Microbiology B

Objectives

 1)To understand the diversity of microbial life and the relationships between the main groups of microorganisms in an evolutionary perspective, as well as metabolic and structural diversity. To acquire basic knowlege on molecular identification of microrganisms and of microbial ecology.

  2)To learn the basic laboratory techniques of microbiology: optical microscopy; microbial culture and aseptic technique; isolation of microorganisms.

General characterization

Code

3804

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Paula Maria Theriaga Mendes Bernardo Gonçalves

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 50

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Fundamentals of Biochemistry.

Bibliography

- Lecture handouts and other learning support items posted in the course Moodle webpage.

- M.T. Madigan et al., “Brock Biology of Microorganisms”, 12thed., Pearson, 2009 (or other editions of the same book).

Teaching method

Teaching strategy involves 1.5 hour lectures and 3 hour lab sessions.

Evaluation method

..

Subject matter

Lectures

The Historical Roots of Microbiology

Cell Structure in Prokaryotes

Eukaryotic cell structure

Microbial growth curve. Introduction to the diversity of microbial energy metabolism.

Chemoorganotrophy, Chemolythotrophy and Phototrophy. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Anoxygenic photosynthesis and oxygenic photosynthesis. Autotrophism

The diversity of the Bacteria . Examples of applied relevance and metabolic and ecological diversity

The diversity of the Archaea . Ecology and metabolism of hyperthermophile and halophile archaea

Origin and diversification of life on Earth. Origin of life and oceanic hydrothermal vents

Origin and diversity of the Eukarya . Molecular phylogeny of eukaryotes and division between protists, fungi, plants and animals. Impact of primary and secondary endosymbiosis

Microbial symbioses. Categories and examples of symbiosis in which microorganisms are involved

Lab sessions: Basic microbiological techniques: preparation of culture media; sterilization; aseptic technique. Introduction to laboratory culture of microorganisms. Light microscopy: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Microscopical examination of environmental samples (soil/water). Basic methods for the isolation of microorganisms:isolation of endospore-forming bacteria (Bacillus) from soil; isolation of yeasts from fermenting fruit.