BMB507: Fundamental Microbiology (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01002801

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
3rd quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: r.p.cox@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students must have passed BB501 Biology - from Molecule to Ecosystem and should be familar with the material in BMB503 Fundamental Biochemistry and BMB504 Fundamental Molecular Biology.

Students who have passed BM115 or BMB525 cannot participate in this course.

Course introduction
To give students basic knowledge about the biology of microorganisms and provide the background for specialised courses in the subject.

Qualifications
Students will gain familiarity with the core areas of microbiology and will be able to
• describe the key features of the cells of Bacteria and Archaea
• describe microbial growth both qualitatively and quantitatively
• describe the central metabolic reactions of bacterial cells
• describe the processes involving exchange of genetic material between bacteria
• discuss critically current ideas of prokaryote phylogeny and evolution
• discuss the ecological roles of Bacteria and Archaea
• describe the structure of bacteriophage and their interactions with bacteria
• correctly employ the key terms used in microbiology

Students will also obtain practical experience in
• investigating microbes using microscopy
• use of sterile procedures in microbiology
• use of basic techniques for cultivation of microorganisms
• isolation and characterisation of pure cultures.

Expected learning outcome
After completing the course, the student will be able to

• describe the structure of cells of Bacteria and Archaea and describe the biological function of the components
• describe a typical microbial growth curve and make calculations based on the simple theory of microbial growth in batch and continuous culture
• describe how microbial growth is influenced by environmental factors including temperature, pH and salt
• describe the main types of energy metabolism in microbes, including phototrophy and chemolithotrophy
• describe the biochemical reactions leading to the incorporation of C and N into new cell material in both autotrophs and heterotrophs
• describe the processes leading to protein secretion and biosynthesis of extracellular structures in bacteria
• describe processes leading to the exchange of genetic material between prokaryotes, covering transformation, transduction and conjugation
• discuss the main events in the evolutionary history of life and describe the properties of the major groups of Bacteria and Archaea
• describe the responses of bacteria to environmental stress, including endospore formation, motility and quorum sensing
• discuss the characteristic properties of viruses and describe the processes involved in viral infection of bacterial cells
• describe the reactions involved in biogeochemical cycling og C, N and S in the environment
• perform the laboratory procedures involved in the enumeration, of microbes and the isolation and characterisation of pure cultures and report the results in a satisfactory manner
• explain the principles of phase-contrast microscopy and use the microscope to observe bacterial cells

Subject overview
1. Bacterial cell structure.
2. Growth and metabolism of bacteria.
3. Genetics and evolution of bacteria.
4. Bacterial cell physiology.
5. Microbial diversity and ecology.
6. Bacteriophage and other viruses.
7. Techniques for laboratory work with microorganisms.


Literature

• M. Schaechter, J.L. Ingraham, F.C .Neidhardt:: Microbe,, ASM Press 2006.
• Øvelsesvejledning.

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
(a) Reports of the laboratory exercises (Pass/fail, examination by instructor only.

(b) 3 hours written examination with all aids allowed except for computers-. External examiner with grades according to the Danish 7-scale.

Reexamination after 4th quarter.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Forelæsninger (24 t) , eksaminatorier (8 t) samt laboratorieøvelser (15 t).
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Remarks
The course in combination with BMB510 Biomedical Microbiology replaces BM115 Microbiology in the earlier degree program. This course is thus not open to students who have obtained credit for BM115.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.