Course Contents

Light microscopy and microbial identification; biophysical and biochemical factors for growth, culture enrichment and isolation; anaerobic cultures; solid cultures; batch and continuous cultures; methods of growth measurement; culture preservation; mutation and protoplast fusion for culture improvement; gene transfer by transformation, transduction and conjugation; microbial metabolism; classification and characteristics of main groups of microorganisms; growth under extreme environments; archaebacteria; structure and biology of bacteriophages; animal and plant viruses. Body defense mechanisms; the immune system; antibody strucure; monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. control of microorganisms: sterilization and disinfection, antimicrobial agents, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and susceptibility, antifungal and antiviral agents; cell death; symbiosis, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus cycles; microbiology of soil, freshwater and seawater.

Course Synopsis

This course aims to familiarize students with fundamentals of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial life including viruses. It helps the students to understand the classification and characteristics of microorganisms.