MICROBIOLOGY

DEFINITION OF MICROBIOLOGY

Microbiologyis the scientific study of these microorganisms.

Microorganisms are those organisms that are too small to see
with the naked eye and include things like bacteria, fungi, and
viruses.
 CULTURING

Culturingis the term used to describe growing microbes, usually

combined with tests to see what the microbes like to eat or what
conditions they can live in. If you've ever seen a petri dish, you've
seen a common place where microbes are cultivated.
 Most of the microbes, or bacteria, in your body are meant to be
there and are calledresident bacteria. These bacteria that are
well-established residents of your body, especially the skin and
gut. They are your first line of defense against potentially
dangeroustransient bacteria, meaning temporary bacteria that
you might pick up from touching a door handle or being near
someone who sneezes. The resident bacteria can usually out-
compete the transient bacteria, preventing them from settling in
and causing an infection.
 So, how else do microbes help us? The next time you enjoy
cheese, sausage, and beer at a party, be aware that many of the
foods and drinks we enjoy are not possible without microbes.
Dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, have been made for
centuries with microbes to lengthen the lifetime of milk. The
process offermentationis carried out by microbes and gives
these items their characteristic taste, odor, and texture. Beer and
wine also use microbes (in this case, yeasts) to produce the
alcohol in those beverages.
 PATHOGENS

Pathogensare the invading microbes in our bodies that make us

sick. It is usually our immune system's reaction to the foreign
microbial invaders that give us the crummy symptoms, like a
fever or stomachache