General Microbiology
MICR-300 SPRING 2005
Lecture MW 10:50am – 12:05 pm, BS-334
Lab, MW 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, BS-111 and -119
Lecture Instructor
Dr. Howard Xu; Office: BS-174; Office Hours: M: 2:40 pm – 4:20 pm; R: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Tel: (323) 343-2188; hxu3@calstatela.edu
Website: http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/hxu3/
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Lab instructors
Omar Murillo, Section 02, (323) 343-2079; email:
Office: BS-307.
JMurillo@aol.com
, Office Hr: To be determined.
Safi Moshkani, Section 03, (323) 343-2079; email: smoshka2@calstatela.edu
;
Office Hr: MW: 3:00-3:30. Office: BS 307
Prerequisites : BIOL-100B and CHEM-102
Textbook: Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 11 th
ed., by M. T. Madigan and J. M. Martinko, Pearson Prentice
Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Laboratory Manual : Compiled by Microbiology Faculty at CSULA and available at Student BOOK mart at
1725A N. Eastern Ave.
Course Objectives
Understand the structure, growth, nutrition, metabolism, genetics and diversity of microbes;
Introduce the students to environmental, industrial and medical aspects of microbiology and biotechnology;
Attendance
Laboratory attendance is mandatory!
Lecture attendance is strongly recommended since lecture examinations will be based on material presented in lecture and there will be quizzes during the some lectures.
Performance evaluation : 750 points total
Lecture : 400 points
40 Quizzes (a total of FOUR quizzes will be held before select lectures)
100 Midterm Examination 1
100 Midterm Examination 2
160 Final (comprehensive) Examination
Note: Each examination (including the final) will include 10 points for a summary report (written in your own words) based on stories or reports from the general news media (news paper, web etc) related to Microbiology.
The report should be typed and include your explanation how the chosen article/story relates to the class material. It is due at the beginning of the examination period.
Laboratory: 350 points
20 Quizzes 1, 2 (10 point each)
120 Exercise Reports and Questions 1 to 20 (6 point for each exercise)
100 Laboratory Midterm
100 Comprehensive Final Examination
10 Laboratory Notebook (random inspection of student lab notebook will be made by lab instructors during lab sessions)

Repeated failure to follow laboratory rules will result in point deductions. Lab Exercise Reports/Questions are due ONE WEEK after the completion of any particular exercise at the end of Lab Session. Failure to turn in
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Report/Question will result in deduction of points for the particular exercise (deduction of 20% of the earned points for each day late after the due date).
Grades : Based on % of achievable points obtained
Points (lecture + laboratory) / 750 points x 100 = % achieved
A :  92 %
A -: 90 – 91%
B+ : 88 – 89%
B : 82 – 87%
B- : 80 – 81%
C+ : 78 – 79%
C : 72 – 77%
C- : 70 – 71%
D+ : 68 – 69%
D : 62 – 67%
D- : 60 – 61%
In borderline cases (passing/ non-passing or grade levels) active participation in lecture and laboratory may be considered for the final outcome.
General Information
No make-up examination/quiz/report. Missed events will be set as “0 points” unless satisfactorily justified (e.g. doctor’s note). No make-up laboratory sessions. Laboratory absence needs to be satisfactorily justified and a written report describing the exercises missed must be presented. Students must provide their own laboratory coats, glass slides and colored markers for writing on tubes/plates (such as Sharpies). The University Academic
Honesty Policy and the Drop/Incomplete Policy explained in the University General Catalogue will be strictly followed. Only the lecture instructor can issue Drops and Incompletes. Students are responsible for the prerequisites for this course and are encouraged to discuss any questions regarding the policies and prerequisites with the lecture instructor. Students with disabilities: Please contact the instructor to arrange appropriate accommodations.

Day-Date
M-3/27
W-3/29
M-4/3
W-4/5
M-4/10
W-4/12
M-4/17
W-4/19
M-4/24
W-4/26
M-5/1
W-5/3
M-5/8
W-5/10
M-5/15
W-5/17
M-5/22
W-5/24
M-5/29
W-5/31
M-6/5
MICR300 Schedule
Microbial Metabolism
(Nutrition and Growth)
Microbial Metabolism
Microbial Physiology
Microbial Physiology
MIDTERM 1
Lecture Topic
Introduction, History and Microscopy
Structure and Function of Bacteria
Microbial Diversity: Bacteria
Overview Microbial Diversity; Prokaryotic,
Eukaryotic Cell; Taxonomy, Nomenclauture
Laboratory Experiments
Ex.1. Microscopy, Discussion of measurements, Demoslides:
Staphylococci, Blood smear, Candida,
Ex.2. Smear preparation, Simple Stain, Gram Stain;
Ex.4. Transfer and isolation of microorganisms (1 st period)
Ex.3. Special staining: acid fast, spore stain, capsular stain;
Ex.4. Transfer and isolation of microorganisms (2 nd period)
Ex.5. Nutrient requirements, minimal media +/- glucose;
Ex.4. Transfer and isolation of microorganism (3 rd period)
Ex.6. Bacterial growth curve (1 st period);
Ex.4. Transfer and isolation of microorganism (4 th period)
Quiz 1 (10 Points)
Ex.7. Bacterial physiology: atmosphere, temperature, pH, and osmolarity (1 st period);
Ex.6 Bacterial growth curve (2 nd period)
Ex.8. Differential and selective media (1 st period);
Ex.7. Bacterial physiology: atmosphere, temperature, pH, and osmolarity (2 nd period);
Ex.8. Differential and selective media (2 nd period);
Ex.9. Mycology (fungal culture, SAB, chromagar, mycomount, demo slides) (1 st period);
Microbial Diversity: Archaea and Fungi Appendix 1: Multimedia: Extremophils
Ex.8. Differential and selective media (3 rd period);
Ex.9. Mycology (2 nd period);
Ex.8. Differential and selective media (4 th period); Microbial Diversity: Viruses
Microbial Genetics
Biotechnology
MIDTERM2
Environmental Microbiology
LAB MIDTERM (100 Points)
Ex.10. Pipetting techniques;
Ex.11. Serial dilution of a plaque, plaque assay (1 st period)
Ex.12. Auxotroph mutants (1 st period);
Ex.13. Conjugation (1 st period);
Ex.11. Serial dilution of a plaque, plaque assay (2 nd period)
Ex.14. Miniprep, restriction digest, minigel
Ex.12. Auxotroph mutants (2 nd period);
Ex.13. Conjugation (2 nd period);
Quiz 2 (10 Points)
Ex.15. Soil culture (1 st period);
Ex.18. Blood leukocyte differentiation;
Appendix 3: 16SrRNA Computer exercise
Industrial Microbiology (no class); FIELD TRIP to waste water treatment plant (Hyperion); Board our chartered bus at 10:50 am sharp in front of Parking Info Kiosk located in Lot D
Mechanism of Pathogenicity Ex.17. C. difficile cytotoxicity (1 st period)
Ex.15. Soil culture (2 nd period)
Ex.19. Lysoplate (1 st period);
Overview of Host Defenses
Innate Immunity
Adaptive Immunity
Memorial Day holiday, no class
Ex.17. C. difficile cytotoxicity (2 nd period)
Ex.15. Soil culture (3 rd period);
Ex.19. Lysoplate (2 nd period);
Ex.20. Radial immunodiffusion (1 st period);
Ex.20. Radial immunodiffusion (2 nd period);
Ex.15. Soil culture (4 th period);
Clean out lockers
No lab
Immunizations and Vaccinations
Antibiotics, Disinfection, Sterilization, and
Antisepsis
LECTURE FINAL (10:45 – 1:15 PM)
LAB FINAL (100 points)
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