Microbiology

Code:

EA0013

Acronym:

MA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences
OFICIAL	Design, Development, Implementation and Operation
OFICIAL	Interp/Personal professional attitudes and capac.

Instance: 2008/2009 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Environmental Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEA	58	Syllabus since 2006/07	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Students should obtain general knowledge on microbiology through fundamental aspects on: cell chemical composition, microorganisms from Domains Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, microbial growth, microbial metabolism and microbial genetics. Students should also acquire general concepts on methods of isolation and characterization of microorganisms and of microbial control.

Program

1. INTRODUCTION TO MICROBIOLOGY
2. CELL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
2.1 Principal chemical elements
2.2 Water as the solvent of biological systems
2.3 Principal chemical components of cellular structures
2.3.1 Polysaccharides
2.3.2 Lipids
2.3.3 Nucleic acids
2.3.4 Proteins
3. DIVERSITY OF ORGANISMS
3.1 Universal phylogenetic tree
3.2 Diversity of microorganisms
3.2.1 Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms (structural and morphological diversity)
3.2.2 Virus (morphology, infection and multiplication)
3.3 Methods to evaluate the microbial diversity (cultivable versus non-cultivable)
4. CELL STRUCTURES (COMPARATIVE STUDY IN ORGANISMS OF THE 3 BIOLOGICAL DOMAINS)
4.1 Cell membrane (structure and function)
4.2 Cell wall (structure and function)
4.3 Flagella and motility
4.3.1 Chemotaxis
4.4 Resistance forms (endospores, spores e cysts)
4.5 Intracellular and extracellular polymeric substances (glycocalyx and storage materials)
4.6 Mechanisms of pathogeny
4. CELL REPRODUCTION
4.1 Prokaryotes: binary fission
4.2 Eukaryotes: mitosis and meiosis
5. POPULATION CELL GROWTH
5.1 Measurement of growth
5.1.1 Total cell count
5.1.2 Viable Count
5.1.3 Biomass determination
5.1.4 Turbidimetric measurements
5.2 Batch systems
5.2.1 Growth phases
5.2.2 Growth rate and generation time
5.3 Continuous culture: the chemostat
6. Factors controlling microbial growth
6.1 Nutrients, temperature, pH, water activity, pressure and oxygen
6.2 Physiological diversity / ecological diversity
7. PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIAL GENETICS
7.1 DNA replication
7.2 From DNA to proteins
7.2.1 Transcription
7.2.2 Genetic code
7.2.3 Ribosome
7.2.4 Protein synthesis (translation)
7.3 Contrasts in gene expression between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
7.4 Genotypic variability versus phenotypic traits
7.4.1 Genotypic variability
7.4.1.1 Mutations and mutagenesis
7.4.1.2 Procaryotic genetic recombination (transformation, transduction and conjugation)
8. METABOLISM
8.1 Anabolism and catabolism
8.1.1 Classification of organisms based on their energy and carbon sources
8.2 Enzymes as catalysts
8.3 Catabolism
8.3.1 Introduction (high energy compounds, redox reactions and electron tower)
8.3.2 Catabolic processes
8.3.1 Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and aerobic respiration
8.3.2 Fermentation
8.3.3 Anaerobic respiration
8.3.4 Lithotrophy
8.3.5 Photosynthesis (anoxygenic and oxygenic)
9. AUTOTHROPHIC CO2 FIXATION
9.1 Calvin cycle
10. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MICROBIAL METABOLIC DIVERSITY
10.1 Bio-geo-chemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur)
10.2 The role of microorganisms in waste-water treatment plants
11. REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION
11.1 “Feedback”
11.2 Enzyme induction
11.3 Enzyme repression
11.4 Catabolic repression
12.How to isolate and to characterize microorganisms from a sample:
12.1 Enumeration and isolation of microorganisms;
12.2 Characterization of colonial and cellular morphology;
12.3 Physiological characterization of the isolates;
12.4 Evaluation of the potential of each isolate to decontaminate polluted environments;
12.5 Effect of physical and chemical antimicrobial agents on the development of the isolates.

Mandatory literature

Madigan, Michael T; Brock biology of microorganisms. ISBN: 0-13-049147-0
Madigan, Michael T; Brock biology of microorganisms. ISBN: 0-13-049147-0

Complementary Bibliography

Glazer, Alexander N.; Microbial biotechnology. ISBN: 0-7167-2608-4
Stryer, Lubert; Biochemistry. ISBN: 0-7167-2009-4
Hurst, Christon J. 340; Manual of environmental microbiology. ISBN: 1-55581-199-X
Bitton, Gabriel; Wastewater Microbiology. ISBN: 0-471-30986-9
Mitchell, Ralph; Environmental microbiology. ISBN: 0-471-59587-X
Gray, NF; Biology of wastewater treatment, Imperial College Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-86094-328-4
Halpern, Manuel Júdice 340; Bioquímica. ISBN: 972-757-042-9
Pelczar, Jr., Michael Joseph; Microbiologia. ISBN: 85-346-0196-8 (vol.1)
C. Manaia; Micróbios: pequenos seres com poderes de gigantes., Universidade Católica Editora Unipessoal, Lda, 2006. ISBN: 972-54-0131-X
L. M. Prescott, J. P. Harley, D. A. Klein; Microbiology, McGraw-Hill, 2005. ISBN: 0-07-255678-1
Glazer, Alexander N.; Microbial biotechnology. ISBN: 0-7167-2608-4
Stryer, Lubert; Biochemistry. ISBN: 0-7167-2009-4
Hurst, Christon J. 340; Manual of environmental microbiology. ISBN: 1-55581-199-X
Bitton, Gabriel; Wastewater Microbiology. ISBN: 0-471-30986-9
Mitchell, Ralph; Environmental microbiology. ISBN: 0-471-59587-X
Gray, NF; Biology of wastewater treatment, Imperial College Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-86094-328-4
Halpern, Manuel Júdice 340; Bioquímica. ISBN: 972-757-042-9
Pelczar, Jr., Michael Joseph; Microbiologia. ISBN: 85-346-0196-8 (vol.1)
C. Manaia; Micróbios: pequenos seres com poderes de gigantes., Universidade Católica Editora Unipessoal, Lda, 2006. ISBN: 972-54-0131-X
L. M. Prescott, J. P. Harley, D. A. Klein; Microbiology, McGraw-Hill, 2005. ISBN: 0-07-255678-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

Oral exposition of the theoretical subjects supported by the blackboard and transparencies. Students are motivated to participate and to deduce the subjects.

Software

Excel e word
Excel e word

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	52,00
	Exame	2,00
	Trabalho escrito	20,00		2009-06-11
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	52	2009-06-04
	Estudo autónomo	30
	Total:	82,00

Eligibility for exams

To be admitted to the final exam the student must:
- Attend at least 75% of classes;
- Have a minimal grade of 10 at the report of work (point 12 of contents);

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade:
NF = (0.3 x REL) + (0.7 x EXA)

where,
EXA – exam;
REL– Report of the work (point 12);

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to standard rules

Classification improvement

Students that pretend to improve their final grade, can only improve the grade in a final written exam.

Observations

Exam: written test, without bibliographic support, and should be performed within 2 h.
Report of the work (point 12). It should contain Summary, Introduction, Objectives, Materials and methods, results and discussion, conclusions, bibliography. Maximum nº of pages: 15.
The minimal grade of each evaluation component is 10.