Microbiology

What I do

• Study microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists)
• Investigate microbial physiology and genetics
• Research microbial pathogenesis
• Analyze microbial ecology
• Develop antimicrobial strategies
• Apply microbiology to biotechnology

When to use me

• When studying bacterial growth and metabolism
• When investigating microbial diseases
• When analyzing antimicrobial resistance
• When working with microbial cultures
• When studying microbial ecology
• When developing diagnostics or treatments

Key Concepts

Microbial Classification

Bacteria

• Gram-positive: Thick peptidoglycan layer
• Gram-negative: Outer membrane + thin peptidoglycan
• Shapes: Cocci, bacilli, spirilla

Viruses

• DNA viruses vs RNA viruses
• Enveloped vs non-enveloped
• Bacteriophages

Fungi

• Yeasts: Single-celled
• Molds: Multicellular filaments

Microbial Growth

# Example: Bacterial growth curve
def bacterial_growth(N0, mu, t):
    """
    Calculate bacterial population.
    N0: Initial cell count
    mu: Specific growth rate (1/h)
    t: Time (hours)
    """
    return N0 * np.exp(mu * t)

# Growth phases
growth_phases = {
    'lag': 'Adaptation, no division',
    'exponential': 'Active division, max rate',
    'stationary': 'Nutrient limitation, balanced',
    'death': 'Nutrient depletion, cell lysis'
}

Microbial Metabolism

• Aerobic respiration: O₂ as electron acceptor
• Anaerobic respiration: Alternative acceptors
• Fermentation: Substrate-level phosphorylation
• Photosynthesis: Light energy capture
• Chemolithotrophy: Inorganic electron donors

Pathogenesis

• Adhesion and colonization
• Toxin production
• Immune evasion
• Tissue invasion
• biofilm formation