Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
BIOL 2401
Discontinued
No
Course code
BIOL 2401
Descriptive
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
Department
Biology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
202220
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
28
Contact hours

Lecture 4 hours Laboratory 2 hours

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

This course involves four hours of lecture per week and two hours of laboratory work.  The content of lectures is integrated with laboratory experiments, and readings in the textbook. Instruction may include group work and online components.

Course description
A survey of the biology of microorganisms with an emphasis on bacteria. Topics include prokaryotic diversity, bacterial cell structure and metabolism, and microbial reproduction. Introductory virology and immunology, epidemiology and public health, and selected topics in medical microbiology. Laboratory activities introduce a wide variety of techniques in microbiology and immunology.
Course content
  1. INTRODUCTION
    • Introduction to microorganisms
    • Historical overview of microbiology
    • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
    • Introduction to bacteria
  2. INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY
    • DNA replication and protein synthesis
    • Bacterial cell structure
  3. BACTERIAL REPRODUCTION AND CLASSIFICATION
    • Chemical and physical requirements for growth
    •  Phases of bacterial growth
    • Gram + and gram – bacteria
  4. CONTROL OF BACTERIAL GROWTH
    • General antiseptics
    • Antimicrobial drugs
    • Drug resistance
  5. INTRODUCTION TO VIROLOGY
    • Introduction to viral structure
    • Viral replication
    • Viruses and disease
  6. IMMUNOLOGY
    • Innate and acquired immunity
    • Humoral and cell-mediated responses
    • Microbial pathogenesis
    • Immunization
  7. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
    • Epidemiology and public health
    • Emergent diseases
    • Transmission of disease
    • Nosocomial infections
    • Specific body system diseases
  8. LABORATORY TOPICS
    • Basic Techniques in Microbiology
      • Laboratory operations and safety
      • Laboratory reporting techniques
      • Microscopy
    • Bacteria: Transfer, culture and isolation techniques
      • Aseptic techniques
      • Preparation 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 stain
      • Endospore staining
    • Bacterial Growth
      • Serial dilution
      • Growth rate determination (direct/plate counts)
    • Bacterial Sensitivity and Resistance
      • Examination of bacterial sensitivity to a variety of antibiotics
      • Plating and isolation of antibiotic resistant bacteria
    • Antibody-Antigen reactions
      • Agglutination reactions
      • ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)
    • Control of Microbial Growth
      • Disc Diffusion Assays
      • Antiseptics, Disinfectants, Anitbiotics
      • Probiotics
    • Practical Case Study
      • Characterization and identification of a microorganism using the techniques learned throughout the laboratories, as well as the information given in the theory lectures.
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that are considered to be microorganisms and explain the historical context of microbiological science.
  2. Explain the components and cellular structure of bacterial cells.
  3. Explain the principles of classification and be able to explain the classification of bacteria.
  4. Explain the process of bacterial cell division and relate it to the growth of bacterial populations and describe the principles involved in the control of bacterial growth.
  5. Describe the structure of viruses, viral replication and explain the role of viruses in disease.
  6. Explain the difference between innate and acquired immunity to disease in humans and how they are affected by humoral and cell-mediated responses.
  7. Describe the mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis.
  8. Explain 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.
  9. Explain the basis of the development of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.
  10. Demonstrate familiarity and competency with a wide variety of microbiological laboratory techniques including transfer, culture, isolation and identification techniques, growth rates and antibiotic sensitivity.
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be bassed on the following:

Class tests and assignments   20-30%
Laboratory   20-30%
Term exam(s)   15-25%
Final exam   25-35%
Total    100%
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include: 

OpenStax Microbiology (2016), Microbiology or a comparable current microbiology textbook.

Prerequisites
Biology 1103 or 1109, and BIOL 1203 or BIOL 
1209 with C- or better or permission of the 
instructor

(Biology 1103 or 1109) and (BIOL 1203 or BIOL 1209)

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses
Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses