Take interest, I implore you, in those sacred dwellings which one designates by the expressive term: laboratories. Demand that they be multiplied, that they be adorned. These are the temples of the future-temples of well-being and of happiness. There it is that humanity grows greater, stronger, better.
- Louis Pasteur

One of the favorite places on earth for many of us is the beach. When you go down the seashore on some quite beach and admire the beauty of nature, what do you see? The blue sky and of course, the sea, sand, pebbles and rocks. Perhaps a few clam shells and little crabs. Not a sign of life? If you look closer at a little slime from the rocks, a seaweed, a little wet sand or perhaps a small jar of water from the sea, you may see nothing extra-ordinary. With your naked eyes you may see nothing alive. Under the microscope you will be astonished with what you will see. There are sensitive minute living organisms swimming or creeping in all of them. A mere droplet of water from the sea contains hundreds or even thousands of the smallest known types of animal life. There you will find other creatures clinging to the seaweed. From the slime in the rocks you will discover some of the simplest plants, and beautiful at that. The seaweed itself is just as fascinating and marvelous. These very minute organisms are called microbes.

Definition

The science which deals with the study of microbes – living minute-sized organisms is referred to as Microbiology. It is the branch of biology dealing with microbes, usually structured as one cell and studied with the use of the microscope. Within the province of microbiology lies the study of certain kinds of microbes classified as bacteria (bacteriology), viruses (virology), fungi (mycology), and protozoa (protozoology). The different shapes and appearances of these microorganisms can be best viewed with the aid of the microscope. Microbiology considers the occurrence in nature of the microscopic forms of life, their reproduction and physiology, their participation in the processes of nature, their helpful or harmful relationships with other living things, and their significance in science and industry.

Although human beings have lived with microorganisms from time immemorial and have used certain of their activities, such as fermentation, to advantage, the science of microbiology is a product of only the last hundred years or so. With the use of the microscope, the studies of Anton van Leeuwenhoek in the seventeenth century had shown the existence of microscopic forms of life, but it was not until the work of Louis Pasteur toward the end of the nineteenth century (some 200 years later) that the science of microbiology really took shape. The new science stated the germ theory of disease, demonstrated patterns of communicable disease, and gave human beings a measure of protection they had not known in their struggle against the injurious forces in the biologic environment. In its time this very young science influenced practically every type of human endeavor. Studies were conducted with the help of the microscope to observe and examine the processes involved in the so called germ theory of disease.

For scientific knowledge to bring results, such as in the organization of public health programs, it must be disseminated. Such is the purpose of health education. To the individual it explains the mechanisms by which he can protect himself against microbial hazards. To the social group it designates the available community resources.