Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are invisible to the naked eye. Micro biology helps us to understand the life cycle of these microorganisms and the effect they have on plants and animals. Life of microorganisms affects soil ,water etc. It is also used for immunization improvement.The development of micro biology depends largely on industrial methods, economic requirements and general programmes on science and Engineering.   

History & Development

The existence of microorganisms was predicted many centuries before they were first observed, for example by the jains in India and by marcus terentius varro in ancient Rome. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is considered a father of microbiology as he observed and experimented with microscopic organisms in 1676, using simple microscopes of his own design. Scientific microbiology developed in the 19th century through the work of Louis Pasteur and in medical microbiology Robert Koch.

Branches

Microbiology is divided into two branches:

Pure Microbiology and Applied Microbiology.

Branches of Pure Microbiology:

• Astro microbiology: Study of microorganisms in outer space
• Bacteriology: Study of bacteria
• Cellular microbiology: A discipline bridging microbiology and cell biology
• Generation microbiology: Study of those microorganisms that have the same characters as their parents
• Immunology: Study of the immune system
• Molecular microbiology: Study of the molecular principles of the physiological processes in microorganisms
• Nano microbiology: Study of those organisms on nano level.
• Systems microbiology: A discipline bridging systems biology and microbiology.
• Virology: Study of viruses

Branches of Applied Microbiology:

• Aero Microbiology (or air microbiology): Study of airborne microorganisms.
• Agricultural Microbiology: Study of agriculturally relevant microorganisms. This field can be further classified into the following:
• Biotechnology: Related to recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering.
• Food Microbiology: Study of the microorganisms that inhibit, create, or contaminate food. This includes the study of microorganisms causing food spoilage; as well as, pathogens that may cause disease especially if food is improperly cooked or stored. Those used to produce fermented foods such as cheese, yogurt, bread, beer, and wine.
• Industrial Microbiology: Exploitation of microbes for use in industrial processes. Examples include industrial fermentation and wastewater treatment. Closely linked to the biotechnology industry. This field also includes brewing, an important application of microbiology.
• Medical Microbiology: Study of the pathogenic microbes and the role of microbes in human illness also is related to the study of disease pathology and immunology. This area of microbiology also covers the study of human microbiota, cancer, and the tumor microenvironment.
• Microbial Biotechnology: Manipulation of microorganisms at the genetic and molecular level to generate useful products.
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology: Study of microorganisms that are related to the production of antibiotics, enzymes, vitamins, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products and that cause pharmaceutical contamination and spoil.
• Soil Microbiology: Study of those microorganisms that are found in soil.
• Veterinary Microbiology: Study of the role of microbes in veterinary medicine or animal taxonomy.
• Water Microbiology (or aquatic microbiology): Study of those microorganisms that are found in water.