'This treatise is an introductory book for fresh students entering into the field of microbiology. The fundamental techniques, which are basic to all laboratories involved in microbiological and associated works, have been described with illustrations. Moreover, concise information about different microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, microscopic fungi and microscopic algae has been given so as to acquaint the students with these microbes before starting any experiment on them. A total of 55 experiments have been described in a step-wise manner along with illustrative flow diagrams for all the experiments. All attempts have been made to make the manual user-friendly by making each experiment a separate and independent one, so that it can be conducted without borrowing steps from any other experiment. A total of 128 illustrations and 27 illustrated reactions have made Read more Table of Contents Acknowledgement vii Foreword ix Preface xi List of Figures xvii List of Tables xxi 1. Introduction 1 2. Bacteria 3 3. Microbiology Laboratory 35 4. Microscopes 64 5. Microscopic Techniques 79 6. Cultivation of Bacteria 110 7. Biochemical Tests of Bacteria 131 8. Cultivation of Viruses 193 9. Identification of Protozoa 206 10. Identification of Microscopic Fungi 211 11. Identification of Microscopic Algae 218 Appendix I: Composition of Media Used in Microbiology 245 Appendix II: Composition of Stains and Reagents Used in Microbiology 249 Appendix III: Systematic Position of Important Bacteria (Upto Genus Level) as per Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology 253 Bibliography 261 Glossary 263 Index 285