Microbiology is the scientific discipline that focuses on the study of microorganisms, which are organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa, each of which plays a unique role in ecosystems and human life. Despite their small size, microorganisms have an immense impact on health, the environment, and industrial processes. Microbiology encompasses various subfields, including microbiological genetics, which studies the heredity of microorganisms, and microbial physiology, which focuses on how microbes grow and interact with their environments. The discipline has direct applications in medicine, where microbiologists work to identify pathogens, develop vaccines, and combat antibiotic resistance. It also plays a key role in biotechnology, food science, agriculture, and environmental science, with microorganisms being used in the production of antibiotics, biofuels, and in waste management. In essence, microbiology is foundational to understanding life on Earth and addressing global challenges.

Microbiology is the scientific discipline that focuses on the study of microorganisms, which are organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye. These microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa, each of which plays a unique role in ecosystems and human life. Despite their small size, microorganisms have an immense impact on health, the environment, and industrial processes. Microbiology encompasses various subfields, including microbiological genetics, which studies the heredity of microorganisms, and microbial physiology, which focuses on how microbes grow and interact with their environments. The discipline has direct applications in medicine, where microbiologists work to identify pathogens, develop vaccines, and combat antibiotic resistance. It also plays a key role in biotechnology, food science, agriculture, and environmental science, with microorganisms being used in the production of antibiotics, biofuels, and in waste management. In essence, microbiology is foundational to understanding life on Earth and addressing global challenges.

Kamalesh Kumar Meena is presently working as an Assistant Professor & In-charge Head in the Department of Dairy and Food Microbiology, College of Dairy and Food Technology, MPUAT, Udaipur, India. He has obtained his B.Tech. degree in Dairy Technology from CDFT, Udaipur (Raj.), M. Tech. degree in Dairy Microbiology from the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana), and Ph.D. from the National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship Management, Kundli (Haryana). Dr. Meena has 11 years’ experience and fulfilled the mandate of teaching, research and extension. He is actively working in the area of probiotics, lactic acid bacteria, new product development, fermented foods and food safety. He has authored more than 40 papers in reputed journals, published 6 books, 22 practical manuals, and 11 book chapters/technical/popular articles. He was awarded best teacher award by MPUAT, Udaipur and ATDS, Ghaziabad. He served as a Senior Executive in the Quality Assurance Department of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Well-known as “AMUL”), Anand (Gujarat) for five years. He has an Internal Auditor Certificate from Den Net Vertis (DNV), Germany to conduct internal quality audits in the dairy and food industry. He was actively involved in manpower training given to food industry personnel for food safety and management. He has also handled various additional administrative responsibilities (Assistant Dean of Student Welfare, Hostel Warden, Head of Department, Programme Officer (NSS), In-charge Games & Sports, and ICAR, Nodal Officer for college) in addition to his routine duties of teaching and research.

Lokesh Gupta Professor, is presently working as Dean, College of Dairy and Food Technology, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur. Dr. Gupta completed his Masters in 2000 with Gold Medal and doctorate degree in Animal Production in 2003. Dr. Gupta has 20 years experience and fulfilled the mandate of teaching, research and extension. His area of interest is organic poultry farming, feeding of area specific mineral mixture and production and utilization of azolla in the diets of dairy animals and poultry. He is a recipient of 17 awards including Bharatiya Govansha Sambardhan Pratishthan, Award in Animal Energy by Indian Society of Agricultural Engineering (ISAE), New Delhi; Fellow Award by Animal Nutrition Association, IVRI, Izatnagar, Fellow Award (SEE) by Society of Extension Education, Agra.

Best Paper Award by International Congress for Animal Reproduction, Vancouver (Canada); Best Teacher Award by MPUAT, Udaipur and many more by different National level organizations. He has published more than 76 research papers, 16 books, manuals, book chapters, articles and documentaries. He is associated with 24 externally funded projects. Dr. Gupta has organized many programmes for skill and entrepreneurship development in Agriculture including workshops/seminars/summer/ winter schools for the students, rural youths and faculties of State Agricultural Universities and Research Institutes of the country. He has visited Vietnam, Canada, Australia and Philippines for presentation of research papers and as a part of delegation for exploring the opportunities of research and teaching exchange programme.

Dr. Gupta has developed 66 technologies on different innovative/niche areas of Animal Production viz., area specific mineral mixture, draught animal power, camel nutrition, azolla production and utilization, organic poultry farming, herbal feed supplementation, ethno-veterinary remedies etc which are also included in the Package of Practice (PoP) of Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan. He generated Rs. 402.00 lakh as revenue for the university from production and supply of poultry germplasm, mineral mixture, Vermicompost, dairy produce etc. during 2018-2023.

1. Operating and Functional Principles of Basic Microbiology Laboratory Equipment 
2. Washing and cleaning in Microbiology Lab
3. Sterilization and Sanitization in Microbiology Lab
4. Basics of Microscopy 
5. Preparation of Smear and Simple Staining Technique 
6. Measurement of Size of Microorganisms by Micrometry 
7. Exploration of Negative Staining Method 
8. Exposure to Different Differential Staining Methods used for Dairy and Food Microbes
9. Morphological Characterization of Different Type of Microbial Cultures
10. Enumeration of Microbial Cells by Direct Microscopic Count (DMC) Method 
11. Testing of Motility in Bacteria
12. Introduction to Different Types of Culture Media and their Preparation
13. Study of Different Basic Microbial Methods
14. Isolation Techniques for Pure Culture
15. Microbiology of Soil, Water, and Air
16. Enumeration of Microbial Growth
17. Study the Effect of Different Physiological Factors on the Growth of Microbes
18. Study of Growth Characteristics of Fungi