Code: | BIOL3017 | Acronym: | BIOL3017 | Level: | 300 |
Keywords | |
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Classification | Keyword |
OFICIAL | Biology |
Active? | Yes |
Responsible unit: | Department of Biology |
Course/CS Responsible: | Bachelor in Biology |
Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L:B | 46 | Official Study Plan | 3 | - | 6 | 48 | 162 |
The students are expected to acquire basic knowledge on selected topics on environmental microbiology. Practical classes are aimed to carry out selected experiments on basic environmental microbiology. The syllabuses were designed in order to meet the above objectives and develop the competencies assigned.
Basic concepts in general microbiology.
Lectures
Soil microbiology. The carbon and nitrogen cycles in the soil. Degradation of wood by fungi. The microbial degradation of cellulose and lignin. Mycorrhizae. Endophytic fungoActinomycetes.
Water microbiology. Bacterial diseases carried out by the water. Bacterial toxins and infection. Basic epidemiological principles. The cholera, salmonellosis and bacillary dysentery. The quality of drinking water in Portugal.
Microbiological indicators of fecal pollution. Main techniques and their rationale.
Microbiology of the atmospheres. Bacterial diseases carried out by the atmosphere. The plague, anthrax, Legionnaires’ disease and aspergillosis. Methods for analyzing the fungi of the atmospheres. The fungi of the atmospheres. Fungal indicators of indoor air quality. Production of mycotoxins, organic volatile compounds and fragments. The sick building syndrome. Indoor humidity and the proliferation of indoor fungi. Methods for indoor air microbiological analysis.
Microbiology of extreme environments. Halophilic, xerophilic, psicrophilic and thermophilic microorganisms and the mechanisms of their adaptation.
Microbiology of polluted environments. Microbiology of the petroleum compounds. Microbiology of organochloride compounds. The DDT. Microbiology of plastics.
Microbiology of the metals. The toxicity and indispensability of the metal cations. Microbiology of the arsenic, copper and mercury.
Space microbiology. The Apollo program. Microbial analysis of lunar samples. The Viking project. The experiments carried out in situ with Martian soils. The biological and abiotic interpretations. The Martian meteorites. Are there fossil bacteria? Are there magnetotatic bacteria?
Microbiological war. Microbiological weapons. History.
Practical classes
Water microbiology. Determination of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci in Douro estuary. Most Probable Number practice. Identification of the isolated strains to species level, using API and BD BBL ID systems.
Microbiology of bottled mineral waters. Quantification of total heterotrophic bacteria. Checking the absence of coliforms.
Air microbiology. Demonstration of different devices and methods of analysis. Quantification of bacteria and fungi in indoor air. Qualitative and quantitative analysis. The Portuguese legislation about indoor air quality.
Selected bibliography
ATLAS, R. M. 1997. PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIOLOGY. Wm. C. Brown Publishers; 2.ª edição; Dubuque.
BROCK, T. D. & MADIGAN, M. T. 1988. BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS. Prentice-Hall; Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; 834 pg.
GREENBERG, A. E., CLESCERI, L. S., EATON, A. D. & FRANSON, M. A. H. editores 1992. STANDARD METHODS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER. American Public Health Association; Washington.
HURST, C. J., KNUDSEN, G. R., McINERNEY, M. J., STETZENBACH, L. D. & WALTER, M. V. editores 1997. MANUAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY. American Society of Microbiology Press; Washington; 894 pg.
Lectures are given interactively with students.
In practical classes, students carry out themselves the experiments. The results are discussed at the end of each experiment. Students have at their disposal a guide to practical work, with the description of all experiences, and references to support key experiences.
In the system-SIGARRA FCUP are provided additional information for the study of materials of theoretical and practical classes.designation | Weight (%) |
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Exame | 100,00 |
Total: | 100,00 |
designation | Time (hours) |
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Frequência das aulas | 36,00 |
Total: | 36,00 |
Students are required to attend at least 3/4 of the given practical classes.
Corresponds to the classification of the final exam.
The exam has questions about the contents of the lectures and of the practical classes.
Final exam with questions about the lectures and the practical classes.