Machine generated contents note: Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Human and Microbial World 1.1 Prologue 1.2 Innovations in microbiology for human welfare 1.3 The microbial world 1.4 Future challenges: Metagenomics Chapter 2. Gene Technology: Application and Techniques 2.1 Prologue 2.2 Introduction to Gene technology 2.3 Nucleic acid hybridization 2.4 DNA sequencing 2.5 Polymerase chain reaction 2.6 Omics technology and Microbes 2.7 Bioinformatics in microbial technology 2.8 Future challenges: The Biochips Chapter 3. Molecular Diagnostic and Medical Microbiology 3.1 Prologue 3.2 Microbial biology 3.3 Infection and immunity 3.4 Bacterial pathogens and associated diseases 3.5 Viral pathogen and associated diseases 3.6 Prions 3.7 Parasitic infections 3.8 Fungal pathogen 3.9 Microbial diagnostics 3.10 Future challenges: Promises of pharmacogenomics and molecular testing Chapter 4. Identification and Classification of Microbes 4.1 Prologue 4.2 Principles of taxonomy 4.3 Using phenotypic characteristics to identify microbes 4.4 Using genotypic character to identify microbes 4.5 Characterizing strain differences 4.6 Classification of microbes on the basis of phenotypic characteristics 4.7 Classification of microbes on the basis of genotypic characteristics 4.8 Future challenges: Aptamers for detection on pathogens Chapter 5. Diversity of Microorganisms 5.1 Prologue 5.2 Physiology diversity of micro organism 5.3 Thriving in terrestrial environment 5.4 Aquatic environment 5.5 Animal as habitat 5.6 Arachea in extreme environment 5.7 Biogeochemical cycling 5.8 Environmental influence and control of microbial growth 5.9 Micro organism and organic pollutants 5.10 Micro organism and metal pollutants 5.11 Environmentally transmitted pathogens 5.12 Microbes as friends of man 5.13 Microbes as disastrous enemy 5.14 Future challenges: Microbes in space Chapter 6. Microbes in Agriculture 6.1 Prologue 6.2 The soil plant micro organism 6.3 Root microbial interaction 6.4 Pathogenic microbes in agriculture 6.5 Microbes as a tool of genetic engineering 6.6 Future challenges: Functional genomic approach for improvement of crops Chapter 7. Microbes as a Tool for Industry and Research 7.1 Prologue 7.2 Historical development 7.3 Clinical diagnostics in a new era 7.4 Industrial microorganisms and product formation 7.5 Major industrial products for health and industry 7.6 Food diagnostics, preservation and food borne microbial diseases 7.7 Future challenges: Next generation diagnostics industry .