Course Objectives:

This course aims to familiarize students with fundamentals of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial life including viruses. In this course students will learn about culturing of bacteria, nutritional requirements of microbes and control of microbes. Students will also learn about the importance of microbes in our life. The course also describes how microorganisms are used as model systems to study basic biology, genetics, metabolism and ecology.This course will also help to student about knowledge of antibiotics and their mode of action. Students learning this course will be able to complete a substantial research project related to microbiology; seek and employ insights from others in implementing the project; evaluate a significant challenge or question faced in the project in relation to core concepts, methods or assumptions in microbiology; and describe the effects of learning outside the classroom on his or her research or practical skills. 

Contents

1. Overview and history of microbiology including microbial diversity (Archaea, bacteria, fungi,algae, protozoa)
2.  Nutrition and growth of microbes 
3. Metabolism of microbes 
4. Cultivation of microbes
5. Viruses 
6. Control of microorganisms: Sterilization and disinfection,
7.  Antimicrobial agents
8.  Antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and susceptibility
9.  Antifungal and antiviral agents; cell death
10.  Symbiosis, Carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus cycles 
11. Microbiology of soil, Microbiology of freshwater and seawater.

Practicals

Sterilization techniques; culturing of bacteria in liquid and on solid medium; Gram-staining of bacteria; colony and cell morphology; bacterial cell count and growth curves; biochemical tests.

Recommended Text

1. Plczer, M.J., Chan, E.C.S., & Krieg, N.R. (2008). Microbiology, (5thed.). New Dehli: Tata McGraw Hill Publisher.
2. Talaro, K.P. (2009). Foundations in Microbiology: Basic principles,(7thed.). NY: McGraw Hill Publisher.

Suggested Readings

1. Tortora, G.J., & Funke, B.R. (2016).  Microbiology: An introduction,(12thed.). UK: Pearson.
2. Alcamo, I.E.(2016).Fundamentals of Microbiology.(9thEd.). USA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
3. Cappuccino, J.G., & Sherman, N. (2016). Microbiology: A laboratory manual, (10thed.). UK: Pearson Education.

Sessional: 15 Marks

(Quiz: 05 Presentation: 10)

Practical: 25 MARKS

Final exam: 45 MARKS

Mids: 15 MARKS