Department of Biological Sciences

BIO 205

Elements of Microbiology

Summer Session II 2002

 

Instructor:      Dr. Fernando Monroy

Office:             Biol. Sci. 203

Phone:             Office 523-0042

Email:             Fernando.Monroy@nau.edu

Web site:                    http://www2.nau.edu/~fpm/

Office Hours: 11:00 - 1:00 PM Tuesday and Thursday (right after class). Do not just show up outside office hours without an appointment!!

 

Course Prerequisites:             One semester each of college level Biology and Chemistry.

 

Course Location : Lectures in Science Building (21) room 234 daily from 9:00-11:00 AM .

 

Required Textbook. Microbiology- An Introduction by Tortora, Funke & Case, Publisher Allison Wesley – Benjamin Cummings, 7th Edition, 2001.

 

Required Laboratory Material: Elements of Microbiology by Richard Shand, Published by the NAU Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2000. Other books required for the laboratory include “A Photographic Atlas of Microbiology”, and “How to Write a Scientific Paper”.

 

Course Description:   This course represents a general introduction to microorganisms as well as to biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology. It includes a comprehensive coverage of the biochemistry and genetics associated with microorganisms. In addition we will cover the control of microorganisms in our environment as well as in the bodies of patients with infectious diseases. A reasonably complete account of immunology as well as vaccination disease control programs will be covered. Medical microbiology will be covered as it relates to the description, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. The course is designed to stimulate a conceptual understanding as to why infection with certain microorganisms is followed by disease while infection with other microorganisms does not produce disease.

            In general, lectures will emphasize more conceptually difficult material. For other material that is relevant but was covered in your previous BIO181, I will ask you to review and learn it on your own by reading assigned pages from your textbook.

 

Course Objectives:

1) To promote critical thinking among students; 2) to provide students with a foundation in microbiology and microbiological processes; 3) to provide students with knowledge on how microbes can cause and spread disease and 4) to provide knowledge of how the immune system protect us from daily contact with microorganisms.    In this class we are going to build on your previous knowledge in biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology learned in BIO181.

 

Expectations of the Students:

1) Although there is a significant memorization component to this course, students will be tested on their problem solving abilities. Consequently students who simply memorize material in preparation for the examinations score much lower than students who actually understand the material and can apply what they know to problems that they have not seen before.   Many exam questions will require not only that you have command of covered factual information, and understand it, but also be able to extrapolate material to situations not covered in class.

2) Students are expected to behave professionally at all times. For each hour you spend in lecture you will be expected to spend at least two hours in study and preparation outside the class.   You will also spend time outside the laboratory writing lab reports, studying for quizzes, preparing for upcoming labs, etc.

3) Regular attendance is critical for success.    It is recognized that absence from class is sometimes necessary. However, each student is accountable for all work missed due to any absence.    The instructor is under no obligation to make special arrangements for students who have been absent.  If you miss one class, you may be 1-2 chapters behind!!!!!

4) Students are expected to be on time and leave the classroom when the instructor indicates the class is over.

5) Following exams the instructor will return graded exams by Monday after the exam.

 

Strategies for Success: (these suggestions have helped students to be successful in the past):

1) Record the lecture on tape and then play it back while reviewing your lectures notes.  This will also help you if you have problems with the Aussie-Tex-Mex accent of the instructor.  Note that many students like to “re-write” their lecture notes.    Unfortunately, this is a singularly unproductive study method for many students. It is much more efficient to edit the notes you already have (even if they are a bit messy) while listening to the tape.

2) Form small study groups. Microbiology is a difficult subject; so forming small study groups early in the semester and getting together at least once a week to review that week’s material is very helpful.    If you can explain the material to someone else, it is likely that you will understand it yourself.

3) Learn the material as you go along rather than trying to learn it just before the exam.  There are daily lectures of 2 hours each and the amount of material accumulates quickly.

4) If you have trouble getting to office hours, take advantage of the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) for questions about this topic, as well as for help on how to improve your study.

 

Grading:  Your final grade is a combination of the course plus the laboratory. Your grade will be 75% from lecture exams, 5% from a clinical case report, and 20% from the laboratory.  The lecture contains 3 cumulative exams worth 100 points each, plus 1 non-cumulative final worth 150 points = 450 points total.   No exam will be dropped .   I may allow students who obtain A’s (90 or better) in each exam (not 96 and 88!!!) to skip the final.   However, their attendance to class would be mandatory.    The laboratory counts 20% (with a total of 300 points). To determine your final grade in the lab multiply the total number of points you earned in the lab by 0.067. Example, 250 points out of 300, now 250 x 0.067 = 16.75 points from the lab towards your final grade. The better your grade in the lab the better percentage to be used towards your final grade.

 

Grading Policy:

A - 90-100%

B - 80-89%

C - 70-79%

D - 60-69%

F - below 60%

Exam Questions: Exams for this class will primarily contain multiple choice questions, matching questions, and true/false questions.  I will try to include in each exam an essay question or diagrams for you to label and describe.

 

Examination Make-up:   No make up exams will be offered. No exceptions .

 

Curving Exams: There are NO curves in this class.

 

a) Lecture Grade: Three one-hour exams of 50 questions each.    Lecture will follow the exam so, you can only take 50-60 min.    Immediately following the exam, our next lecture will be provided. Starting with the second exam, five questions (45 + 5) will come from the previous exam(s).  The final exam will be weighted more than earlier exams and therefore it will contain 75 questions. This final exam is not comprehensive and only covers material from the last exam until our last lecture.

Exam 1   July 12         100

Exam 2   July 19         100

Exam 3   July 26         100

  Final Exam   August 7        150

                                           450 points . This will count for 75% of your final lecture grade

 

NOTE: All lecture exams will be preceded by a detailed study guide and an afternoon review session the Thursday before the exam.

 

b) Laboratory grade (quizzes, exams, etc for a total of 300 points).   This will count for 20% of your final grade

 

c) Clinical case report.   This will count 5% of your final grade.

 

How to do the clinical case?  Cases will be assigned by the instructor from “The Microbe Files” textbook. If you do not have a copy of this book, a copy will be place in reserve at the library.

  Requisites:

1. It must be typed

2. It can be no more than 3 pages

3. You must type the questions (you can leave out the case background) with each of your answers.

4. You must include at least 2 references

      a) Scientific paper: Sanchez, R. & Smith, R.A. 2001. How to identify intestinal

           microorganisms. Journal of Immunology. 23:121-128.

      b) Book: Sanchez, R. & Smith, R.A. 2001. How to identify intestinal

     microorganisms. In "An introduction to clinical microbiology". G.B. Patrick &

     W.S. Norman (eds). University Park Press, Babylon , New York , pp. 123-145.

c) Your book can not be one of the sources.

d) If web information is used provide the reference with the link. I will randomly select

     5-8 links from the class.

5. Keep in mind the deadline for submission of this report is Monday July 22 by 9:00 AM.

 

 

Professional Conduct: Academic dishonesty (cheating or plagiarism) will result in an F for the entire course.   Please note that we consider cheating and plagiarism as being equally unprofessional.   For further information, please check the following URL: http://www3.nau.edu/biology/policies.cfm

Note: The insurance policies carried by the university do not provide for medical coverage for students while participating in university related activities.    Students are strongly encouraged to obtain their own medical/health insurance either through coverage using their parents insurance plans or purchasing their own insurance through the Fronske Health Center .

 

Tentative Lecture Schedule:  No set timetable will exist to cover material but EXAM DATES ARE SET IN STONE.    Material covered on the exam will include that covered through the class period prior to the exam unless other specific conditions are set in class. It is unlikely that we will have time to cover all of the material listed below. If a group of students has a particular desire to learn about a particular topic, disease or microbial pathogen, bring that to my attention as early in the semester as possible.

 

         Topic                                                                                                        Date                 

Chapter 1.   The microbial world and you                                                                       July 8

 

Chapter 3. III. Observing microorganisms through a microscope             

           

Chapter 4. IV.  Functional anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells.            

A. Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic cell structure

B.  The functional anatomy of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

 

Chapter 5. Microbial Metabolism.

A. Fundamental concepts of metabolism and the importance of enzymes, catabolism versus anabolism.

B. Glycolysis

C. Krebs cycle

D. The electron transport system, the proton pump and ATP production.

E. The integration of anabolic pathways into the catabolic pathways

 

Exam 1                                                                                                                              July 12

 

Chapter 6.  Microbial Growth   

A. Physical and chemical requirements for microbial growth

B. Varieties of culture media

C. Preserving bacterial cultures

D. Quantitation of the growth of bacterial cultures

 

Chapter 7. Physical and Chemical Control of Microorganisms  

               

Chapter 8. VIII. Microbial genetics

A. Fundamental concepts and jargon in genetics

B. Genetic information is primarily used to synthesize enzymes

C. DNA replication and repair

D. RNA synthesis

E. Protein synthesis

F. Control of gene expression

G. Molecular basis of mutations

H. Sex in eukaryotes versus gene transfer in prokaryotes (bacteria)

 

Chapter 10. The formal classification of living organisms and the problems of classifying

               microorganisms   

A. Difficulties with determining the phylogenetic relationships between microorganisms and

  macroscopic living things

B. The traditional five kingdom system

C. Genetic relationships determined by gross morphology versus molecular genetics     

D. The impact of Carl Woese and the development of the three domain system

 

Exam 2                                                                                                                              July 19

 

Clinical case report due                                                                                                   July 22     

 

Chapter 13.   An Introduction to the Viruses

A. Concept of a Virus

B. Fundamental Virus Structure

C. Virus Life Cycles

D. Lytic Life Cycles Versus Latent Life Cycles

E. Oncogenic (cancer causing) Viruses

 

Chapter 14. Principles of disease and epidemiology

           

Chapter 15. Microbial mechanisms of pathogenicity

           

Chapter 16.  Nonspecific human resistance to infection by microorganisms

 

Exam 3                                                                                                                              July 26

 

Chapter 17.  The specific immune response

A. The concept of the development of immunity specific to a

Particular pathogen

B. Development of an antibody response, the nature of specific

antibody protection against pathogens

C. The stages in the development of any immune response

D. The nature of cell-mediated immune response

E. Vaccines and diagnostic immunology      

 

Chapter 19.  Hypersensitivities (allergies) and autoimmunity.

 

Chapter 25. Microbial diseases of the skin        

 

Chapter 26.  Sexually transmitted diseases                                                                    

 

Final Exam                                                                                                                        August 7