COURSE: MIB 201 - INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY- (2 Units - Compulsory)
COURSE DURATION: Two hours per week for 15 weeks (30 hours).
Lecturer:
GANIYU, O. Tajudeen
B.Tech. (Pure and Applied Biology), M.Tech. (Biotechnology), LAUTECH, PhD Microbiology (In view)
Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences,
Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
e – mail: [email protected], [email protected]
[email protected]
LOCATION: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Fountain
University, Osogbo
Consultation Hours: Thursday, 2.00pm – 3.00 pm and Friday 09.00 am - 11.00 am
COURSE DETAILS
History of the Science of Microbiology. Sterilization and disinfection. Structure, ecology,
reproduction and economic importance of microbes; bacteria, fungi, protozoans, viruses,
mycoplasma, chlamydiae, algae, rickettsiae etc. Cultivation of microorganisms. Isolation of
microorganisms.
Course Description
The course focuses on the general aspect of microbiology most especially the structure, cultivation,
isolation, growth, identification and classification of microorganisms.
Course Justification
Microorganisms are ubiquitous and therefore present everywhere. Some are beneficial while some
are harmful to man and other living organisms. Understanding these microbe will enable man to
harness the beneficial one and also help in preventing the harmful ones from invading man’s
internal and external environment where they can cause different diseases.
Methods of Grading
S/N
1
2
3
4
5
Style of Grading
Attendance, Classwork and Assignment
Test (s)
Practical Examination
Theory of practical Examination
Total
Score (%)
10
20
20
50
100
Course Delivery Strategies
The course is a practical course and as such the students would be divided into groups of not more
than five per group. Each group will carry out assigned practical works with the supervision of the
lecturers and technologist and their understanding would be assessed through reports submitted by
each student and through interactive questions about the practical sessions. Basic and explanatory
notes will be provided.
LECTURE CONTENT
Week 1: History of the Science of Microbiology.
At the end of the class, students will be able to understand the origin of the study of microbiology
and the contributions of the earlier scientists to discovery of the microbial world.
Description:
The origin of spoilage and how the idea of spontaneous generation is disproved will be discussed.
The experiments of early microbiologists such as Rudolf Virchow, John Tyndall, Louis Pasteur
and Robert Koch would be highlighted.
Study Questions
1
Briefly describe the contribution of the following to Microbiology.
i.
Louis Pasteur ii.
Robert Koch iii.
John Tyndall
iv.
Rudolf Virchow
2.
Write a short essay on the history of Microbiology.
Week 2: Sterilization and disinfection
Objective: To demonstrate the importance of sterilization and disinfection in the study of
microorganisms. The need to observe aseptic techniques in any microbiology laboratory would be
shown.
Description:
The use of physical method of sterilization such a dry heat, moist heat, radiations and filtration will
be carried out in the laboratory using autoclave, hot air oven, membrane filter and ultra violet rays.
The use of alcohols, phenolics, halogens and surfactants in disinfecting surfaces would be done in
the laboratory.
Study Questions
1.
Define sterilization and Disinfection.
2.
What are the differences between sterilization and disinfection.
3.
Describe any five physical methods of sterilization.
4.
What are aseptic techniques? Briefly describe five (5) aseptic techniques.
Week 3: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of bacteria.
Objective: The prokaryotic nature of bacteria and it role in the ecology and reproduction of
bacteria would be shown to the students.
Description:
Student would observe the different structures of bacteria under the microscope. Bacteria would be
isolated from different sources such as soil, air, water, skin and buccal cavity. The useful and
beneficial bacteria will be highlighted while the harmful ones will also be mentioned.
Study Questions
1. With a well labeled diagram describe the general structure of bacteria.
2. Bacteria are said to be ubiquitous. What characteristics confer the ubiquitous nature on
them?
3. Write a short essay on reproduction in bacteria.
4. What is the economic importance of bacteria?
Week 4: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of fungi.
Objective: To give the students an insight into the agricultural, industrial, medicinal and
nutritional uses of fungi.
Description: Fungi are a group of living organisms that taxonomist have found difficult to classify
because of the diversity in their structure. They range from simple microscopic ones like yeast cell
to large multi-cellular ones. Reproduction in fungi is by sexual and asexual means. Their
usefulness range from being used in fermentation to being eaten as food while they are also
involved in food spoilage and causing diseases of human, animal and plants.
Study questions
1. Give a full description of the characteristics of fungi.
2. Discuss briefly why fungi may be regarded as harmful organisms..
3. ‘Some fungi are very useful in agriculture and industry’. Briefly discuss.
Week 5: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of protozoa.
Objective: The study of the structure and ecology of protozoa will enable the students to
understand their useful benefits and also try to avoid their harmful effects.
Description: Protozoa comprise of a number of non-photosynthetic, colourless, generally motile
eukaryotic microorganisms. Protozoa occur in various types of freshwater and marine habitats.
They can be free living, saprophytic or parasitic. Reproduction may be asexual by binary or
multiple fission or sexually.
Study questions
1. Describe the structure, ecology and life cycle of a named protozoon.
2. What is the economic importance of protozoa?
Week 6: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of viruses.
Objective: To understand the roles played by viruses in causing some diseases of man, animals
and plants.
Description: Viruses are infectious agents so small that they can only be seen at magnification
provided by the electron microscope. They can only grow in animals or plant cell or in
microorganisms. Viruses can only reproduce within living cells because they are obligate
intracellular parasites.
Study questions
1. Describe the structure of a virion.
2. State the general characteristics of viruses.
3. With the aid of diagrams describe viral replication.
4. What is the economic importance of viruses?
Week 7: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of Mycoplasma and
Chlamydiae
Objective: To understand that apart from bacteria, fungi and viruses, there exist some other
microorganisms that are parasites and pathogens of plants and animals..
Description: Mycoplasmas are non-motile microorganisms without rigid or true cell walls and are
characterized by extreme pleomorphism. Chlamydiae are non-motile, coccoid, gram negative
obligate intracellular parasites that grow and reproduce within the host cells..
Study questions
1. Describe the structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of Mycoplasma.
2. Write a short essay on Chlamydiae.
Week 8: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of algae.
Objective: Algae are heterogenous group of organisms with great potential in being used as
fertilizer, generation of power, bioremediation and as food for man. Studying them will enable the
student to understand how they can be utilized.
Description: Many thousands of algal species occur in nature and there are few places on earth
where algae of some kind cannot be found. They have simple reproductive structures for sexual
reproduction. They are autotrophic, eukaryotic and vary in their mode of reproduction from
vegetative, asexual to sexual.
Study questions
1. Write a short essay on reproduction and economic importance of algae?
2. Describe the general structure, ecology and characteristics of algae.
Week 9: Structure, ecology, reproduction and economic importance of rickettsiae.
Objective: Rickettsiae cause typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted and Q fevers in man and are
obligate intracellular parasites of blood sucking arthropods such as ticks, lice and fleas. Studying
the structure, ecology and reproduction of these parasites will help prevent the diseases they cause.
Description: Rickettsiae are pleomorphic microorganisms that posses a cell wall, RNA, DNA,
certain enzymes and are able to carry out a number of metabolic activities. They multiply by
binary fission and penetration of a host cell is an active process in which both the host and the
rickettsial cell have to be alive and metabolically active.
Study questions
1. Describe the general structure, ecology and characteristics of rickettsiae.
2. What are the symptoms of the diseases caused by ricketssiae and how are these diseases
treated.
Week 10 and 11: Cultivation and Isolation of Microorganisms.
Objective: The growth and isolation of microbe is important in the identification and study of the
microbe. Understanding the techniques of growing, isolating and maintaining microorganisms of
interest is a basic prerequisite in any microbiology laboratory.
Description: In the laboratory, microorganisms are grown in media that contain appropriate kinds
and concentrations of nutrients necessary for their growth and reproduction. The technique
employed by microbiologists to isolate, grow and maintain organisms of interest is called pure
culture technique. There are different types of cultures and culture media.
Study questions
1. What are the aims of culturing and isolation of microrganisms?
2. Describe two methods of sub culturing.
3. What are the differences between broth and solid cultures.
4. Describe how to use agar slant to preserve microorganisms?
Week 12 and 13: Identification of microorganisms.
Objective: The most important task of a microbiology laboratory is to identify microbes or
pathogens from samples so that they can be properly utilized or appropriate treatment can be
instituted. At the end of the lectures, the students will be able to classify microorganisms based on
their colonial, cellular and biochemical morphologies.
Description: Studies on the biochemical, antigenic and other characteristics of microorganisms
can be done only if the organism is available in pure form. Identification involve a series of
macroscopic and microscopic observations, use of selective, enrichment or indicator media,
staining, biochemical tests, typing and molecular techniques.
Study questions
1. What is the basis of the Gram’s staining technique?
2. Describe the Gram’s staining technique.
3. Describe the composition and preparation of two selective media.
4. Write an essay on the use of biochemical tests in the identification of bacteria.
5. Describe the principle involved in fermentation of sugars by microorganisms.
6. Describe the types of microbial relationship that occur during fermentation of sugars.
7. What are the function of indicators.
REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
1.
MEDICAL LABORATORY MANUAL FOR TROPICAL COUNTRIES VOLUME I AND
VOLUME II, by MONICA CHEESBROUGH Published by ELBS PUBLISHERS
2.
MICROBIOLOGY- A LABORATORY MANUAL 4TH EDITION by JAMES G. CAPPUCCINO
AND NATALIE SHERMAN. THE BENJAMIN/CUMMINGS PUBLISHING COMPANY. INC.
3
PRACTICAL MICROBIOLOGY by R.C. DUBEY AND D.K. MAHESHWARI
4.
A TEXTBOOK OF MICROBIOLOGY by R.C. DUBEY AND D.K. MAHESHWARI
5.
AN INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY: A Practical Approach by P. O.
OLUTIOLA,
O. FAMUREWA AND H. G. SONNTAG.