INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY
(BiSc 2337)
This course surveys the microbial world and the contributions microbes and
microbiology have made to modern biological sciences. Particular aspects of contemporary
importance, including significant areas of modern microbiological research, are covered in
some detail and include: the role of microbes in biogeochemical cycling, the diverse and
unusual metabolism of the Archeae (the extremophiles), the public health crisis posed by
antibiotic drug resistant bacteria (“superbugs”), emergent viruses, the Microbiome Project, and
recent advances in molecular pathogenomics which now offer unique insights into the
evolution of host-pathogen relationships. The laboratory section will teach basic microbiological
techniques but will emphasize the application of these techniques to research projects devised
and carried out by small groups of students.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1) Introduce students to bodies of knowledge and traditions of inquiry relating to microbiology
that had not previously been part of their experience;
2) Equip these same students with the analytical skills - of argument, statistical modeling, and
laboratory procedure – that will enable them to move confidently within those traditions and to
apply them to research projects.
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES
Part One. A Survey of the Microbial World
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Introduction to the class
A history of microbiology and survey of microbial life
Prokaryotic microbes: form, structure and diversity
Eukaryotic microbes: form, structure and diversity
The microbe and the terrain: the Irish Potato Famine
Learning Outcomes
 Students should understand that microbiology is a vibrant discipline and impinges on
many of the other biological sciences.
 Students will be encouraged to explore, in general terms, the diversity of microbes in
each of the three Kingdoms of life. They will know about modern methods of
classification, and classification schemes such as Bergey’s Manual.
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Students will understand that bacteria are essentially colonial organisms and many
undergo both cellular and colonial differentiation during their life cycles.
Students will develop an understanding of the major theories of microbiology, principally
monomorphism and the fixity of microbial form and function, the Germ Theory (in its
traditional and “molecular” manifestations), and the “pleiomorphic” view of microbes
that emphasizes cellular and colonial dynamism in response to environmental stimuli.
Part Two. Microbial Nutrition and Metabolism
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Growth, nutrition and metabolism of microbes
Factors affecting growth
Microbial ecology: biogeochemical cycles and biodegradation
The extremophiles
Learning Outcomes
 Students will gain an understanding of how microbes grow, how growth is measure,
and how it can be manipulated for microbial isolation and characterization.
 Students will know the nutritional needs and nutritional diversity of microbes, and
the basics of carbon and energy metabolism.
 Students will be aware of the differences and similarities between photoautotrophs,
photoheterotrophs, chemoautotrophs and chemoheterotrophs.
 Students will appreciate the role of microorganisms in biogeochemical pathways and
the special importance of the “extremophiles”.
 Students will understand how these aspects have been applied to agricultural,
environmental and industrial microbiology.
Part Three. Microbial Genetics
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The genetic diversity of microbes
Gene regulation in microbes
Genetic transfer and recombination
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be aware the nature of the genetic material in bacteria, the function of
extrachromosomal DNA, and the concepts of “The Unity of Plasmid Biology”.
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Students will learn how genes are regulated in bacteria (the operon theory) but also
how cellular regulation (phosphotransferase systems, two-component signal
transduction, etc.) operates in nutrition, motility and response to environmental
fluctuations.
Students will comprehend how gene exchange occurs in bacteria and how these
phenomena have been utilized for studies on bacterial genetics and the invention of
recombinant DNA technology and its applications.
Part Four. Antibiotic Resistance and Bacterial Evolution
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Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance
Plasmids and transposable DNA
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and the generation of bacterial diversity
Learning Outcomes
 Students will learn how antibiotics were discovered and their mechanisms of action
against bacteria.
 Students will be cognizant of the current public health threat posed by antibiotic
resistance and how this has arisen, including the role of R plasmids and transposable
elements, horizontal gene transfer, and the prolific use of antibiotics in medicine and
agriculture.
 Students will be aware of alternative therapies, such as phage therapy, probiotics,
and antimicrobial peptides.
 Students will know how horizontal gene transfer has contributed to bacterial
diversity and evolution.
Part Four. Viruses, Viroids and Prions
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Viruses
Emerging viruses
Pandemic influenza
Prions
Learning Outcomes
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Students will be able to relate the biology of viruses and viral infection in bacteria, plants
and animals. They will be able to explain the infective cycle of DNA and RNA viruses, and
the nature of lysogeny in bacteria and transformation in animal cells.
Students will be aware of the nature and scope of viral zoonoses and the causes and
consequences of emerging viral diseases, with examples.
Students will be able to explain the infective cycle of influenza viruses and the evolution
of flu viruses through antigenic shift and antigenic drift and the emergence of “Avian
Flu”. They will understand the current theories explaining the emergence of influenza
and other viral epidemics and pandemics.
Students will learn about the prion diseases, the fundaments of the “Prion Hypopthesis”,
and the controversial challenge that prions pose for modern biology.
Part Five. Microbes and Disease
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Microbes and disease: the basic principles of pathogenesis
The human microbiota and the Microbiome Project
Biological warfare
Molecular pathogenicity: the “eco-evo” view of microbial disease
The natural history of infectious diseases: cholera, bubonic plague and tuberculosis
Learning Outcomes
 Students will know about the modern definitions and concepts of bacterial
pathogenesis and bacterial virulence. They will understand virulence factors and
their role in pathogenesis, and the organization and evolution of virulence genes as
revealed by contemporary genomic studies (molecular pathogenomics).
 Students will learn about host defense mechanisms against bacterial infection and
will be particularly aware of the role played by the host’s microbiota and the scope of
the Human Microbiome Project (HMP).
 Students will have a broad knowledge about microbial diseases in humans, with
examples, and how disease etiology is affected by environmental and evolutionary
factors (the “eco-evo” view of infectious disease).
SCHEDULE OF LABORATORIES
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Orientation. Oil immersion microscopy. Bacterial shapes and aggregates
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Basic microbiological techniques. Simple staining, gram staining and spore staining.
Growth of bacteria on basic and selective media. Techniques for establishing pure
culture.
Learning Outcomes
 The use of the microscope, staining techniques and live mounts for assessing
bacterial shape, aggregation and motility will be second nature to students.
 They will be expert in aseptic technique, pure culture methods and the use of
cultural and physical techniques for the enrichment, isolation and differentiation
of microbes.
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Quantitative methods. The use of selective and differential media. Biochemical
characteristics of microbes. Diagnostic testing. Environmental, water and food
microbiology.
Learning Outcomes
o Students will be able to choose and use selective and differential media and
routine physiological/biochemical tests to identify different bacterial types.
o Students will be capable of quantifying bacteria from a variety of sources (food,
soil, water) using viable count methods and water filtration methods.
o Students will know how to apply these techniques for standard microbial
evaluations of food, milk and water samples.
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First project: isolation and characterization of bacteria from natural habitats.
Learning Outcomes
 Students will learn how to develop and carry out simple independent research
projects on the isolation, quantification and characterization of microbes, by
applying the techniques they have learned previously.
 Students will be able to formulate their research plans in the form of a written
proposal.
 Students will be given experience in communicating their results and conclusions
in the writing of a formal research paper.
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Genetic and molecular techniques. Transformation. Antimicrobial assays: Kirby-Bauer,
MIC and MKC determinations. Testing for antibiotic resistance. Plasmid DNA isolation.
Agarose gel electrophoresis. Bacteriophage titration and characterization.
Learning Outcomes
o Students will learn how to apply and interpret standard techniques for for
assessing antimicrobial compounds and antibiotics.
o Students will have experience in DNA purification procedures and the
characterization of plasmid DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis and PCR.
o Students will be able to identify and quantify bacteriophages using standard
techniques.
o Students will know how to apply transformation, transduction and transfection
to bacterial cell lines to demonstrate the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.
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Second project: Multiple antibiotic drug resistance: R Plasmid characterization: Isolation
and characterization of bio-protective properties of herbs and spices.
ASSIGNMENTS
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Examinations. Three take-home examinations will be scheduled for the semester. The
examinations will be comprehensive and will test your ability to interpret experimental
data, devise experiments to investigate certain assumptions, and research topics in
contemporary microbiology. (40% of the total grade.)
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Proposal. You will be carrying out two research projects during the semester: for the
first (and major project), you will be required to write a short research proposal.
Instructions will be given in class and posted on Blackboard. (20% of the total grade.)
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Research Papers. You will write two research papers this semester based upon the two
projects you carry out in the laboratory section. Full instructions, as before, will be
provided at the time and made available on Blackboard. (First paper: 25% of the total
grade; second paper: 15% of the total grade.)
Written assignments (proposal and first research paper), once graded, may be revised
and resubmitted at the instructor’s discretion: final grades for the assignment will then
be based on the average score for both submissions.
GRADING SCALE
Score
Grade
>95
A
94-90
A-
89-85
B+
84-80
B
79-75
B-
74-70
C+
69-65
C
64-60
C-
59-55
D
CLASS AND EXAMINATIONS POLICIES
Complete attendance of lectures and laboratories is required. Regular roll-calls will be taken.
Students who cannot attend a lecture or laboratory must inform the instructor beforehand.
Delinquent students will be issued one warning only: thereafter, continued failure to attend
classes will result in either a lowered grade or dismissal from, and failure of, the course.
All assignments are due on the appointed dates. Late submissions will not be graded.
Exceptions will be considered only in the case of illness (when a doctor’s note will be required)
or family emergency. You are expected to be familiar with and abide by the Code of Academic
Integrity. Any violation will be reported at once to the Office of Academic Integrity and may
result in immediate dismissal from the course
TEXTBOOKS
A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory (Fourth Edition). M.J. Leboffe and B.E.
Pierce (available in the bookstore)
Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology. www.textbookofbacteriology.net
A Laboratory Guide to Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, The George
Washington University (available in class and on Blackboard)
Consult Announcements and Files on Blackboard regularly for laboratory manual updates, key
research papers and other course materials.
INSTRUCTOR
David Morris
349 Lisner Hall, 404 Bell Hall
994-3882; 994-0996. E-mail: morrisd@gwu.edu
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday between 8 and 10 in the mornings.