Microbial Biology

Found in all Earth’s biological habitats, microbes can survive in areas of moderate to extreme temperature, pH level, salinity, pressure, and sunlight.  

Microbes play essential roles in maintaining a healthy ecology by supplying nutrients and chemicals to other organisms, such as animals and plants. They also aid in recycling biological matter via the global cycles for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and other essential elements. 

Microbial Biology Research 

The study of the microorganisms impacts numerous areas of man’s activities regarding human health and economic well-being.   

These include microbial symbiosis and pathogenesis, immunology and virology along with the many industrial applications for food, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, bioenergy, and waste treatment.   

Microbial biology research encompasses a broad range of experimental techniques including genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, genomics and computational biology. These basic and applied activities extend our understanding of microorganisms and the roles they play in nature and in the above activities.  

The MIMG Microbial Biology Group 

Members of the MIMG Microbial Biology group participate in graduate training programs on the UCLA campus, including the Immunity, Microbes & Molecular Pathogenesis Home Area, the Genetics & Genomics GPB Home Area, and the Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology Home Area.