What is microbiology? Well, it is the study of microorganisms, including bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. Nostalgic much? In this article, we will go in-depth about all these terms you studied in school and more. So, as aforementioned, microbiology is all about these microbes that are entirely invisible to the naked eye but play a significant role in how we experience life.
How
exactly do these microorganisms affect our lives? In many ways, actually. For
example, microorganisms shield the planet by playing a crucial role in
recycling essential minerals such as carbon and nitrogen. In agriculture,
microbes, by optimizing nitrate levels in the soil, enable farmers to improve
agricultural productivity. Microbes are also used to create chemical products
such as antibiotics, preservatives, food additives, biofuels, metabolites,
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and vitamin supplements.
Fun fact: According to experts, there are 5 million trillion microorganisms on the earth. We will let that sink in.
In the field of medicine, microbiology unravels the intricacies of infectious diseases and their management. The subject throws light on the role of microorganisms in the cause and transmission of infectious diseases and, paradoxically, their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention as well. When we say treatment and prevention, we mean the discovery and development of antimicrobial drugs. If COVID-19 has taught us one thing, it is how a microorganism (a virus) can threaten humankind and how studying the same virus to create a vaccine can be vital in saving countless lives.
Some fundamental concepts in microbiology include the following:
Bacteria: Perhaps the most well-known microorganism, bacteria can be categorized based on their staining properties, morphology, and organization. It is essential to understand the structure, metabolism, and reproduction of the bacteria responsible for treating bacterial illnesses.
Virus: Smaller than bacteria, viruses are responsible for ailments such as the common cold, measles, influenza, chickenpox, ebola, genital herpes, COVID-19, and AIDS.
Fungi: Fungal infections usually happen to those with a weakened immune system. Fungal diseases include aspergillosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), ringworm, vaginal candidiasis, blastomycosis, and histoplasmosis.
Protozoa: Both parasitic and free-living, these microorganisms are responsible for diseases such as amoebic dysentery, diarrhea, inflammation of the urogenital tract, and malaria. The knowledge of the life cycles and traits of Protozoa is vital for the treatment of these diseases.
Here are some of the many important topics of microbiology in MBBS:
In general microbiology, we have important topics like the contributions of Louis Pasteur, bacterial cell walls, anaerobic culture methods, horizontal gene transfer, and flagella.
As a part of the immunology module, there is innate immunity versus acquired immunity, the structure of an antibody, various classes of immunoglobulins, the basic mechanism of precipitation reaction and agglutination reaction, cytokines, and many more.
For medical students preparing for microbiology, it is also essential to study sterilization and disinfection, which include healthcare-acquired infections, masks, hand washes, disinfectants, dustbin differentiation, and the definition and management of needle stick injuries.
Then we have a systematic microbiology module that covers infective endocarditis, typhoid, HIV, leishmaniasis, scrub typhus, African sleeping sickness, lymphatic filariasis, lab diagnosis of diarrhea, intestinal amoebiasis, and hookworm.
In today's fast-paced learning world, an online microbiology course can offer students a robust grasp of the subject, equipping them with the skills to comprehend the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and aid in developing effective therapeutic strategies. Of all the microbiology learning resources available for students, online courses can be the most user-friendly. In this context, we suggest a fabulous online learning tool called Microbiology for UnderGrads by Dr. Apurba S. Sastry, Dr. Sandhya Bhat, and Dr. Deepashree R, which is a helpful tool for students to master microbiology undergraduate theory and practical skills.
Why do we recommend Diginerve's course, Microbiology for UnderGrads?
The first reason for our recommendation is the fact that this online microbiology course has been brought together by eminent faculty members, Dr. Apurba S. Sastry, Dr. Sandhya Bhat, and Dr. Deepashree R. The second reason is when it comes to content, this course “Microbiology for UnderGrads” doesn't leave anything behind. From general microbiology to respiratory tract infections, urogenital tract infections, and central nervous system infections, all crucial topics have been covered. The third reason is the in-depth video lectures, which allow students to learn microbiology engagingly. The richly illustrated study material, simplified topic explanations, flowcharts, tables, and images, and the microbiology MCQs & video lectures in this course are top-notch, to say the least. Since everything is online, students can take their time to review the course, revise it, and solve the questions.
It is essential to focus on microbiology not only for your university exams but also for your future competitive exams. In INI-CET, for example, the weight of microbiology is 14–16 questions, and NEET PG has about 10 microbiology questions every year. For all medical students, understanding microbiology is a must, not just to score well in exams but also to become a better doctor. And to have a command of microbiology, online microbiology courses and online microbiology tutorials by reputed authors can play a significant role.
To know more
about Diginerve’s Microbiology for UnderGrads, click the link below:
https://www.diginerve.com/course/microbiology-for-undergrads/
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