The Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center was established in March 2000 through the merger of the former Department of Medical Microbiology and the Department of Medical Parasitology at the School of Basic Medical Sciences. The origins of its constituent units trace back to two historically significant institutions: the Department of Bacteriology at Peking University Medical College, founded in 1942 under the leadership of Professor Lin Zongyang as its first director, and the Department of Medical Parasitology, established in 1946 by Professor Feng Lanzhou.

As a cornerstone discipline within basic medical sciences, Microbiology plays a pivotal role in advancing both medical knowledge and emerging biotechnological industries. Since its inception, the department has focused on teaching and research encompassing medical microbiology and parasitology. Its interdisciplinary approach integrates theoretical studies with practical applications, addressing critical challenges in disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. This dual focus not only preserves the academic legacy of its predecessors but also positions the department at the forefront of innovation in global health and biomedical research.

Right now, the department has 25 staffs and 13 PIs. Over the past decade, staffs at the Department have published over 300 SCI papers, including >80 high-impact articles in premier journals such as Nature, Nature Microbiology, Molecular Cell, Nature Communications, Gastroenterology, Gut, Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology, Genome Biology, and Cell Reports. This scholarly output, characterized by both quantitative volume and qualitative rigor, has consistently ranked among the top contributors in the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University.