BIOL 250 51 Microbiology with Laboratory
Title: Microbiology with Laboratory
Spring 2016
Course number/section: BIOL 250- 51
Credit hours: 5
Office: Marine Sciences 110 (A)
Instructor: Paul Rudenberg DVM
Phone: (207)-318-7937
e-mail: prudenberg@smccme.edu
Office hours: Tues/Thurs 12:20-1:00 PM
Syllabus and Schedule
Course Description
This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the principles and techniques
of microbiology. Consideration will be given to microbial structure, growth, physiology, and the reaction of microorganisms to their physical and chemical environments. The laboratory will emphasize
the development of proper laboratory technique and the identification of microorganisms.
Prerequisites: BIOL-100 or BIOL-124 or BIOL-132.
Textbooks and resources
Prescott’s Microbiology Wiley, Sherwood and Woolverton
McGraw-Hill
9th edition, 2013
ISBN : 978-0-07-340240-6
Microbiology: Laboratory Theory and Application
Morton Publishing
4th edition, 2015
Leboffe and Pierce
ISBN : 978-1617312502
Laboratory Notebook – a bound, lined notebook, and a lab coat
Access to a computer and Internet
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Describe the structure of bacteria and other microorganisms,
2. Conduct quantitative and qualitative tests on microorganisms,
3. Interpret and evaluate the results of these tests,
4. Understand the cellular functions that promote growth and reproduction of microorganisms, and
5. Employ the proper laboratory techniques for the study of microorganisms.
Learning outcome for SMCC science courses:
SMCC students apply the scientific method and employ the technological skills necessary to function
effectively in an increasingly complex world.
Course Requirements
There are two 75-minute lectures each week, as well as two 2-hour laboratory sessions each
week. Learning materials, list of assignments, copy of lectures, and quizzes are available on
Blackboard. Attendance and participation in the laboratory sessions, as well as online presence, are
required.
Student Evaluation and Grading
There are five equally weighted exams given during the semester over the material in the textbook
and in the lab exercises. The first four exams will be primarily on the material discussed in lectures
and in chapters from your textbook, with some questions from laboratory exercises. The last exam is
a Final Exam that will cover important topics from throughout the semester. Each exam accounts for
10% of your semester grade. Thus, the exams will together account for 50% of your grade.
You must attend laboratory sessions each week and take the lab quizzes. These quizzes will add
up to 10% of the semester grade. You will keep a laboratory notebook that will be worth another
15% of the semester grade. Finally, you will be given a two unknown bacteria to identify in an
independent lab project. You will write a report on your identification of these organisms that will
account for the last 15% of the semester grade.
Attendance is required for laboratory sessions. Attendance will count for 10% of your final grade.
You will lose a percentage point for each unexcused absence. If you are more than 15 minutes late
for a lab session, it is considered an absence.
You will have an opportunity to do extra credit work. This will be described during the course.
Graded work:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
% of grade:
Exams (4)
Chapter/lab Quizzes
Laboratory Notebook
Lab Project
Attendance/participation
Final Exam
40%
10%
15%
15%
10%
10%
Blackboard will give you a rough calculation of your semester grade. Scores for your exams,
quizzes and lab notebook assessments can be found under My Grades in Blackboard. There will
also be an estimate of your semester grade based on all of your work up to that point. Contact me if
you have any questions or wish to discuss grading of an assignment.
Letter grades are assigned following the policy in the SMCC handbook:
100-93 = A
92-90 = A89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-0 = F
Note: If your grade is below C at the 5th and 10th weeks or you have missed assignments or
classes/labs, you will receive an Early Alert grade (5 th week) and an Academic Alert grade
(10th week) to encourage you to reassess your performance.
Your final course grade will be posted on your My SMCC page on the SMCC website once
your online evaluation has been completed.
Attendance Policy
Attendance at lectures and labs every week is expected. Be sure to inform me if you will not be
attending class or lab. A missed lab will lower your semester average. If you are inactive for one
week without explanation, you will be reported to administration as no longer attending the class.
You must attend class on the day of the exams. Make up exams will be given only in cases of
extraordinary circumstances.
The Laboratory Notebook
You will be given specific instructions on how to keep a good laboratory notebook. Keep your
notebook up to date! Your notebook will be examined from time to time to assign scores. You must
have a notebook that will not allow pages to be removed- a bound notebook.
Writing a report on the independent lab project: identification of two unknown bacteria
Halfway through the semester, you will begin project that will take several weeks of independent
work during our laboratory sessions. You’ll be given instruction on how to carry out identification
using a dichotomous key (using a process of elimination) and will have learned the assays already.
There will be a rubric that describes how to write up your independent research in a format
resembling a professional journal article.
How To Contact Your Professor
The best way to contact your instructor is by sending an e-mail. I will respond promptly and I
encourage you to contact me about any issues. I also expect students to read all course-wide
emails, and respond when requested. My campus e-mail is prudenberg@smccme.edu.
You can always talk with me during office hours. My office is Room 110A, Marine Science Center
on the South Portland Campus. You can call me at (207) 318-7937. My office hours are Tuesday
and Thursday, 12:20 to 1 PM. If I am not in the office, please check the lab.
Success
This is a challenging five credit course that requires self-discipline and good study habits.
There is a lot of reading involved and much graded work . You are responsible for assigned
topics, whether or not they are discussed during class. You must have adequate time to
devote to the course.
Check the schedule and read each lab before your lab sessions! Bring your lab manual to
lab, and a notebook and pen to take notes. Some material from labs will appear in exams.
Please keep all the work you’ve done for the course until you receive your course grade. Any
disagreement with grades may require you to resubmit graded work for verification.
Constructive participation in both the live and on-line portions of the course is expected
throughout the semester. Questions and discussions are encouraged.
How To Do Well On The Exams
Listen to the lectures, take notes, and review the lecture slides. Ask the instructor questions during
class or after class. Read the textbook more than once. Take notes from the book. Participate in a
study group, including any online discussion forums. For two of the exams, you will be able to use
your book, but you will not have time to look up all the answers, so it is important to know the
material.
Bookmark the pages in your textbook where there are tables or summaries so you can find them
easily during the test. Mark any tables and figures that are critical.
Some questions will require you to fill in the blank for a word in a sentence or to give the name of an
organism or structure. Correct spelling is required, so double check the word if you are unsure of the
spelling.
Teacher Evaluation
If you have a question or a suggestion about the course format in general or regarding an exam
question in particular, please feel free to contact me directly or write a note. I do like to hear how the
course could be improved.Notes:
Other notes
Electronics: Cell phone use (calls, texts, web-surfing, etc) while a class or lab is in session
can be disrespectful and distracting. Silence cell phones, pagers, or any other personal
communication devices before class begins and put them away . In most cases, personal
laptops, iPads, iPods, electronic notebooks, etc., should be put away during lecture or lab.
Personal items and food: Make sure that all your personal items including backpacks,
purses, phones, closed drink containers, etc. are stowed in lecture or in the lab bench
shelves (during lab). For lab, follow the lab safety policies outlined and take the Lab Safety
Quiz there. Per OSHA regulations, you must not consume food or beverages in the lab room,
and you can’t have open containers of beverages or open containers/packages of food in
the lab room, either. Enclosed, hard-soled shoes must be worn at all times in the lab room.
Conduct: Be considerate and show respect for yourself and others in all communications,
both live and online. Flame mail, harassment, profanity, inappropriate postings, and other
disrespectful or disruptive behavior are not acceptable
Missed/late work/extra credit/incompletes:
As mentioned above, the way to do well in this course is to attend class and lab, consult
Blackboard and the schedule to be aware of what’s coming up, and complete all the work to
a high standard. (That’s what your future employer will expect of you when you enter the
career you’re working towards, or go on to earn a higher degree). Therefore, you will be
penalized for late work or makeup work.
Incomplete (I) grades are available only in extreme, narrow circumstances. The Academic
Policies section of the SMCC Student Catalog will provide you with more clarification.
Policies for all courses at Southern Maine Community College:
1. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act):
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and
employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798. If you have a disabling condition and
wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and
services offered by SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Sandra
Lynham, who can be reached at 741-5923. Further information about services for students with
disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number. Course
policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s accommodations.
2. Student printing policy (new):
This policy identifies the cost per page for black and white as well as color printing in varying page
sizes. Specifics of the policy are outlined below:
Per Page Costs
Each semester students receive a $20 printing credit. The balance resets at the end of the semester
and any remaining credits are removed. The cost varies depending upon page size and whether
printing is done in black and white or color.
a. There is a $0.10 per page fee for standard 8.5” by 11” black and white documents.
b. The reverse sides of duplex (double-sided) documents are free.
c. There is a $.50 per page fee for standard 8.5” by 11” color documents.
d. There is a $.20 per page fee for 8.5” by 14” (legal) or 11” by 17” (tabloid) black and white
documents.
e. There is a $1.00 per page fee for 8.5” by 14” (legal) or 11” by 17” (tabloid) color documents.
Duplex charges (printing on both sides of a page) work in the following fashion: One page is $0.10,
two pages are $0.10, three pages are $0.20, and four pages are $0.20, etc. The flipsides are free,
but another sheet of paper is $0.10. Please be aware that a document with any color at all (when
printed to a color printer) will by default be printed in color. You are responsible for setting the print
job to print black and white if you do not need color. For directions, please go to the IT Help tab in
My SMCC.
How does it work?
The College’s pay-for-print system monitors printing on all printers (including those in general access
labs, library printers, the Academic Achievement Center, Noisy Lounge and technology labs).
Students can check the number of pages they have printed by using the Printing Balance tool
available on SMCC computers (located in the lower right corner of the screen, near the clock).
Departments with work study students who need to print documents for the department should
contact the HelpDesk at 741-5696 to have a special account set up.
Refunds
Print jobs are eligible for a refund in the event of mechanical or electronic error on the part of the
printer, print server, or software used to submit the job. Jobs are not eligible for a refund in cases
where the job was not set up correctly, was submitted multiple times, or the student is not satisfied
with the result. To request a refund, please bring the offending print to the IT Department in the
basement of the Ross Technology Center. Refunds will be granted in the form of a credit to the
student’s account.
Why is SMCC charging for printing?
The pay-for-print system is an effort to control escalating printing costs. Charging for printing helps
offset the increasing cost of supplies and encourages students to conserve resources. To find ways
to reduce your printing charges, please go to the IT Help tab on My SMCC. If you have questions
about the pay-for-printing policy or your printing charges, please contact the HelpDesk at 741-5696
or send an email to helpdesk@smccme.edu.
Be sure to log OUT of the system when you’ve finished your printing, to prevent unauthorized
access to your account.
3. Drop/Add:
Students who drop a course during the one-week “drop/add” period in the fall and spring semesters,
and the first three days of summer sessions, receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated
fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length,
i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated drop/add period. There is no refund for non-attendance.
IMPORTANT: Remaining enrolled after Drop/Add week means you understand and accept the
requirements, policies, and instructions spelled out here, and in Blackboard.
4. Withdrawal:
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that
course. The withdrawal period is the 2 nd through 12th week of the fall and spring semesters and the
2nd through 9th week of 12-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses.
To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal
form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation “W” will
appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an
uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing
to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated
with a withdrawal.
5. Plagiarism:
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully credit ing the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct.
If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such
a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the Maine Community College System Policy on Student Grade Appeals and Academic Misconduct. The instructor has the authority to review
the alleged misconduct and determine the grade that the student should receive for the assignment
and the course.
The instructor may also refer the matter to the College’s disciplinary officer for additional sanctions
under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions from an instructor may include suspension from the
course and a failing grade in the course. Sanctions from a disciplinary officer may include all available sanctions noted in the Student Code of Conduct. Students have the right to appeal the decision
of an instructor via the grade appeal process and the sanction of a disciplinary officer via the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. These processes are
parallel and may result in different findings.
6. Early Alert and Academic Alert:
a. The first four weeks of the semester is the “Early Alert” period. Student progress is monitored
closely during this time. The 5 th through the 9th week is the “Academic Alert” period. Student
progress continues to be monitored during this time. Students who are doing below-average work
during these time frames receive an Early Alert and/or Academic Alert grade of “U” (unsatisfactory,
below a C). These alerts are intended to raise students’ awareness about their performance.
b. Grades of “U” (unsatisfactory) are sent to your advisor, who will notify you about scheduling a
meeting to discuss strategies for improvement. Think about specific ways you can improve your
performance and take these ideas with you to the meeting. The Early Alert and Academic Alert
periods cover the first half of the semester. If you are still performing unsatisfactorily at mid-term, it
may be very difficult to earn a passing grade.
c. These alert grades do not change. They do not become part of your permanent record and no
other schools have access to them. They only reflect your performance for those time frames.
However, these grades DO affect your final course grade, obviously, because your course grade
continues to change as the semester progresses and you complete more work. Your final course
grade may be different from your Early Alert and Academic Alert grades, i.e., higher, lower, or the
same, depending on your performance. You should calculate your grade often and know where you
stand .
d. If your course grade continues to stay at C or above (satisfactory), keep up the good work! You
won’t receive an Early Alert grade or Academic Alert grade.
7. Administrative failure (grade of "AF"):
a. “Administrative failure” is the consequence of missing work for a one-week period, OR not
logging in at all for a one-week period, with no prior notification to the instructor regarding the
reason. (The time frame for this policy differs by course.)
b. A grade of AF is submitted to the Registrar immediately at the end of the two-week period.
Basically, an AF grade drops the student from the course. The student may then contact the
instructor to request reinstatement in the course. Reinstatement is at the instructor’s discretion and
is generally not granted because too much work has been missed by that time. Late work is not
accepted, and makeup work is not available.
c. A grade of AF is also assigned in cases of cheating and other inappropriate conduct. In these
cases, other consequences may be imposed on the student.
d. An AF student can contact the Registrar and request that the grade of AF be changed to “W”
(withdrawn) if done before the final drop date. Students earning an AF or W are still financially
responsible for the course.
8. End-of-course evaluation (online):
Students are asked to complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC. Evaluations are
submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the
course evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for
submission of evaluations occurs 24 hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors
will announce when the online course evaluation is available. Evaluations have no effect on your
grade. Instructors don't see student comments until grades have been submitted.
8. Late Start:
In the event of a late start due to adverse weather, etc., classes scheduled to begin earlier than the
late start time but which run past that time will start late but will meet. For example if the College has
a 10:00 a.m. late start, a class scheduled to meet from 8 AM until noon will now meet from 10 AM to
noon.
Course Schedule (any changes will be announced)
Week 1 Jan 19 and 21
Lecture: Introduction to the Course and
Lab:
Introduction to Microbiology
Chapter 1
Introduction, Lab Safety, Notebook, and Use of Microscope (Exercise 3-1)
Aseptic transfer and pipetting skills (read all of Exercise 1-3; we'll do part)
Week 2 January 26 and 28
Lecture: Microscopy and Staining
Bacterial Cell Structure
Lab: Simple staining (Exercise 3-5)
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Streak plate (Exercise 1-4), and Bacterial Colony Morphology (Exercise 2-2)
Week 3 February 1 and 3
Lecture: Bacterial Cell Structure (continued)
Lab: Gram staining (Exercise 3-7)
Handwashing
Week 4 February 8 and 10
Lecture: Archaeal Cell Structure Chapter 4
Thursday -Exam 1
Labs: Endospore stain (Exercise 3-10)
Standard plate count (Exercise 6-1)
Week 5 February 17
Lecture Eukaryotic Cell Structure Chapter 5
Lab:
Soil microbial count (8-11)
Effect of temperature (2-9)
Anaerobic growth using three culture methods (2-6, 2-7, 2-8)
Effect of osmotic pressure on bacterial growth (2-11)
Week 6 February 22 and 24
Lecture: Viruses and Other Acellular Infectious Agents Chapter 6
Lab: Differential media: Phenol red (5-3)
Selective / Differential media: MSA (4-4), EMB (4-6),
MacConkey (4-5), Blood Agar (5-25)
Week 7
Feb 29 and March 2
Lecture: Microbial Growth
Chapter 7
Lab: More differential media (IMViC tests): Citrate (5-8), SIM (5-20), MR-VP (5-4)
Media assays for enzymes: Starch (5-13), Urea (5-18), Gelatin (5-17)
Week 8
March 7 and 9
Lecture:
Pathogenicity and Infection
Chapter 35
Thursday - Exam 2
Lab: Begin Identification of Bacterial Unknowns (5-31)
Respiration enzyme assays: Catalase (5-6), Oxidase (5-7), Nitrate reductase (5-8)
Week 9
March 21 and 23
Lecture: Control of Microorganisms in the Environment Chapter 8
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Chapter 9
Lab:
Identification of Bacterial Unknowns
Antibiotic Susceptibility (7-3)
Week 10
March 28 and 30
Lecture:
Introduction to Metabolism
Chapter 10
Catabolism: Energy Release and Conservation Chapter 11
Lab: Thermal death time and decimal reduction value (6-6)
Sanitary analysis of water (bring in water sample)
Week 11
April 4 and 6
Lecture: Catabolism: Energy Release and Conservation (cont'd)
Lab: Slide agglutination assay to differentatiate Staph species
Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay ELISA (11-6)
Week 12
April 11 and 13
Lecture: Tuesday - Exam 3
Innate Host Resistance Chapter 33 (part)
Lab: Restriction enzymes and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) of DNA (10-2)
Week 13 April 20
Lecture: Recombinant DNA Technology Chapter 17
Lab: Polymerase chain reaction, PCR (10-4)
Week 14 April 25 and 27
Lecture: Bacterial Genome Replication and Expression Chapter 13
Lab: Transformation of bacteria (10-3); Sequencing and Bioinformatics
Week 15 May 2 and 4
Lecture: Tuesday - Exam 4
Regulation of Bacterial Cellular Processes Chapter 14 (selected parts)
Lab: Plaque assay to determine virus titer (6-5)
Week 16 May 9 and 11
Lecture: Review
Thursday - Final Exam
Lab: Tuesday - Turn in report for Bacterial Unknown Project
- Review notebooks and lab clean up