The modern transliteration of Pharmakeia is Pharmacia. Eukaryotic microorganisms exhibit cell organelles and include fungi and protists, whereas prokaryotic organisms—which all are microorganisms—are conventionally classified as lacking organelles and include eubacteria and archaebacteria. Microbiologists traditionally relied on culture, staining, and microscopy. Apparently, however, only some 1% of the microorganisms present in some environments are culturable. Microbiologists often rely on extraction or detection of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA sequences. Viruses are not always classified as organisms, as they have been identified either as very simple microorganisms or very complex molecules. Prions, never considered microorganisms, have been investigated by virologists, however, as the clinical effects traced to them were originally presumed due to chronic viral infections, and virologists took search—discovering infectious proteins. This book offers a comprehensive description of the applications of various fields in this subject. The book will be appropriate as a guide for students.
