3517.22 - Microbiology

3517.22

Microbiology

7.5

A) Admitted to the bachelor programme in biology at the University of the Faroe Islands, and following the normal study progression or B) Students following single courses need to have sufficient background in biology and general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.

To provide students with knowledge of all microorganisms with a focus on prokaryotes, their taxonomy, biology, ecology and interactions with humans.

Prokaryotic evolution and taxonomy. Prokaryotic structure, function and metabolism. Bacterial identification. Nutrition and culture of microorganisms. Microbial growth. Antibiotics and other ways of controlling bacterial growth. Microbial ecology. Food microbiology. Industrial microbiology. Diseases caused by microbes, their diagnosis and epidemiology. Laboratory exercises: Several exercises in bacterial growth and identification, and in bacteria and food-related issues.

Lectures. Student presentations of scientific articles. Problem solving (including obligatory submission or as presentations). Laboratory demonstrations, presentations and exercises (obligatory).

On completion of the course, the successful student should be able to: 1. Explain Pasteur's results and Koch's postulates and their consequences. 2. Describe in considerable detail the cell structures and functions of Bacteria and Archaea, and contrast the two prokaryotic domains. 3. Give an overview over nutritional demands and central parts of the metabolism of microorganisms. 4. Explain theoretical aspects and analytical methods of evolution, and the practical consequences of evolution, like microbial diversity. 5. Systematize and characterize different bacterial groups. 6. Describe ways and mechanisms of intentional control of microbes (e.g., sterilization, antibiotics, etc.) and their consequences, in particular antibiotic resistance. 7. Describe the normal microflora in humans, how pathogenic microbes interact with humans, and our mechanisms of defense, including immunity mechanisms. 8. Describe the epidemiology, spreading and diagnosis of microbial diseases. 9. Describe microbial interactions with the human environment, including food and water, and relate these interactions to public health. 10. Generally describe viruses and virology. 11. Examine the global cycling of important elements and relate the cycles to microorganisms. 12. Explain and use several methods in microbiology.

Combination of 1) accepted obligatory presentations, exercises and laboratory reports and 2) graded written examination. 1) The obligatory presentations, exercises and laboratory reports must be delivered and accepted within the specified deadlines. 2) Four-hour written essay-type exam with auxiliary materials allowed (book, notes)

External

7-

MT Madigan, KS Bender, DH Buckley, WM Sattley, DA Stahl: Brock - Biology of Microorganisms, 15th edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings 2018, 1064 pages. ISBN-10: 1-292-23510-1 ISBN-13: 978-1-292-23510-3 Hand-outs.

Anni Djurhuus