What You Learn
An Introduction to Microbiology
This chapter introduces the field of microbiology and discusses the importance of microorganisms not only as causative agents of disease but also as important contributors to food production, antibiotic manufacture, vaccine development, and environmental management. It presents a brief history of the science of microbiology, an overview of the microbial world, a discussion of the scope and relevance of microbiology in today's society, and predictions about the future of microbiology.

The Chemical Principles
This chapter introduces some basic concepts of chemistry, a science that studies the composition of substances and the changes that occur as basic elements combine. It explains how substances combine to make up matter in relationship to microbial processes.

Observing Microorganism using Microscope
This chapter provides a relatively detailed description of the bright-field microscope and its use. Other common types of light microscopes are also described. Following this various procedures for the preparation and staining of specimens are introduced. The chapter continues with a description of the two major types of electron microscopes and the procedures associated with their use. It concludes with descriptions of recent advances in microscopy: confocal microscopy and scanning probe microscopy.

Functional Anatomy of Microorganisms
This chapter provides a description of the prokaryotic cell, focusing primarily on the bacterial cell. Archaea are discussed in more detail in chapter 20. Throughout this chapter, the term prokaryote is used to mean both bacteria and archaea. The discussion begins with the general features of size, shape, and arrangement of prokaryotic cells. Then the general features of biological membranes and the specific features of prokaryotic membranes are given. Important internal structures of prokaryotes, such as the cytoplasmic matrix, ribosomes, inclusion bodies, and the nucleoid are described, as well as structures external to the cell, such as the cell wall, glycocalyx, fimbriae, and flagella. The differences between the cell walls of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria are discussed and the mechanism of this differential staining reaction is explained. The chapter concludes with a discussion of bacterial chemotaxis and bacterial endospores.

Microbial Metabolism
This chapter describes the basic nutritional requirements of microorganisms. Cells must have a supply of raw materials and energy in order to construct new cellular components. This chapter also describes the processes by which microorganisms acquire nutrients and provides information about the cultivation of microorganisms.

Microbial Growth
This chapter describes the basic nature of microbial growth. Several methods for the measurement of microbial growth are described, as are different systems for studying microbial growth. The influence of various environmental factors on the growth of microorganisms is discussed and the chapter ends with a consideration of microbial growth in natural environments.

Control of Microbial Growth
This chapter focuses on the control and the destruction of microorganisms by physical and chemical agents. This is a topic of great importance, because microorganisms may have deleterious effects, such as food spoilage and disease. It is therefore essential to be able to kill or remove microorganisms from certain environments in order to minimize their harmful effects.

Microbial Genetics
This chapter presents the basic concepts of molecular genetics: storage and organization of genetic information in the DNA molecule, mutagenesis, and repair. The role of microorganisms in screening procedures for mutagenic agents is also described. Primary emphasis is given to the genetics of bacteria.

Biotech and Recombinant DNA Technology
This chapter focuses on practical applications of the microbial genetic principles discussed in previous chapters. Although we have been altering the genetic makeup of organisms for centuries and nature has been doing it even longer, only recently have we been able to manipulate DNA directly using genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology. The potential benefits of these techniques are great and affect such diverse areas as medicine, agriculture, and industry. However, the use of these techniques is not without risks, and these risks must be considered in any discussion of this technology.

Microbial classification and Taxonomy
Microorganisms are tremendously diverse in size, shape, physiology, and lifestyle. This chapter introduces the general principles of microbial taxonomy and presents an overview of the current classification scheme. Subsequent chapters will examine the various groups of microorganisms in greater detail.

Prokaryotes: Bacteria
This chapter is devoted to some of the more interesting and important bacterial phyla from volumes 1 and 5 of the 2nd edition of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. The distinguishing characteristics, morphology, reproduction, physiology, and ecology of each phylum are included. The taxonomy of each phylum is summarized and representative species are discussed.

Eukaryotes: Fungi, Protozoan and Worms.
This chapter discusses the characteristics of the members of the Fungi, Protozoan and Parasitic Worms. The diversity of these organisms is described, and their ecological and economic impact is discussed.

Viruses, Viriods and Prions
Viruses are generally small, acellular entities that usually possess only a single type of nucleic acid and that must use the metabolic machinery of a living host in order to reproduce. Viruses have been and continue to be of tremendous importance for a variety of reasons: many human diseases have a viral etiology; the study of viruses has contributed greatly to our knowledge of molecular biology; and the blossoming field of genetic engineering is based on discoveries in the field of virology. This chapter focuses on the general properties of viruses, viriods and infections proteins i.e. Prions and the development of the science of virology, and the methodology used to study them.

Disease Principles and Epidemiology
This chapter discusses the different stages and manifestation of disease process and also the epidemiological parameters used to institute effective control, prevention, and eradication measures within an affected or potentially affected population. This chapter also discusses the epidemiology of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, which have been of increasing concern in recent years.

Mechanisms of Pathogenicity
This chapter focuses on parasitism and pathogenicity. The development of a disease state is a dynamic process that is dependent on the virulence of the pathogen and the resistance of the host. This dynamic process is illustrated in the discussions of viral and bacterial pathogenesis.

Host Defense Mechanism and Immunology
This chapter focuses on nonspecific and specific immunity, a complex process involving mechanical, chemical barriers, inflammation, pathogocytosis etc and  interactions of the antigens of a pathogen with antigen-receptors and antibodies of a host. These interactions trigger a series of events that either destroy the pathogen or render it harmless. Most of the chapter is devoted to discussions of the functional cells and molecules of specific immunity. During the discussion, the various connections between these cells and molecules are drawn and linked to other types of immune responses. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the ways these responses protect higher animals against viral and bacterial pathogens.

Antimicrobial Drugs
The control or the destruction of microorganisms that reside within the bodies of humans and other animals is of tremendous importance. This chapter introduces the principles of chemotherapy and discusses the ideal characteristics for successful chemotherapeutic agents (including the concept of selectively damaging the target microorganism while minimizing damage to the host). The chapter also presents characteristics of some commonly used antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral drugs.

Diseases of the Skin, Eye, Nervous, Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
This video covers the infectious diseases that affect the skin, nervous, cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. The characteristic and behavior of the disease and microorganisms are discussed.

Diseases of the Respiratory, Digestive and Reproductive Systems
This video covers the infectious diseases that affect the Respiratory, Digestive and Reproductive Systems. The characteristic and behavior of the disease and microorganisms are discussed.

Applied and Industrial Microbiology
This chapter discusses the microorganisms associated with foods. Some of these microorganisms are associated with food spoilage, some are disease-causing organisms that are transmitted via foods, and some are used in the production of foods.

Environmental Microbiology
This chapter introduces the fact since microbes are found in all habitat, they are responsible for recycling elements such as Carbon, Sulfur and Nitrogen and also decomposition of organic matter.