Microbiology (from Greek μῑκρος, mīkros, "small"; βίος, bios, "life"; and -λογία, -logia) is the study of microorganisms, which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms. This includes eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied.^[2] In short; microbiology refers to the study of life and organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microbiology typically includes the study of the immune system, or Immunology. Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic microbes; these two disciplines often intersect which is why many colleges offer a paired degree such as "Microbiology and Immunology".

Microbiology is a broad term which includes virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology and other branches. A microbiologist is a specialist in microbiology.

Microbiology is researched actively, and the field is advancing continually. We have probably only studied about one percent of all of the microbe species on Earth. Although microbes were directly observed over three hundred years ago, the field of microbiology can be said to be in its infancy relative to older biological disciplines such as zoology and botany.

Bacteria, and other microorganisms, were first observed by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1676 using a single-lens microscope of his own design. In doing so Leeuwenhoek made one of the most important discoveries in biology and initiated the scientific fields of bacteriology and microbiology. The name "bacterium" was introduced much later, by Ehrenberg in 1828, derived from the Greekβακτηριον meaning "small stick". While Van Leeuwenhoek is often cited as the first microbiologist, the first recorded microbiological observation, that of the fruiting bodies of molds, was made earlier in 1665 by Robert Hooke

The field of microbiology can be generally divided into several subdisciplines:

• Microbial physiology : The study of how the microbial cell functions biochemically. Includes the study of microbial growth, microbial metabolism and microbial cell structure.
• Microbial genetics : The study of how genes are organised and regulated in microbes in relation to their cellular functions. Closely related to the field of molecular biology.
• Cellular microbiology : A discipline bridging microbiology and cell biology.
• Medical microbiology : The study of the pathogenic microbes and the role of microbes in human illness. Includes the study of microbial pathogenesis and epidemiology and is related to the study of disease pathology and immunology.
• Veterinary microbiology : The study of the role in microbes in veterinary medicine or animal taxonomy.
• Environmental microbiology : The study of the function and diversity of microbes in their natural environments. Includes the study of microbial ecology, microbially-mediated nutrient cycling, geomicrobiology, microbial diversity and bioremediation. Characterisation of key bacterial habitats such as the rhizosphere and phyllosphere, soil and groundwater ecosystems, open oceans or extreme environments ( extremophiles).
• Evolutionary microbiology : The study of the evolution of microbes. Includes the study of bacterial systematics and taxonomy.
• Industrial microbiology : The exploitation of microbes for use in industrial processes. Examples include industrial fermentation and wastewater treatment. Closely linked to the biotechnology industry. This field also includes brewing, an important application of microbiology.
• Aeromicrobiology : The study of airborne microorganisms.
• Food microbiology : The study of microorganisms causing food spoilage and foodborne illness. Using microorganisms to produce foods, for example by fermentation.
• Pharmaceutical microbiology : the study of microorganisms causing pharmaceutical contamination and spoilage.
• Oral microbiology : the study of microorganisms of the mouth in particular those causing caries and periodontal disease

At Melaka Biotechnology Corporation (MBC) , research focus is more on plants and agriculture. In line with that, in order to conduct microbiological field related studies, MBC took an initiative to set up a microbiology laboratory as a place to conduct antimicrobial assay on local medicinal plants. This laboratory is called Medicinal Plant Bioassay Laboratory. Until 2006, as many as 55 medicinal plants have been screened for their antimicrobial properties. The Medicinal Plant Bioassay Laboratory which is actually a microbiology laboratory has sufficient facilities for conducting many other microbiological studies and testing in the fields like Environmental Microbiology and Food Microbiology . Starting from 2007, as more and more requests received from local entrepreneurs for microbiological testing services as part of internal quality control check for their products, the function of this laboratory had been diversified and the laboratory was then known as Microbiology Laboratory. From a place that was merely for conducting antimicrobial assay, the microbiology laboratory now also receives samples of products such as food, beverages and traditional medicines.

Normally these samples are sent to the microbiology laboratory for tests like total viable count, yeast and mould count and detection of pathogens. Once the tests are completed a certificate of analysis will be issued to the clients.

Microbiology tests are important as they will tell if a product is safe for consumption. Only products with microbial count below the permitted level and free from pathogens will be released for distribution. Besides that, microbiological tests are also conducted as they help to determine shelf-life of a product.