BI 234 Microbiology

1. Describe the characteristics of microorganisms and explain their contributions to the world. 
2. Describe how microbes are named and classified and explain the importance of these concepts to laboratory identification and microbial control. 
3. Differentiate the major characteristics of pathogenic organisms including viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi, helminthes. 
4. Describe and explain the major features of bacterial structure, morphology, metabolism, growth and genetics and relate these to disease, identification, treatment and control. I
5. Describe the major features of selected microbial diseases including; identification of the causative agent, life cycle, transmission, symptoms, treatment and prevention. 
6. Apply the major principles, techniques and agents (chemical and physical) of microbial control to clinical case studies. 
7. Perform and use laboratory techniques designed to isolate, grow, maintain, and identify microbes under controlled situations including; microscopy, aseptic technique, culture techniques and microbial control. 
8. Define and apply basic principles related to infection and disease, including; modes of invasion and establishment, factors affecting pathogenicity and development of disease, and reactions of the human body to invasion and tissue damage. 
9. Describe the development of immunity, the nature of vaccines and immunization. 

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Science course, students should be able to:

1. Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
2. Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
3. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.

• Introduction to Microbiology
  • The Scope of Microbiology
  • The Impact of Microbes on Earth
  • Human Use of Microorganisms
  • Infectious Diseases and the Human Condition
  • The General Characteristics of Microorganisms
  • The Historical Foundations of Microbiology
  • Taxonomy: Organizing, Classifying, and Naming Microorganisms
• The Chemistry of Biology
  • Atoms, Bonds, and Molecules: Fundamental Building Blocks
  • Macromolecules: Superstructures of Life
  • Cells: Where Chemicals Come to Life
• Tools of the Laboratory: the Methods for Studying Microorganisms
  • Methods of Culturing Microorganisms
  • The Microscope: Window on an Invisible Realm
• Bacteria and Archaea
  • Form and Function of Bacteria and Archaea
  • External Structures
  • The Cell Envelope: The Boundary Layer of Bacteria
  • Bacterial Internal Structure
  • Bacterial Shapes, Arrangements, and Sizes
  • Survey of Prokaryotic Groups with Unusual Characteristics
• Eukaryotic Cells and Microorganisms
  • The History of Eukaryotes
  • Structures of the Eukaryotic Cell
  • The Fungi
  • The Protozoa
  • The Helminths
• An Introduction to Viruses
  • Position of Viruses in the Biological Spectrum
  • General Structure of Viruses
  • How Viruses are Named and Classified
  • Modes of Viral Replication
  • Techniques in Cultivating and Identifying Animal Viruses
  • Medical Importance of Viruses
  • Other Non-cellular Infectious Agents: Prions, Viroids, Rickettsias
• Elements of Microbial Nutrition, Ecology, and Growth
  • Microbial Nutrition
  • Environmental Factors That Influence Microbes
  • The Study of Microbial Growth
• Microbial Metabolism: The Chemical Crossroads of Life
  • Metabolism of Microbes and the Role of Enzymes
  • The Pursuit and Utilization of Energy
  • Pathways of Bioenergetics
  • Biosynthesis and the Crossing Pathways of Metabolism
• Microbial Genetics
  • Introduction to Genetics and Genes: Unlocking the Secrets of Heredity
  • Applications of the DNA Code: Transcription and Translation
  • Genetic Regulation of Protein Synthesis and Metabolism
  • Mutations: Changes in the Genetic Code
  • DNA Recombination Events
• Genetic Engineering: A Revolution in Molecular Biology
  • Basic Elements and Applications of Genetic Engineering
  • Survey of Tools and Techniques of Genetic Engineering
  • Methods in Recombinant DNA Technology
  • Biochemical Products of Recombinant DNA Technology
  • Genetically Modified Organisms
  • Genetic Treatments: Introducing DNA into the Body
  • Genome Analysis: Maps, Fingerprints, and Family Trees
• Physical and Chemical Control of Microbes
  • Controlling Microorganisms
  • Methods of Physical Control
  • Chemical Agents in Microbial Control
• Drugs, Microbes, Host: The Elements of Chemotherapy
  • Principles of antimicrobial therapy
  • Interactions between drug and microbe
  • Survey of major antimicrobial drug groups
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Interaction between drug and host
  • Considerations in selecting an antimicrobial drug
• Microbe-Human Interactions: Infection and Disease
  • The Human host
  • Progress of an infection
  • Epidemiology: The study of disease in populations
• Specific Immunity and Immunization
  • Specific immunity: The third and final line of defense
  • Overview of specific immune responses
  • Lymphocyte response system in depth
  • Cooperation in immune reactions to antigens
  • B-cell response
  • T-cell response
  • A Practical scheme for classifying specific immunities
  • Immunization: Methods of manipulating immunity for therapeutic purposes
• Survey of Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
  • Intestinal tract diseases
  • Respiratory tract diseases
  • Skin diseases
  • Nervous system diseases
  • Cardiovascular system diseases
  • Genitourinary tract diseases
• Scientific Process
  • Term-long group unknown bacterial identification project
  • Writing a scientific paper
  • Disease project
• Labs
  • Culture media and microscope protocols(including sterile technique)
  • Investigation of environmental microbes
  • Microscopic survey of kingdoms
  • Gingival gram stain
  • Epidemiology case studies
  • Genetics and genetic engineering
  • Hand washing experiments(Colony Count and Glo-germ lotion)
  • Home disinfection
  • Investigation of staphylococci and streptococci
  • Investigation of unknown bacteria and control bacteria using: Isolation streak plate, temperature preference, selective and differential media(Blood agar, MacConkey agar and Mannitol Salt agar), aerobic vs. anaerobic TSA plates, enzyme tests(Catalase and Oxidase), gram stain, microscopic motility, MRVP media, API20E biochemical test strip