BMB507: Fundamental Microbiology (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01009301

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: clarek@bmb.sdu.dk

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

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
Students taking the course are expected to:

• have a basic knowledge of molecular biology concepts and biochemical processes
• be able to apply scientific methodology to conduct experimental studies
• be able to apply simple statistical and mathematical models for description and analysis of data
• be able to use basic laboratory equipment
• have knowledge of laboratory safety

 

Course introduction
The aim of the course is introduce the student to the structure and biology of bacteria including their pathogenic properties. That is important in relation to understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms both inside the organisms and their interaction with the environment.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses FF503 Chemistry, Biology and Molecular Biology - The empirical experimental science, BMB531 Human diseases, BMB532 Fundamental Biochemistry and BMB533 Molecular biology and protein chemistry. The course provides a technical basis for studying the topics in BMB510 Biomedical Microbiology, placed in continuation of this course in the same semester. The course also provides basic knowledge for any graduate study in microbiology.

• In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:Give the competence to describe the structure of bacterial cells at the molecular level. 
• Give the competence to describe the function of antibiotics and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
• Give skills to investigate microbes experimentally and how to work with sterile procedures in microbiology.

Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• describe the structure of bacterial cells at the molecular level. 
• describe the function of antibiotics and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
• use basic techniques for cultivation of microorganisms.
• estimate of bacterial numbers in air and water.
• describe and understand how bacteria can cause disease and how this is prevented by the immune system.
• describe the structure and properties of virus.
• describe how bacterial cells convert substrates into new cell material.
• calculate growth rates, doubling times etc.
• describe bacterial population growth and the environmental factors that influence growth and behavior.

Subject overview


Literature

• Joanne Willey, Linda Sherwood, Christopher J. Woolverton: Prescott’s Microbiology, 10th.ed. McGraw-Hill.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Reports on lab exercises. Pass/fail, internal censorship by teacher. (01009312).

Assessment and marking:

1. 3 hours written examination. External censorship according to the 7-point grading scale. Exam aids allowed. A closer description of the exam rules will be posted under 'Course Information' on Blackboard. (5 ECTS). (01009302)

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 14 hours
Skills training phase: 26 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 16 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 10 hours

Educational activities

• Reading text to prepare for lectures
• Preparation for tutorials - read text and provide answers for exercises
• Prepare for lab exercise by reading manual, plan details of experiments, and watch videos with demonstration of techniques and apparatus
• write lab report
• prepare for exams by answering exercises

Educational form
The intro phase consists of lectures which provide an introduction to the course. Students are expected to independently read prescribed text (the text book) to achieve the expected competencies and necessary overview. The skills training phase deals with the central parts of the course using theoretical exersises,  puzzle solving etc. The tutorials are based on prior independent work or, if wanted, self-organized group work. The training phase also includes laboratory exercises in which students work in pairs with practical exercises in bacterial growth, bacterial prevalence and antimicrobial resistance. The study phase is partly preparation for the intro lectures, tutorials and laboratory exercises as well as preparation of laboratory reports and exam preparation (repetition).

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.