Microbiology is the study of microorganisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and require a microscope. The document outlines the history, scope, and fields of microbiology. It discusses how microorganisms have influenced humans in both beneficial and detrimental ways and how microbiology relates to various disciplines like medicine, agriculture, food science, and the environment. The future of microbiology is focused on developing new drugs and vaccines, using molecular techniques to solve problems, and exploring microbial roles in food production, pollution degradation, and disease treatment.

1. SCOPE OF
MICROBIOLOGY
PRESENTED TO : Ma’am Maria
PRESENTED BY : Samawia
Iqbal

2. CONTEXT
 BACKGROUND
 HISTORY
 DEFINITION
 COMPOSITION OF MICROBIAL WORLD
 DIVISION OF ORGANISMS
 SCOPE OF MICROBIOLOGY
 FIELDS OF INTEREST
 FUTURE OF MICROBIOLOGY

3. BACKGROUND
 Microorganisms are everywhere ; almost every
natural Surface is colonized by microbes , from body
to oceans.
 Most microorganisms are harmless ; you swallow
million of microbes every second with no ill effects.
 Microorganisms are relevent to all of us in a
multitude of ways . The influence of microorganisms
is both beneficial and detrimental also .

4. HISTORY
Invisible creatures were thought to exsist long
before they were discovered.
ANTONY VAN LEEWENHOEK :
He invented the first microscope; and was the
first to accurately observe and describe
microorganisms.

5. DEFINITION
GREEK WORD :
 Mikros - small ; Bios – life
 The branch of biology that studies microorganisms
and their effects on humans.
 The study of organisms that are usually too small to
be seen with the naked eyes – requires microscope
 Include bacteria , fungi , protozoan , algae , parasitic
worms and viruses.

6. COMPOSITION OF
MICROBIAL WORLD
PROKARYOTES :
Relative simple morphology , lack true membrane and
delimited nucleus.
EUKARYOTES :
Morphologically complex with a true membrane and
enclosed nucleus.

8. DIVISION OF ORGANISMS
Organisms are divided into five kingdoms :
MONERA : all prokaryotes
PROTISTS : unicellular or colonial eukaryotic cells
lacking true tissues ; algae , protozoa , and simple fungi.
FUNGI : eukaryotic includes molds , yeast , and
mushrooms.
PLANTAE : multicellular
ANIMALIA : multicellular

10. SCOPE OF MICROBIOLOGY
 There is vast scope in the field of microbiology due to
the advancement in the field of science and
technology.
 The scope in this field is immense due to the
involvement of microbiology in many fields like
medicine, pharmacy, diary, industry, clinical research,
water industry, agriculture and chemical technology.

11. FIELDS OF INTEREST
• Genetics
• Agriculture
• Food science
• Immunology
• Medicine
• Industry

13. Ecology and environment
 Bacteria are primary decomposers – recycle nutrients
back into the environment (sewage treatment plants)
 Winogradsky and M. Beijerinck ; studied soil
microbes and their role in the biochemical cycles of
sulfur, carbon, nitrogen etc.
 Insect Pest Control: some bacteria are used as bio-
pesticides to control Insects pest. Eg. Bacillus
thuringiensis

14.  Bioremediation: microbes are also used
to clean up pollutants and toxic wastes.
Eg. Pseudomonas putida; used to remove
petroleum spill .

15. Food microbiology
• Microbes are used in various food and dairy
industries to produce various food products
– cheese, pickles, green olives
– yogurt, soy sauce, vinegar, bread
– Beer, Wine, Alcohol
• Pasteur (1856) describe fermentation technology.
• He also developed the pasteurization technique to
preserve liquids.
•

17. Medicine: clinical and
pharmaceutical microbiology
 Disease Treatment: Microbes are used to produce
Antibiotics.
 Eg. Penicillium notatum (Penicillin); discovered by
Alexander Fleming (1928)
 Bacteria also synthesize vitamins which is needed for
our body.
 Example: E. coli

18.  Vitamin-B; needed for metabolism
 Vitamin-K; needed for blood
clotting
 Gene therapy for treatment of
genetic diseases.

19. Vaccine and immunology
 Vaccine activates immune response.
 Edward Jenner ; inoculated people with cowpox to
protect against smallpox.
 Pasteur developed the rabies vaccine (1885).
 Von Behring and Kitasato (1890) produced toxoid
vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus.
 Metchnikoff (1884) described the role of phagocytic
cells in defense.

20. Genetic engineering
• Microorganisms are used in Recombinant DNA
Technology or Genetic Engineering to manipulate
their gene for the production of useful products such
as enzymes, hormones, interferons, etc.
• Microorganisms are used as model organism in
molecular biology.

21. Biochemistry and physiology
 Microorganisms are used as a model for study of
many biochemical and physiological processes.
 study the synthesis of antibiotics and toxins,
microbial energy production, microbial nitrogen
fixation, effects of chemical and physical agents on
microbial growth and survival etc.

22. Industrial microbiology
 Microbes are used in economic and industrial
purposes.
 Biotechnology, fermentation technology, food and
beverages etc. are now established on large industrial
scale for income.
 Used to make products such as antibiotics, vaccines,
steroids, alcohols and other solvents, vitamins, amino
acids and enzymes.

23. Agriculture microbiology
 Genetic engineering is used for the production of
transgenic plants and animals.
 Animal and plant improvement by biotechnology for
better production, resistant to environmental
fluctuation.
 Molecular farming: transgenic animal or plant are
used as bioreactor for mass production.

24. Geochemical microbiology
Bioleaching: recovery of minerals from low
grade ores
 Geomicrobiology studies microorganisms that are
driving the Earth's biogeochemical cycles,
 mediating mineral precipitation and dissolution.

25. Exomicrobiology
Exploring for life in outer space.
 Astrobiology's efforts are aimed at understanding the
origins of life and the search for life other than on
Earth. Because microorganisms are the most
widespread form of life on Earth, and are capable of
colonizing almost any environment, scientists usually
focus on microbial life in the field of astrobiology.

26.  Moreover, small and simple cells usually
evolve first on a planet rather than
larger, multicellular organisms, and have an
increased likelihood of being transported from
one planet to other.

27. FUTURE OF
MICROBIOLOGY
 Future challenges such as finding new ways to
combat disease, reduce pollution and feed the world’s
population.
 AIDS, hemorrhagic fevers and other infectious
diseases.
 Create new drugs, vaccines. Use the techniques in
molecular biology and rDNA to solve the prob.

28.  Study the role of microorganisms as
Sources of high-quality food and other practical
products such as enzymes for industrial application
 Degrade pollutants and toxic wastes
 Used as vectors to treat diseases and enhance
agricultural productivity

29. REFERENCES
 https://microbenotes.com/scope-and-applications-of-microbiology/
 https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/fields-scope-microbiology
 https://www.slideshare.net/naveebimal/scope-of-microbiology
 https://slideplayer.com/slide/11580148/
 https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/what-is-the-difference-
between-prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells-1523518350-1
 https://www.google.com/search?q=SCOPE+OF+MICROBIOLOGY+I
N+PHARMACY&hl.