General Microbiology

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
BIOL 2400
Discontinued
No
Course Code
BIOL 2400
Descriptive
General Microbiology
Department
Biology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
5.00
Start Date
End Term
202130
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
28
Contact Hours
4 hours lecture / 3 hours laboratory
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning Activities

This course involves four hours of lecture per week and three hours of laboratory work.  The content of lectures is integrated with laboratory experiments, and readings in the textbook and scientific journal articles.

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
  1. Introduction
    • Introduction to microorganisms
    • Historical overview of microbiology
    • Introduction to microscopy
    • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
    • Introduction to bacteria
  2. Cellular Biochemistry
    • Chemical components of cells
    • Bacterial cell structure
  3. Prokaryotic Diversity
    • Principles of classification
    • Phylogeny of bacteria
  4. Bacterial Metabolism
    • Principles of nutrition
    • Major catabolic pathways
    • Regulation of metabolism
  5. Microbial Growth and Reproduction
    • Bacterial cell division
    • Growth of bacterial populations
    • Control of bacterial growth
  6. Microbial Genetics
    • Bacterial genomes
    • Gene expression and regulation
    • Transformation and recombination
    • Drug resistance
  7. Introduction to Virology
    • Taxonomy of viruses
    • Viral replication
    • Bacteriophage versus animal virus replication
    • Viruses and cancer
    • Viroids and prions
  8. Immunology
    • Innate and acquired immunity
    • Humoral and cell-mediated responses
    • Immunization
  9. Microbial Ecology
    • Populations and communities
    • Microbial habitats
    • Symbiosis
  10. Epidemiology and Public Health
    • Transmission and infection
    • Disease by transmission mechanisms
    • Disease management
  11. Topics in Applied Microbiology
    • Examples: food microbiology, industrial microbiology, forensic microbiology, environmental bioremediation, genetic engineering
  12. 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 Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will

  1. Summarize the range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that are considered to be microorganisms and discuss the historical context of microbiological science.
  2. Identify the chemical components and cellular structure of bacterial cells.
  3. 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.
  4. Indicate 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.
  5. Illustrate the process of bacterial cell division and relate it to the growth of bacterial populations and the control of bacterial growth.
  6. Explain the structure and function of bacterial genomes including mechanisms of gene expression and regulation.
  7. Compare and contrast mechanisms of genetic recombination in bacteria (e.g. transformation, transduction, conjugation, etc.) and the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations.
  8. 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.
  9. Differentiate between innate and acquired immunity to disease in humans and how they are affected by humoral and cell-mediated responses.
  10. Describe the concept of immunization.
  11. 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.).
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Compose a group project (presentations and/or poster) on a specific topic in Microbiology and evaluate other projects.
  15. 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.
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 based on the following:

Class tests and assignments

 15-20%
Project 0-15%
Laboratory 20-30%
Exams  
-Term exam(s) 15-30%
-Final exam 30-35%
Total 100%

 

 

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.

Prerequisites

(BIOL 1110 and 1210) or BIOL 1310

and CHEM 1110

BIOL 2321 recommended

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