Microbes: Friends and Foes: Ekwenye, Uchechi N

ABSTRACT

Microbiology is the scientific study of microscopic organisms. A microorganism or microbe is a living organism that is so tiny it can only be seen with the aid ofa microscope. It is so tiny that it cannot be seen with the naked or unaided eye. Man could not see or study these tiny creatures until he learnt to grind pieces of glass into lenses to give him magnification high enough formicrobesto be seen. Although he was probably not the first to see microbes the Dutchman, Antony Van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) was the first to make accurate descriptions and drawings of microorganisms. Microbes are now differentiated into viruses, bacteria, fungi (yeasts and moulds), algae and protozoa. Most microorganisms are beneficial; for example, there are microorganisms in our large intestine that synthesize vitamins and allow them to be absorbed into the blood stream. However, a tiny minority are pathogens (Falkow, 1987). These pathogens, often called germs or bugs are a threat to all life forms e.g. corona virus. The goal of any microorganism is to multiply