Microbiology BIOL 250 Fall 2015
SYLLABUS
Lecture: MW 4:30PM- 5:45PM, SBDG 200, SMITH, GW
Laboratory: Sec. 1 T 1:40 PM- 4:20 PM, SBDG 213
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Garriet W. Smith, Rm. 203 Science Buld
TEXT: Microbiology; An Evolving Science, Slonczewski and Foster; Norton Press 2th ed.
LAB MANUAL: Specific Laboratory instructions will given during the start of the lab. DO not
be late. The Manual only gives general guidelines and is not to be followed to the letter.
COURSE LEVEL AND CREDIT: 2nd-3rd Year Health Science Majors, 4 hours credit
Disability Statement:If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability which might affect
your performance in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Faculty Responsibilities Services, 134
B&E, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The Disability Services Office will determine appropriate
accommodations based on medical documentation.
Policy for Portable Electronic Devices: The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones,
pagers, MP3 players, iPods, etc., during class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been
given to a student from the instructor or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of
these devices in class, they must be turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period.
Test Policy: On test days, place your belongings (backpacks, books, ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES,
lunch or any thing else) near the blackboard until after the test. You can leave the classroom, but
please don’t reenter until all students have finished.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE: Students will be assessed based on understanding of
subject matter, ability to determine important concepts, proficiency in the laboratory and attitude.
Approximately six tests will be given to determine understanding of subject matter; you must be there
during tests since make-ups are not given. A comprehensive final exam will test your ability to retain the
information and your ability to determine important concepts. Tests, and the final exam will
count for 80% of the final grade. The remaining 20% is your laboratory grade. It is your instructor’s
determination of your proficiency and attitude. This is determined by agreement among the instructors
comparing all students with respect to their leadership roles in lab; how quickly and well techniques are
mastered; and if their presence in lab was a help for other students and conducive to learning. Some
students excel in laboratory conditions, some do not. Do your best.
COURSE GOALS: (1) To introduce students to modern pathogenic microbiology. This includes current
concepts of structure and physiology of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and some fungi.
(2) To introduce students to both classical and modern techniques. This will be done in
three ways: through hands-on laboratory experiences; videos on technique shown in the lab; and during
lectures.(3) To introduce students to pathogenic mechanisms and host-responses to infectious disease.
Examples are given in the lectures on therapeutic products. antibiotics, pathogenics and immunology.
HINTS ON DOING WELL IN THIS COURSE: (1) Never miss a class or lab. (2) Take good notes
during lecture. (3) If you have a question speak up in class, don’t wait until after class. (4) Read the
assigned material before class, don’t wait until after the material is covered in class. (5) Rewrite your notes
promptly after class using your text for more explanation. (6) Form nightly study groups and lecture to each
other. This is very effective. None of these guarantee a good grade, but if you do them all your chances are
very good.
UNSEEN LIFE ON EARTH: As part of the American Society for Microbiology's Microbial Literacy
Program, a series of videos will be shown during lecture times to insure a complete overview of the field.
Questions from theses videos and the ensuing discussions may be included on tests.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or
disturbs the proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any
portable electronic devices, including cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has
been given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme cases the faculty member can
request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been ejected causes similar
disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the
remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.
SEQUENCE OF TOPICS
Chemistry review with emphasis on functional groups----------- Appendix 1&2
Phylogenetics, Structure and Function: Bacteria and Archaea----Chap.18&19
: Eucaryotes------------------Chap. 20
: Viruses-----------------------Chap. 6
In this section, a comparative analysis of membrane and cell wall structure will be made
including the effects of antimicrobial compounds on these structures. Also, mechanisms
of protein secretion through Gram negative outer membranes will be discussed. Also
biofilm formation will be discussed.
Genomes: Structure and Replication -------------------------------------Chap.7
: Transcription and Translation--------------------------------Chap.8
: Regulation---------------------------------------------------------Chap.10
For each of the first four processes, chemicals (antibiotics) that interfere with normal
function will be discussed. Regulatory mechanisms include global mechanisms (signal
transduction, regulons and quorum sensing) as well as, operon repression and induction.
How these processes influence the production of virulence factors (adhesions, toxins etc.)
will be the examples used.
Horizontal Transfer of Genes: Transformation--------------------------Chap.9
: Conjugation
: Transduction
: Transposition
Metabolic Diversity:--------------------------------------------------------- Chaps.13&14
How these processes affect antibiotic resistance and virulence factors will be stressed.
Microbiota and Nonspecific Defense:--------------------------------------- Chap.23
Adaptive Immune Response:------------------------------------------------- Chap.24
Pathogenesis---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chap.25
Diseases--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chap.26
Laboratory Schedule:
Lab1-------------------------------------------------- Microscopy, prepared and living Cultures
Lab2-------------------------------------------------- Colonial Morphology, differential Media
Lab3-------------------------------------------------- Staining
Lab4-------------------------------------------------- Isolation of an Unknown
Lab5-------------------------------------------------- Bacterial Growth
Lab6-------------------------------------------------- Microbial Activity
Lab7-------------------------------------------------- Antibiotic Activity
Lab8-------------------------------------------------- Identification
Other Labs------------------------------------------- To be determined