Course Description
A survey of the biology of microorganisms with an emphasis on bacteria. Topics include prokaryotic diversity, bacterial cell structure and metabolism, microbial growth and reproduction, microbial genetics and ecology, introductory virology and immunology, epidemiology and public health, and selected topics in applied microbiology. Laboratory activities introduce a wide variety of techniques in microbiology and immunology.
Course Content
- Introduction
- Introduction to microorganisms
- Historical overview of microbiology
- Introduction to microscopy
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
- Introduction to bacteria
- Cellular Biochemistry
- Chemical components of cells
- Bacterial cell structure
- Prokaryotic Diversity
- Principles of classification
- Phylogeny of bacteria
- Bacterial Metabolism
- Principles of nutrition
- Major catabolic pathways
- Regulation of metabolism
- Microbial Growth and Reproduction
- Bacterial cell division
- Growth of bacterial populations
- Control of bacterial growth
- Microbial Genetics
- Bacterial genomes
- Gene expression and regulation
- Transformation and recombination
- Drug resistance
- Introduction to Virology
- Taxonomy of viruses
- Viral replication
- Bacteriophage versus animal virus replication
- Viruses and cancer
- Viroids and prions
- Immunology
- Innate and acquired immunity
- Humoral and cell-mediated responses
- Immunization
- Microbial Ecology
- Populations and communities
- Microbial habitats
- Symbiosis
- Epidemiology and Public Health
- Transmission and infection
- Disease by transmission mechanisms
- Disease management
- Topics in Applied Microbiology
- Examples: food microbiology, industrial microbiology, forensic microbiology, environmental bioremediation, genetic engineering
- Laboratory Topics
- Basic Techniques in Microbiology
- Laboratory operations and safety
- Laboratory reporting techniques
- Microscopy
- Bacteria: Transfer, culture and isolation techniques
- Aseptic techniques
- Inoculation of media and plates
- Tube transfers
- Streak plate and spread plate techniques
- Colony and Cellular Morphology
- Agar plate colonial characteristic and agar slant growth
- Individual cell characteristics (coccus, bacillus and spirillum microscopic recognition)
- Differential Staining
- Negative staining
- Gram staining
- Endospore staining
- Bacterial Growth
- Serial dilution
- Growth rate determination (direct/plate counts)
- MPN (most probable number) analysis
- Antibody-Antigen reactions
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)
- Control of Microbial Growth
- Disc diffusion assays
- Antiseptics, disinfectants, and antibiotics
- Probiotics
- Practical Case Study
- Characterization and possible identification of a microorganism using the techniques learned throughout the laboratories, as well as the information given in the theory lectures
- Identification of typical species present in various samples (e.g., water, food, etc.)
- Other laboratory topics may also include:
- Bacterial transformation
- Bacteriophages
- Macrophages and phagocytosis
Learning Activities
Methods of instruction for this course include some or all of the following: lectures, laboratory work, and readings in the textbook and scientific journal articles.
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
|
Class tests and assignments
|
15-20% |
| Project |
0-20% |
| Laboratory |
20-30% |
| Exams |
|
| -Term exam(s) |
15-30% |
| -Final exam |
30-35% |
| Total |
100% |
Note: A student who achieves less than 50% in either the lecture or laboratory portion of the course will earn a maximum P grade.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:
- Summarize the range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that are considered to be microorganisms and discuss the historical context of microbiological science.
- Identify the chemical components and cellular structure of bacterial cells.
- Examine the principles of classification as they are applied to prokaryotic organisms and be able to describe the classification of bacteria in the context of phylogeny.
- Describe the principles of bacterial nutrition and be able to compare the roles of catabolic and anabolic pathways in bacterial metabolism as well as mechanisms of regulation of metabolism.
- Illustrate the process of bacterial cell division and relate it to the growth of bacterial populations and the control of bacterial growth.
- Explain the structure and function of bacterial genomes including mechanisms of gene expression and regulation.
- Compare and contrast mechanisms of genetic recombination in bacteria (e.g. transformation, transduction, conjugation, etc.) and the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations.
- Summarize the taxonomy of viruses, virus replication, the role of viruses in cancer, and the nature and importance of virus-like organisms like viroids and prions.
- Differentiate between innate and acquired immunity to disease in humans and how they are affected by humoral and cell-mediated responses.
- Describe the concept of immunization.
- Categorize the range of habitats in which bacteria are found, the dynamics of bacterial populations, the role of bacteria in biological communities, and the range of symbiotic relationships involving bacteria (e.g. mutualism, parasitism, etc.).
- Assess the modes of transmission and mechanisms of infection by human bacterial diseases and strategies for management of transmission and infection in the context of public health.
- Analyze the importance and use of microorganisms in production of human food and/or human industrial activity and/or forensic investigations and/or bioremediation of contaminated industrial sites and/or other human applications.
- Compose a group project (presentations and/or poster) on a specific topic in microbiology and evaluate other projects.
- Demonstrate a wide variety of microbiological laboratory techniques including transfer, culture and isolation techniques, characterization of colony and cell morphology, differential staining, determination of bacterial growth rates, and methods associated with bacterial transformation, bacteriophages, macrophages & phagocytosis, antibody-antigen reactions, and identification of unknown microorganisms.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
M.T. Madigan & J.M. Martinko (current edition) Brock Biology of Microorganisms or a comparable current microbiology textbook.