Syllabus academic year 2008/2009
(Created 2008-07-17.)
MICROBIOLOGYEXTN01

Higher education credits: 15. Grading scale: UV. Level: A (Second level). Language of instruction: The course might be given in English. Optional for: N4, N4nbm. Course coordinator: Klas Flärdh, klas.flardh@cob.lu.se, Inst f cell- och organismbiologi. Prerequisites: TEK285 Chemistry – from General Chemistry to the Molecules of Life, TEK295 Biology of the Cell, TEK015 Human Physiology, TEK287 Biochemistry and TEK012 Genetics and Microbiology. The number of participants is limited to 5 Selection criteria: Credits remaining for the degree. Assessment: Teaching consists of lectures, practicals and seminars. One extensive practical project work is included. All participants give an oral presentation of their project work. Study visits are made at laboratories and industries related to microbiology. Practicals and seminars, and the course elements associated with these are compulsory. Examination takes the form of written tests at the end of the course. Students who fail the ordinary tests will have an opportunity to take another test in close proximity to the ordinary test. To be awarded a Pass on the whole course the students shall have passed the tests, have acceptable practical reports and to have participated in all compulsory course elements. The final grade for the course is determined by the result of the written examination. Home page: http://www.cob.lu.se.

Aim
The aim of the course is to provide knowledge for advanced studies, work and research especially within chemical-biological-biochemical areas.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Contents
Phylogeny, classification and diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms.

Structure and function of prokaryotic cells. Transport of small molecules over membranes. Translocation of proteins over membranes.

Oxidation of organic compounds. Metabolism of carbon and nitrogen. Aerobic och anaerobic energy metabolism. Chemolithotrofy. Bacterial photosynthesis. Synthesis of building blocks for macromolecules.

Microbial growth. Bacterial cell cycles and cellular differentiation.

Global regulatory systems in bacteria. Motility and chemotaxis. Communication between cells.

Introduction to microbial ecology. Biogeochemical cycles.

Introduction to medical bacteriology. Toxins. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.

Overview of applied microbiology (food, industrial microbiology, interactions between plants and bacteria).

Basic microbiological and aseptic techniques, media and cultivation. Enrichment and isolation.

Literature
According to a list established by the department, available at least five weeks before the start of the course, see the web-page for Undergraduate Studies in Biology.