Instructor: Stjepko Golubic, Tel. 3-2436, golubic@bu.edu, Office hours: by e-mail appointent, TR 1:00-2:30.
Prerequisite: Core biology courses, chemistry, cell biology.
Objectives: The course promotes an understanding of microbial structures, functions and diversity. It reviews the basic biological principles as applied to microorganisms, and emphasizes the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity among them. The course exploits new advances in molecular research in dealing with microbial diversity, ecology and niche differentiation. It stresses microbial roles in biogeochemical cycling of elements in nature, and global importance of microorganisms. It deals with interactions among viruses, bacteria and macroorganisms and promotes a balanced view of beneficial vs. harmful effects of microorgnisms on envrionmental and human health and society. The first part of the course introduces the subject and reviews basic structural and functional properties of microorganisms, microbiological methods of study and viruses. The second part deals with genetic basis, evolutionary history, and phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of microorganisms. The last part deals with the interrelations between microorganisms and humans as their hosts. The information is provided in lectures, supported by combined chapters of the textbook. Laboratory sessions are run independently. They provide hand-on experience in growing, observing and identifying microorganisms.
Evaluation: Best 3 of 4 exams (3+final): 75%; no makeups; Lab: 25% - must be passed to pass the course. The exams are multiple choice.
Textbook: Madigan, M.T. et al. 2009. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 12th edition. Pearson, Benjamin Cummings, Inc., San Francisco CA 94111.
January
14. Introduction to Microbiology
Microbiology as basic and applied science - The importance of the microbial world - Microorganisms as cells and organisms - Microorganisms in their environment - Microbiology in historic perspective - Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cellular organization - Diversity of microorganisms - Microorganisms seen at the level of macromolecules.
1. 20-22 Microbial Cells and their Interaction with the Environment
Microscopy - transmitted light, dark field, phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy. - Differential (Nomarski) interference contrast, atomic force and confocal scanning laser light microscopy - Scanning and transmission electron microscopy – Structure and functions of the plasma membrane - Cell wall: gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria, archaea - Microbial locomotion: Bacteria Flagellar motion and gliding movement - Behavioral responses: taxes - Cellular inclusions - Endospores - Eukaryotic organelles.
2. 27-28 Microbial Nutrition and Energy Generation
Nutrition and culturing - Culture media - Aseptic procedures
- Energy generation and biocatalysis - Enzyme structure and function -
Oxidation-Reduction - NAD as redox carrier - Phosphorylation - Electron
carriers and electron transport systems - Proton motive force: chemiosmosis -
Carbon flow - Energy yielding metabolic systems - Biosynthesis.
February
3. 03-05 Microbial Growth and Control
Cell growth and binary fission - Peptidoglycan biosynthesis in cell division. - Growth of microbial populations - Growth cycle - Growth measurements: direct and indirect - Batch and continuous cultures - Factors influencing microbial growth - Heat: cardinal points, thermophily, psychrophyly - Osmotic effects - Oxygen. - Microbial growth control: heat, radiation and filter sterilization - Disinfectants - Antiseptics - Antibiotics and sulfa drugs - Antibiotic resistance - Fungal and viral control.
4. 10-12 Viruses
Properties and types - The virion - The virus host - Virus replication - DNA and RNA, Double and single stranded, Positive and negative strand viruses - Viral proteins - Viral diversity - Virulent bacteriophages - Lysogenic and temperate bacteriophages - Animal viruses - Plant viruses - Viruses and cancer - Retroviruses - Vectors - Viroids and prions.
-----------------------EXAM-1: February 19, 2009
5. 24-26 Elements of Bacterial Genetics and Engineering
Replication, Transcription, Translaton (Review) - Gene
expression - Mutation and recombination - Types of mutation - Mutagenesis -
Genetic recombination - Genetic techniques in vivo: Transformation -
Transduction - Plasmids - Genetic elements - Conjugation - Complementation -
Transposition. - Genetic techniques in vitro: Restriction enzymes - DNA
sequencing - DNA synthesizing - Molecular cloning - Cloning vectors -
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) - The bacterial chromosome. - Principles of
genetic engineering - Expression of foreign genes - Practical applications.
March
6. 03-05 Microbial evolution, Phylogeny and Classification
Early life on Earth - RNA-life - Primitive metabolism -
Cyanobacteria: Impact of oxygenic photosynthesis - Microbial fossil record -
Origins of eukaryotic cellular organization - Evolutionary chronometer
molecules - Ribosomal RNA sequences and cellular evolution - The tree of life -
Phylogenetic probes - Characteristics of the primary Domains and prokaryotic
Kingdoms - Conventional and molecular taxonomy - Bacterial species concept.
---------- Spring Recess: March, 07-15
7. 17-19 Microbial Ecology and Metabolic Diversity
Microbial communities - Aquatic habitats, BOD - Terrestrial environments - Extreme environments - Deep sea hydrothermal vents and seeps - Biodegradation - Microbial integration with plants and animals. - Global cycling of elements. - Genetic stains, group specific probes, PCR, DGGE, FISH. - Microelectrode measure of microbial activity - Stable isotopes. Phototrophic way of life: Anoxygenic and oxygenic phototrophy - Autotrophic C-fixation - Chemotrophic way of life: organotrophs vs. lithotrophs - H-, S- and Fe2+-oxidation, Nitrification & methane oxidation - Anaerobic way of life: Aerobic vs. anaerobic respiration - S-reduction - Acetogenesis - Methanogenesis - Fermentations - N-fixation.
8. 24-26 Microbial Diversity
Phylogeny of Bacteria: 1 Proteobacteria, 2. Gram-Positives, 3. Cyanobacteria, 4. Chlamydia, 5.
Planctomyces, 6. Verrucomicrobia, 7. Flavobacteria, 8.
Cytophaga, 9. Green Sulfur Bacteria, 10.Spirochetes, 11.
Deinococci, 12. Green Non-Sulfur Bacteria, 13. Thermotoga,
Thermodesulfobacterium, 14. Aquifex.
9. Mar.31.
Phylogeny of
Archaea: 1. Euryarchaeota: Halophiles, Methanogens, Thermoplasmas,
Hyperthermophiles, 2. Crenarchaeota: Sulfolobales, Thermoproteales,
Desulfurococcales,Hyperthermophiles, 3. Korarchaeota. Phylogeny of
Eucaryotes: Protozoa, Fungi, Slime Molds, Algae.
April
-----------------------EXAM-2: April 02, 2009
10. 07-09 Human Host - Parasite Interactions
Humans as microbial hosts - Microflora of a healthy body - Pathogen exposure, adherence, invasion and growth - Tissue specificity - Virulence: Exotoxins incl. Enterotoxins - Endotoxins - Nonspecific defense responses - Age, stress and diet Compromised host - Inflamation and fever. Introduction to immunology.
11. 14-16 Immune Response
Cells and organs of the Immune system - Nonspecific immunity: Phagocytosis. The immune system and specific immunity - Antigens and antibodies - Antigen presentation system - Lymphocytes and cell mediated immunity - T-cytotoxic and natural killer cells - T-helper cells - macrophage activation - B-cell activation. Antibodies and immunity - Immunoglobulin formation - Complement system - Immunization - Vaccination. - Autoimmunity - Molecular immunology.
12. 21 Clinical Diagnostics
Pathogen isolation and identification - Growth-dependent identification - Antibiogram - Immunodiagnostics - Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies - Serology - Fluorescent antibodies - ELISA - Radioimmunoassay - Immunoblot - DNA and RNA probes - Diagnostic virology.
13. 28 Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology
Epidemiologic approaches to buplic health - Mortality and morbidity - The course of a disease - Reservoirs and epidemics - Infectious disease transmission - Herd immunity - Epidemiology of AIDS – Hospital-acquired infections - Epidemiology and public health - Common diseases and their transmission.
----------------------- EXAM-3: April, 30
FINAL EXAM: May 6, 9:00-11.00 am, as scheduled by the University.
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Updated: 01, 2009