbiologists work on a full-time, 9-to-5 schedule. Responsibilities Preparing samples and tracking microbe development in a range of controlled environments Planning and carrying out trials Collecting, analysing and interpreting key data Writing research papers, reports and reviews Developing new therapeutic products such as drugs and vaccines Managing laboratories and ensuring high health and safety standards Day-to-day responsibilities can vary depending on the industry, employer or location.
Industries and employers Microbiologists work in a number of sectors, from healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to government, education and the environment. What does a microbiologist do in a hospital? Microbiologists based in a hospital environment support and oversee the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the spread of infection.
Through laboratory testing, they identify appropriate treatment for particular infectious diseases and monitor patients throughout their treatment. Hospital microbiologists also play a key advisory role. Firstly, they advise patients on medication adherence and produce treatment guidelines to make sure that antibiotics are prescribed and used appropriately.
This helps to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance emerging and spreading in a hospital. Secondly, they advise on which samples — such as a swab, urine sample or blood test — should be collected to diagnose an infection. They then collaborate closely with scientists in the laboratory to identify the pathogens causing the infection.
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