Microbial nutrition requires both macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients like carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus are required in large amounts, while micronutrients such as manganese, zinc and copper are needed in smaller amounts. There are five main types of microbial nutrition defined by their carbon source, energy source and electron source: photolithoautotrophy, photoorganoheterotrophy, chemolithoautotrophy, chemolithoheterotrophy, and chemoorganoheterotrophy. Growth also requires three major factors - amino acids for protein synthesis, and purines and pyrimidines for nucleic acid synthesis, as well as vitamins which are needed in