mikroobide

Mikroobid are microscopic organisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and some viruses. They inhabit nearly every environment, from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and soil to freshwater, oceans, air, and the bodies of other organisms. Most are unicellular; some form simple communities. They range in size from roughly 0.2 to tens of micrometers.

In terms of classification, mikroobid include two prokaryotic domains—bacteria and archaea—and several eukaryotic groups, such as fungi and protists; viruses are often treated as acellular microbes. They vary widely in metabolism, genetics, and cellular organization.

Mikroobid play essential ecological roles. They are primary producers in some ecosystems, decomposers in others, and drivers of nutrient cycles through processes such as photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and methanogenesis. They can form biofilms, participate in symbiotic relationships with plants and animals, and colonize extreme environments.

In humans, mikroobid influence health and industry. The human microbiome, including gut and skin microbes, affects digestion, immunity, and metabolism. Many microbes are beneficial, while pathogens cause disease. Industrially, microbes enable fermentation, bioremediation, enzyme production, and pharmaceutical development.

Study and discovery: researchers use microscopy, culturing, and molecular methods such as sequencing of rRNA genes and metagenomics. Many mikroobid resist culturing, so culture-independent techniques are crucial. The field has roots in the 17th century with van Leeuwenhoek’s observations and advanced with Pasteur's and Koch's work on germ theory and Koch’s postulates.

Safety: biotechnology and biosafety considerations are central, given issues such as antibiotic resistance and potential environmental impacts.