Traditionally medical microbiology has been revolving around bacteria, but with increase in the number of immuno-compromised people in past few years, fungi has emerged as a major challenge. This is particularly due to lack of sufficient number of antifungal drugs available. The problem of drug-resistance in microbial pathogens has further exacerbated the challenge. Finding effective antiviral compounds is no less a challenge.
Besides above-mentioned topics, this paper will take students into the world of human microbiota, and will make them share the excitement generated by the Human Microbiome Project. Further the role of pathogenecity islands and horizontal gene transfer toward virulence of microbial pathogens will also be focused.