The Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, Calcutta, is a premier center for microbiological research, founded in 1942 by Professor D.M. Bose, the then Director of Bose Institute. The Department grew up through the contributions of several distinguished scientists. The Department trained a good number of personnel who are at present working at different national and international universities, research and development centers. The Department also conducted training course and international symposia. The activities of the Department centre around both basic and applied areas of research which include biotransformation of organic compounds, biological nitrogen fixation, microbe-mineral interaction, industrial microbiology, medical microbiology, molecular microbiology, immunology and signal transduction.