Mikroorganismides

Mikroorganismides are microscopic living organisms that, in common usage, encompass the broad group of life forms too small to be seen with the unaided eye. The term is used in some languages and contexts as an umbrella for microorganisms, but it is not a formal taxonomic rank. Members may include bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protozoa, and some microscopic multicellular forms, depending on the definition. In many discussions, viruses are included with microorganisms, though they are acellular particles that replicate only inside host cells.

Most mikroorganismides range from about 0.2 to several hundred micrometers in size; bacteria and archaea are typically a few nanometers to several micrometers, yeasts are around 3–40 micrometers, and algae and protozoa can be larger. Reproduction is usually asexual through division or budding, though sexual processes occur in some fungi and protozoa. They inhabit nearly every environment, including soil, fresh and salt water, air, extreme habitats, and the bodies of other organisms.

Ecological roles include primary production by photosynthetic microorganisms, decomposition and nutrient cycling, and symbiotic relationships with plants and animals. Some mikroorganismides are pathogenic to humans, animals, or plants, while others are beneficial or neutral. They are also central to biotechnology, fermentation, biopharmaceutical production, and bioremediation. In humans, the microbiome comprises mikroorganismides that influence digestion, immunity, and metabolism.

Study and classification in microbiology rely on microscopy, culture, and molecular methods. Culture-dependent approaches reveal living, cultivable organisms, while culture-independent methods, especially DNA sequencing (such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacteria and archaea), uncover broader diversity. The term mikroorganismides emphasizes microscopic life and remains a broad, non-precise descriptor within scientific literature. Related topics include microbiology, bacteriology, mycology, phycology, and virology.