 General Microbiology

Course information Instructor’s contact information

Department: Biology Instructor’s Name: Muntaha Hamza

Course Title: General Microbiology Office: 42

Course code: Phone: 0917115910

Credit Hrs: ( theoretical class + Lab) Email: [email protected]

Year, Semester: Year II, Semester I Office hours:

Pre-requisite: No Class schedule:

 Course Description:
Historical developments of the science of microbiology; microbial taxonomy and survey of the
major groups of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, viruses etc.; culture techniques; microbial
growth and nutrition, control of microbial growth, microbial metabolism and their regulatory
mechanisms (Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway, Entner Doudoroff pathway, pentose phosphate
pathway, bacterial fermentations); microbial genetics (bacterial DNA, plasmids, mutations,
bacterial genetic recombination); applied microbiology ( soil, water, food, etc.); common
diseases of human beings and mechanisms of pathogenesis; immunity and resistance,
chemotherapy.

 Course Objectives:

At the end of the course the students should be able to:

 Describe the historical development, major concepts, principles and applications of

microbiology.
 Identify the major groups of microorganisms; their morphology, biology, importance and
ecology.
 Explain the main concepts and importance of microbial growth and metabolism.
 Describe the diversity, evolution and ecology of micro-organisms
 develop practical knowledge of culturing, skill of staining and methods in microbiology
discuss the beneficial and harmful aspects of microorganisms in food, agriculture, health
and other industries
 Course policy

Attendance in lab and lecture is necessary and expected. It is virtually impossible to make up
missed lab sessions because many organisms that we will study cannot be kept alive in the lab
for long periods of time. All organisms in the lab should be handed as if pathogens. Lecture
or laboratory exams missed may be rescheduled only for valid reasons. Students are responsible
for all information and assignments given during all class meetings and for keeping informed of
announced changes to the schedules (e.g., changes in dates for assignments and quizzes, etc.).
Unless otherwise specified, students are expected to work alone on exams and quizzes without
the use of any outside resources. Students are strictly advised not to act against the rules and
regulations of exams such as attempt of cheating while taking exams and quizzes. Students are
expected to complete all written assignments using his/her own original words and ideas or to
properly quote and cite the words and ideas of others

 Instructional resources (materials and equipments)

Physical models, charts, videos, microscope, slides, cover slips, culture media, prepared slides,
specimens, incubator, autoclave, refrigerator, ice box, safety cabinet, Bunsen burner,
disinfectants, gloves, staining dyes, etc
 Instructional methods and strategies
 Lecture, explicit teaching, laboratory practice and demonstrations.
 Group discussion and debate
 Reading assignments (book, journal and literature review)
 Question and answer (oral and written or worksheet or home take)
 Experimental learning (field exercises)

 Students activities
Preparation and presentation of project works, participation in discussions, attending classes and
laboratory sessions, obeying rules.

 Assessment strategies and techniques

Practical exam ---------------------------------------10%

Lab report---------------------------------------------15%
Assignments------------------------------------------15%
Test-----------------------------------------------------20%
Final exam (including lab activities) --------------40%
Total ----------------------------------------------------100%
Syllabus components

1. Introduction and history of microbiology

1.1. Definition and scope of microbiology
1.2. Historical development of microbiology
1.2.1. Theory of spontaneous generation
1.2.2. The germ theory of diseases (Koch’s Postulates)
2. Methods in microbiology
2.1. Theory and practice of sterilization
2.1.1. The sterilization methods
2.1.2. Culture media and its preparation
2.1.3. Types of culture medium
2.1.4. Pure culture techniques
2.1.5. Pure culture preservation and maintenance methods
Lab session #1. Basic microbiological laboratory safety rules and equipment (1session)
2.2. Staining techniques
2.2.1. Wet mount versus stained smear
2.2.2. Simple staining
2.2.3. Differential staining
Lab session #2. Media preparation and sterilization
Culture transfer techniques
3. Taxonomy of microbes (major groups of microorganisms) Test I = 10%
4. General characteristics of bacteria
4.1. Gross morphology (shape, size and cell arrangement)
4. 2 Bacteria cell
4.2.1. External structure of bacterial cell
Lab session #3. Spread-plate technique
The streak-plate technique and differential media
Pour-plate technique
Cultivation of anaerobic bacteria
Colony count
4.2.2. The cell envelope
4.2.3. Infernal structures (Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus etc.)
5. Bacterial growth and nutrition
5.1. Growth and growth requirements
5.2. Chemical requirement
5.3. Physical requirement
5.4. Nutrient uptake

Lab session #4
Bacterial morphology and staining (1 session)
Simple staining, Negative staining & Gram staining,
 5.5. Microbial growth measurements
5.6. Direct methods
5.7. Indirect methods
5.8. Nutritional classes of bacteria
6.Bacterial genetics (4 hrs)
6.1. The nature and organization of bacterial DNA
6.2. Extra cytoplasmic genetic elements (plasmids) found in bacteria
6.3. The genetic system of bacteriophages (lysogenic and lytic cycles)
6.4. Horizontal genetic transfer in bacteria
6.4.1. Transformation
6.4.2. Conjugation
6.4.3. Transduction
Lab session #5.
Other (special) staining techniques (1 session) Endospore staining, capsule staining, flagella
staining

7. Bacterial metabolism
7.1. Energy production (catabolism) in microbes
7.2. Biosynthesis or anabolism (various metabolic pathways)
7.3. EMP (Glycolytic) pathway
7.4. Entner Doudoroff’s (ED) pathway
7.5. Pentose Phosphate (PP) pathway
7.6. Fermentation
7.7. Respiration in microbes
Lab session #6.
 Biochemical identification of microbes
Fermentation and –Galactosidase Activity
Carbohydrates II: Triple Sugar Iron Agar Test
Proteins, Amino Acids, and Enzymes I: Hydrogen Sulfide Production and Motility

8. Viruses Test II= 10%

8.1. General characteristics
8.2. Structure and composition
8.3. Viral reproduction
8.3. Some representatives of viral infection
Lab session #7.
 Biochemical identification of microbes
Proteins, Amino Acids, and Enzymes II: The IMViC Tests
5.5. Proteins, Amino Acids, and Enzymes III: Catalase Activity
5.6. Proteins, Amino Acids, and Enzymes IV: Oxidase Test
9. General characteristics of fungi
9.1 Fungal thallus structure and organization
9.2. Major groups of fungi
Lab session #8.
Environmental factors affecting growth of microorganisms (2 sessions)
Temperature, pH, Osmotic pressure, Chemical agents
10. Environmental microbiology
10.1. Microbial diversity
10.2. soil microbiology and Biogeochemical cycles of nutrients
Lab session #9
Environmental and food microbiology
Standard plate count
Most probable number (MPN) Test
10.3 Aquatic microbiology & sewage treatment
Lab session #10
Enumeration of microorganisms from soil and food (2 sessions) Enumeration of soil
microorganisms
Bacterial count of a food product

11. Food & industrial microbiology

11.1. Microorganism growth in foods
11.2. Microbial growth and food spoilage
11.3. Controlling food spoilage
Lab session #11
Examination of milk for bacteria
11.4. Food borne diseases
11.5. Microbiology of fermented foods

12. Medical microbiology

12.1. Mechanism of microbial pathogenicity
12.2. Some medically important human pathogens
12.3. Diagnosis and control measures
Lab session #12. Identification of unknown samples
Each student is provided with coded sample. The student will be expected to identify the
microorganism from the given sample and report the result to the lab instructor.
Practical Exam= 10%
12.4. Non-specific host defenses
12.5. Specific defenses of the host immune response
12.5.1. Immunity and antibody
12.5.2. Cell-mediated immunity
12.6. Chemotherapy: antimicrobial drugs
12.7 HIV/AIDS
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