Overview

This section contains an index of microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc) that are considered in Dr. Weyrich's notebook of functional diagnostic medicine. It represents a snapshot of Dr. Weyrich's ongoing studies in naturopathic and functional diagnostic medicine that may be of interest to patients and other medical professionals.

The monographs linked below should not be taken as complete representations of either allopathic or naturopathic medical art and science - they are instead a collection of bits and pieces that Dr. Weyrich is trying to weave into a more coherent whole than current practice.

Content is derived in part from lecture notes that Dr. Weyrich prepared when he was teaching microbiology at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, at Grand Canyon University, at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Williams), as well as from ongoing continuing medical education and study of peer-reviewed literature.

In addition, some content originated in coursework that Dr. Weyrich took at Union College of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee.

Taxonomy

Microbiology is a large field, but can be organized by organizing the various microbes into a hierarchial taxonomy. Different publications report somewhat variable naming schemes. The scheme used by Dr. Weyrich below represents a simplified consensus, and is organized below from the most general (Realms such as Animalia and Plantae) to the most specific (Species such as Escherichia coli).

Species names appear as "Latin binomials," as popularized by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s. Viral species names have recently been restyled to follow this convention, but historically have be styled as a single (possibly hyphenated) word. In such cases, when available, this web site will report the modern binomial species names, along with historical non-binomial synonyms.

The taxonomy is constantly being modified as additional information is gained about the genetic and metabolic differences and similarities between the species. While Dr. Weyrich tries to use the most up-to-date names, older names may still be in widespread or historical use and need to be acknowleged as well.

Rank "Division"

Historically, the rank of "Phylum" has been applied in non-botanical contexts, while in botanical contexts the equivalent rank of "Division" has been applied. This web site recognizes the modern convention of treating the rank of "Phylum" as the cannonical rank between "Kingdom" and "Class", but when reference materials refer to the rank of "Division", this web site uses "Division" for display purposes, but treats such nodes internally as "Phylum" for hierarchical taxonomic purposes.

"Rank Innovations Presented by Dr. Weyrich"

In order to address various controversies, Dr. Weyrich has introduced the following additional taxonimic ranks at the root of the taxonomy (above Kingdom): (follow the links for further discussion):

Clades

Whereas conventional taxonomic structures implements a non-branching digraph of distinct named ranks (as illustrated below with a rank structure rooted in the rank of Transcendent and originating in a rank of Subspecies), an alternative structure based on rankless named "Clades" is superimposed upon, and interacts with the conventional taxonomic ranks. At the present time, this web site does not implement support for clades.

Taxonomy Rank Details