Microbiologyis the scientific study of these microorganisms.
Microorganisms are those organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye and include things like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. CULTURING
Culturingis the term used to describe growing microbes, usually
combined with tests to see what the microbes like to eat or what conditions they can live in. If you've ever seen a petri dish, you've seen a common place where microbes are cultivated. Most of the microbes, or bacteria, in your body are meant to be there and are calledresident bacteria. These bacteria that are well-established residents of your body, especially the skin and gut. They are your first line of defense against potentially dangeroustransient bacteria, meaning temporary bacteria that you might pick up from touching a door handle or being near someone who sneezes. The resident bacteria can usually out- compete the transient bacteria, preventing them from settling in and causing an infection. So, how else do microbes help us? The next time you enjoy cheese, sausage, and beer at a party, be aware that many of the foods and drinks we enjoy are not possible without microbes. Dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, have been made for centuries with microbes to lengthen the lifetime of milk. The process offermentationis carried out by microbes and gives these items their characteristic taste, odor, and texture. Beer and wine also use microbes (in this case, yeasts) to produce the alcohol in those beverages. PATHOGENS
Pathogensare the invading microbes in our bodies that make us
sick. It is usually our immune system's reaction to the foreign microbial invaders that give us the crummy symptoms, like a fever or stomachache