Microbiology

5 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021626BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Due to specific risks and security issues, students bachelor biology must have successfully passed ‘Laboratory Skills in Biology’ before they can enroll for 'Microbiology'. Enrolling in 'Microbiology' means that students bachelor bioengineering sciences and students bridging programme biology simultaneously follow 'Biochemistry' or have successfully passed 'Biochemistry'. In order to enroll for this course, students bachelor bioengineering sciences must either simultaneously enroll for the course ‘General and Molecular Genetics including Bio-Ethics Seminars’ or have successfully passed ‘General and Molecular Genetics including Bio-Ethics Seminars’.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences

Department

Bio-Engineering Sciences

Educational team

Eveline Peeters (course titular)
Janne Swinnen
Karl Jonckheere

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

This course will provide a basic introduction into the fascinating world of microorganisms from a variety of different viewpoints (molecular, cellular, biochemical and ecological). An emphasis will be placed: i) on microbial and viral diversity and how this is linked to an evolutionary context and ii) on the relationship between physiology and ecological context. After discussing cell morphology, we will unravel the molecular structure of the microbial cell envelope and of inclusion and surface structures, including structure of viruses. We will discuss microbial growth from an individual and population perspective and learn how growth is affected by environmental parameters (temperature, pH, oxygen). The origin of life and evolution of microorganisms will be discussed followed by an introduction to phylogenetics. This will be linked to systematic methods to identify and classify microorganisms. A large part of the course will focus on concepts of microbial metabolism by discussing energy generation (chemoorganotrophy, chemolithotrophy, (an-)aerobic respiration, fermentation, (an-)oxygenic photosynthesis), nitrogen and carbon fixation strategies as well as specialized microbial metabolisms (methanotrophy, methanogenesis, acetogenesis, annamox) and the underlying biochemical pathways. Examples that demonstrate the metabolic and physiological diversity of microorganisms will be discussed in the context of their habitats. Finally, we will learn about the ecological roles of microorganisms and discuss the carbon, nitrogen and sulfur nutrient cycles. Throughout the course, students will be familiarized with microbiological research techniques linked to the different course topics (e.g. microscopy, phylogenetic analysis) and their awareness will be raised regarding the importance of microorganisms from medical, agricultural and biotechnological perspectives. In a practical subcourse theoretical principles will be illustrated and practical skills will be learned for isolation, identification and manipulation of microorganisms.

Course material

Handbook (Recommended) : Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Madigan, Martinko, Bender, Buckly & Stahl, 15de, Pearson, 9781292404790, 2021
Digital course material (Required) : Slides Powerpoint presentaties, Eveline Peeters
Handbook (Recommended) : Prescott's Microbiology, Willey, Sherwood & Woolverton, 10de, McGraw Hill, 9781265123031, 2023
Practical course material (Required) : Practicumhandleiding

Additional info

Attendance is required for practical sessions.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Students can define microbiological concepts.

Students can describe molecular en cellular (sub-)structures of micro-organisms and give schematic diagrams thereoff.

Students can describe metabolic processes, indicate energetic and redox conversions and name differences and similarities between different metabolic pathways.

Students can explain how microbial physiology and metabolism is related to their environment and habitat and they can schematically draw nutrient cycles.

Students can propose the best suited research method for a microbiological research question and can justify this proposal.

Students can implement techniques inherent to microbial research experiments taking into account biosafety rules (a.o. aseptic manipulation and accurate pipetting).

Students can interpret results of microbial experiments and explain them in the context of microbial physiology.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
Written Exam determines 20% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 20% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral exam with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Note: Oral exam with written preparation

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written exam with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written report on practicals with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Not applicable.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context