BMB507: Fundamental Microbiology (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01005101

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.

Comment:
Fælles F med BMB528

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students must have passed either BB501 Biology - from Molecule to Ecosystem and BMB501 Biomolecular Chemistry or FF503. They should be familiar with the material in BMB503 Fundamental Biochemistry and BMB504 Fundamental Molecular Biology

This course is thus not open to students who have obtained credit for BM115, BMB525 or BMB528.

 

Course introduction
To give an introduction to the biology of microorganisms and bacterial disease.

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 bacterial cells at the molecular level
• describe bacterial population growth and the environmental factors that influence growth and behavior
• describe how bacterial cells convert substrates into new cell material
• describe how bacterial populations change with time through evolution
• describe how bacteria can cause disease and how this can be prevented
• describe the structure and properties of virus >li>perform basic procedures for work with microorganisms in the laboratory and report the results

Subject overview
1. Cell structure.
2. Microbial growth.
3. Metabolism and biosynthesis.
4. Genetics and evolution.
5.Differentiation and behaviour.
6. Microbial diversity and ecology.
7. Bacterial infection and host responses.
8. Antimicrobial compounds and antibiotic resistance.
9. Bacteriophage and other viruses.
10. Techniques for laboratory work with microorganisms.

Literature

• M. Schaechter, J.L. Ingraham, F.C .Neidhardt: Microbe, ASM Press 2006.
• Øvelsesvejledning til BMB507. .

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
a) Reports on lab exercises, passed/failed, internal censonship by lecturer.
Approved lab exercises are a prerequisite for participating in the written examination.

b) Three hour computer examination with all written aids and calculator. Access to the internet or to digital information on the student’s computer is not allowed. External censorship and grading according to the 7-point grading 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 (12 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.