2
A. Lateef et al.
human life (Lateef et al. 2008a, b, 2010a, b, 2012, 2015a, b; Abou-Shanab et al. 2012;
Ganaie et al. 2014; Hoballah et al. 2014; Saber et al. 2014; Adeoye et al. 2015, 2016;
El-Baz et al. 2016; Matter et al. 2016; Ojoawo et al. 2017; Darwesh et al. 2018a;
Adelere and Lateef 2019; Bamigboye et al. 2019; Elegbede and Lateef 2018).
Recently, with the advent of the concept of nanotechnology, microbiologists have
begun to explore the possibilities of microbial nanotechnology applications to maximize the multiple uses of microbes. In addition to the possibility of producing new
by-products, and maximizing the productivity of traditional microbial products, the
application of microbes themselves (fungi, bacteria and microalgae) in the biosynthesis of nanomaterials for various applications has been studied on a large scale
(Lateef and Adeeyo 2015; Lateef et al. 2015c, d, 2016a; Ojo et al. 2016; Oladipo
et al. 2017a, b; Darwesh et al. 2019a, b, 2020a; Matter et al. 2019; Elegbede et al.
2018, 2019, 2020; Elegbede and Lateef 2019a; Kim et al. 2020).
Despite the diversity and multiplicity of the existing and potential fields that
combine microbiology and material nanoscience, there are many obstacles that face
scholars and researchers in this promising field. These obstacles for microbiology
specialists and students are mainly represented in the lack of experience, weak
training and insufficient undergraduate and pre-university curricula in the field of
material nanosciences (Elegbede and Lateef 2019b). Here, in this chapter, from the
point of view of microbiologists, the expected challenges, obstacles and potential
solutions related to the field of microbial nanotechnology are briefly discussed.
2 Microbiology as a Discipline: Basic and Applied
Concepts in Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms (microbes), as any living
organism that is single cell, cell gathering or no cells (non-cellular). This includes
eukaryotes like fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Microbiology typically includes
the study of immune system. Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic
microbes. It is a broad term that includes bacteriology, mycology, virology,
immunology, parasitology and other branches (Fig. 1). A microbiologist is a specialist
in microbiology and its related topics. Microbiological procedures usually must be
aseptic and use a variety of tools like light microscopes with a combination of stains.
The information gained by microbiologists in basic studies can be applied to many
medicinal, agricultural, environmental and commercial endeavours. Microbiology is
the study of microbes, which affect almost every aspect of life on the earth. In addition,
there are huge commercial and medicinal benefits in understanding microbes. The
application of this understanding is known as applied microbiology. There are many
different types of applied microbiology which can be briefly defined as follows:
Medical microbiology is the study of the pathogenic microbes and the role of
microbes in human illness. This includes the study of microbial pathogenesis and
A. Lateef et al.
human life (Lateef et al. 2008a, b, 2010a, b, 2012, 2015a, b; Abou-Shanab et al. 2012;
Ganaie et al. 2014; Hoballah et al. 2014; Saber et al. 2014; Adeoye et al. 2015, 2016;
El-Baz et al. 2016; Matter et al. 2016; Ojoawo et al. 2017; Darwesh et al. 2018a;
Adelere and Lateef 2019; Bamigboye et al. 2019; Elegbede and Lateef 2018).
Recently, with the advent of the concept of nanotechnology, microbiologists have
begun to explore the possibilities of microbial nanotechnology applications to maximize the multiple uses of microbes. In addition to the possibility of producing new
by-products, and maximizing the productivity of traditional microbial products, the
application of microbes themselves (fungi, bacteria and microalgae) in the biosynthesis of nanomaterials for various applications has been studied on a large scale
(Lateef and Adeeyo 2015; Lateef et al. 2015c, d, 2016a; Ojo et al. 2016; Oladipo
et al. 2017a, b; Darwesh et al. 2019a, b, 2020a; Matter et al. 2019; Elegbede et al.
2018, 2019, 2020; Elegbede and Lateef 2019a; Kim et al. 2020).
Despite the diversity and multiplicity of the existing and potential fields that
combine microbiology and material nanoscience, there are many obstacles that face
scholars and researchers in this promising field. These obstacles for microbiology
specialists and students are mainly represented in the lack of experience, weak
training and insufficient undergraduate and pre-university curricula in the field of
material nanosciences (Elegbede and Lateef 2019b). Here, in this chapter, from the
point of view of microbiologists, the expected challenges, obstacles and potential
solutions related to the field of microbial nanotechnology are briefly discussed.
2 Microbiology as a Discipline: Basic and Applied
Concepts in Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms (microbes), as any living
organism that is single cell, cell gathering or no cells (non-cellular). This includes
eukaryotes like fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Microbiology typically includes
the study of immune system. Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic
microbes. It is a broad term that includes bacteriology, mycology, virology,
immunology, parasitology and other branches (Fig. 1). A microbiologist is a specialist
in microbiology and its related topics. Microbiological procedures usually must be
aseptic and use a variety of tools like light microscopes with a combination of stains.
The information gained by microbiologists in basic studies can be applied to many
medicinal, agricultural, environmental and commercial endeavours. Microbiology is
the study of microbes, which affect almost every aspect of life on the earth. In addition,
there are huge commercial and medicinal benefits in understanding microbes. The
application of this understanding is known as applied microbiology. There are many
different types of applied microbiology which can be briefly defined as follows:
Medical microbiology is the study of the pathogenic microbes and the role of
microbes in human illness. This includes the study of microbial pathogenesis and