Nahed Salama, PhD

Professor of Science, SUNY Rockland Community College, NY

Bio 207 - Microbiology [Lecture]

UNIT I: CHAPTER OVERVIEWS AND OUTLINES

This unit covers topics discussed in chapters: 1, 4, 7 and 8 of Talaro and Talaro 4^th Edition Textbook, Foundations in Microbiology.

CHAPTER 1

THE MAIN THEMES OF MICROBIOLOGY

Chapter Overview:

The chapter reveals the scope of microbiology and gives a broad overview of the areas of science included in this topic.  Bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, algae, and helminths, all of which may be harmful or beneficial, are included in the study of microbiology.  An introduction to the history of microbiology is provided.  The chapter also covers the major scientific contribution to the development of microbiology.  A significant portion of the historical description is devoted to the development of the microscopes and the formation of germ theory.

An organized system for classifying and naming microorganisms is introduced. This is helpful towards identifying each individual microorganism.  The basis of taxonomy is discussed and the order of assigning specific names is presented.

 Chapter Outline:

1.                  The Scope of Microbiology:

·        Discusses microbiology and the microbes it encompasses.

·        Explain practical application of microbiology.

·        WHO- World Health Organization.

2.                  The General Characteristics of Microorganisms:

·        Cellular Organization

A.  Prokaryotic Cells

B.   Eukaryotic Cells.

·        A note on viruses.

·        Microbial Dimension: How small is small?

·        Life-styles of Microorganism  (this topic will be extensively covered in unit III)

C.   Parasite

D.   Host

3.                  The Historical Foundation of Microbiology:

·        The Development of the Microscope: ‘Seeing Is Believing

·        The Rise of the Scientific Method

·        The Discovery of Pathogens and the Germ Theory  of Disease

4.                  Taxonomy: Organizing, Classifying, and Naming Microorganisms.

·        The level I Classification: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

·        Assigning Specific Names

·        The Origin and Evolution of Microorganisms.

A.    kingdom Monera (Procaryotae)

B.    Kingdom Protista

C.    Kingdom Myceteae (fungi)

D.    Kingdom Animalia

E.    Kingdom Plantae

CHAPTER 4

Prokayotic Profiles: The Bacteria and Archaea

 Chapter Overview:

In this section of Unit I, the specific structure of the procaryotic cell is introduced.   The internal organization and physiology are also discussed and presented in diagram format.  The motility, cell envelope, cell wall, cell membrane, mesosome, protoplasm, and internal structures are presented.

The differences between Gram-positive cells wall & Gram-negative cell wall and their response to the gram stain procedures are described in lecture.  The actual staining techniques are applied  in lab (Simple, Gram & Acid-fast Staining).

The Bacterial shapes, arrangements, and classification systems are stressed.  Some of the methods used for bacterial identification are examined.

The chapter ends with the discussion of unusual bacteria, however, this part is added at the end of the Unit I.

Chapter Outline:

1.      Prokaryotic Form and Function: External StructureGeneral Cellular Organization of a Procaryotic Cell.

2.  The structure of a Generalized Procaryotic Cell

    ·   Appendages: Cell Extensions

    ·   Flagella-Bacterial Propellers

    ·   Appendages for Attachment and Matting

         A.     Pilus or Fimbria

         B.     Conjugation

·        The Cell Envelope: The outer Wrapping of Bacteria

·        The Bacteria Surface Coating, or Glycocalyx

·        Functions of Glycocalyx

·        The Cell Wall: Multipurpose Framework of the Cell

·        Differences in Cell Wall Structure

·        The Gram-Positive Cell Wall.

·        The Gram-Negative Cell Wall.

·        Practical Considerations of Differences in Cell Wall Structure

·        Exceptions in the Cell Wall.

·        The Cell Membrane: The Multipurpose Integument 

Mesosom

·        Functions of the Cell Membrane and Mesosomes

3.      Bacterial Form and Function: Internal Structure

·        Cytoplasm and the Internal Contents of Cells

·        Chromatin Bodies/Plasmids

·        Ribosomes: Sites of Protein Synthesis

·        Granules or Inclusions: Storage Bodies

·        Bacterial Endosproes: Resistance in the Extreme

·        Endospore Formation and Resistance

·        The Germination of Endospores

·        Practical Significance of Bacterial Spores.

4.      Bacterial Shapes, Arrangements, Sizes

·        Shapes:

     A.     coccus

     B.     bacillus

     C.    spirillum

     D.    spirochete

     E.     vibrio

     F.     pleomorphism

·        Arrangement:

     G.    single

     H.     paired

          -          diplococci        -          tetrads

      I.         irregular clusters

     J.      chains

     K.     packets

     L.      palisades

·        Dimension:

5.  Bacterial Identification and Classification Systems:

This section of the chapter is briefly mentioned in lecture but extensively studied in lab.

6.      Survey of Selective Procaryotic Groups with Unusual Characteristics:

1. Richettsias       B.  Chlamydias         C.  Mycoplasmas

 CHAPTER 7

Elements of Microbial Nutrition, Ecology and Growth

Chapter Overview: 

Microorganisms grow under various conditions involving nutrients and energy sources, temperature, moisture, gaseous environment, osmotic pressure, pH, presence or absence of light or radiation, and presence of other organisms.  Changes in any or all of these conditions can alter the growth pattern of the microorganism.  The study of microbial growth patterns involves determining generation times and normal growth curves.

Chapter Outline: 

1. Life in the Extremes:

       ·  Hot and Cold

       ·  Salt, Acidity, Alkalinity, and others

2. Microbial Nutrition:

         ·   Chemical Analysis of Microbial Protoplasm

       ·        Sources of Essential Nutrients

       ·        Carbon Sources

       ·        Nitrogen Sources

       ·        Oxygen Sources

       ·        Hydrogen Sources

       ·        Phosphorus (Phosphate) Sources

        ·        Sulfur Sources

       ·        Other Nutrients Important in Microbial Metabolism

            A.    Potassium

            B.     Sodium

            C.    Calcium

            D.    Magnesium

            E.     Iron

       ·    Growth Factors: Essential Organic Nutrients:

       ·        How Microbes Feed; Nutritional Types:

             F.     Phototrophs

             G.    Chemotrophs

       ·        Autotrophs and Their Energy Sources

             H.     Photoautotrophs

              I.      Chemoautotrophs

             J.      Lithoautotrophs

       ·        Heterotroph and Their Energy Sources:

             K.     Chemoheterotrophs

             L.      Saprobes

             M.    Parasites

       ·        Saprobic microorganisms

       ·        Patasitic Microorganisms

       ·        Transport mechanism for Nutrient Absorption (Bio 110)

             N.     Passive transport

             O.    Active Transport

             P.     Bulk transport

       ·        Passive Transport: Diffusion, Osmosis

             Q.    Isotonic

             R.     Hyotonic

             S.     Hypertonic

       ·        Direction of Net water Movement.

       ·        Active Transport: Bringing in Nutrients Against a              Gradient.

       ·        Bulk Transport: Eating and Drinking by Cells

             T.      Phagocytosis

             U.     Pinocytosis

3. Environmental Factors That Influence Microbes: (This Section is tested in lab)

        ·  Temperature Adaptations

             A.     Psychrophile

             B.     Mesophile

             C.    Thermophile

       ·        Gas Requirements

       ·        How Microbes Handle Oxygen

             D.    Aerobe

             E.     Obligate Aerobe

             F.     Facultative Anaerobe

             G.    Microaerophile

             H.     Anaerobe

              I.         Strict or obligate Anaerobe

             J.      Aerotolerant Anaerobes

       ·        Effect of pH:

             K.     Acidophils

             L.      Alkalinophils

       ·        Osmotic Pressure:

             M.    Halophiles

       ·        Ecological Associations Among Microorganisms

             N.     Symbiosis

             O.    Mutualism

       ·        Symbiosis between Microbes and Animals

       ·        Thermal Vent symbionts

             P.     Commensalism

             Q.    Parasitism

             R.     Synergism

             S.     Antagonism

       ·        Interrelationship Between Microbes and Humans

             T.      Norman Microbial Flora

4.   The Study of Microbial Growth:

        ·    The Basis of Population Growth: Binary Fission

       ·        The Rate of Population Growth

            A.   Generation or Doubling Time

       ·        Aspects of Population Growth

       ·        Stages in the Normal Growth

                          B.  Lag Phase

                          C. Exponential or Log Phase

       ·        Practical Importance of the Growth Curve

       ·        Other Methods of Analyzing population Growth

       ·        Enumeration of Bacteria

 CHAPTER 8

Microbial Metabolism: The Chemical Crossroad of Life

Chapter Overview:

This chapter covers the metabolism of microorganisms.  It examines the nature of enzymes, function of enzymes, the flow of energy through the cell, and energy pathways.

Chapter Outline:

 1.      The Metabolism of Microbes

       ·        Enzymes: Catalyzing the Chemical Reactions of Life

       ·        How Do Enzymes Work?

       ·        Enzyme Structure

       ·        Apoenzymes: Specificity and the Active Site

       ·        Enzymes-Substrate Interactions

       ·        Cofactors: Supporting the Work of Enzymes

       ·        Classification of Enzyme Functions

            A.     Location and Regularity of Enzyme Action

            B.     Synthesis and Hydrolysis Reactions

            C.    Transfer Reactions by Enzymes

            D.    The Role of Microbial Enzymes in Disease

       ·        The Sensitivity of Enzymes to Their Environments

       ·        Regulation of Enzymatic Activity and Metabolic Pathways

       ·        Metabolic Pathways

       ·        Direct Controls on the Behavior of Enzymes

            E.     Competitive Inhibition

            F.     Feedback Control

       ·        Controls on Enzyme Synthesis

2.      The Pursuit and Utilization of Energy:

       ·        The Energy in Electrons

       ·        A Closer look to Biological Oxidation and Reduction

       ·        Adenosine Triphosphate: Metabolic Money

            A.     The Molecular Structure of ATP

            B.     The Metabolic Role of ATP

3.      Pathways of Bioenergetics:

       ·        Catabolism: An Overview of Nutritional Breakdown and Energy release

       ·        Aerobic respiration

       ·        Glucose: The Starting compound

       ·        Glycolysis: The Starting Lineup

       ·        Steps in the Glycolytic Pathway

       ·        Pyruvic Acid-A Central Metabolite

       ·        The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle-A Carbon and Energy Wheel.

       ·        The Respiratory Chain:  Electron transport And Oxidative Phosphorylation 

            A.     Element of Electron Transport: The Energy Cascade.

            B.     The formation of ATP

            C.    Potential Yield of ATP’S from Oxidative Phosphorylation

       ·        Anaerobic Respiration

            A.     Importance of Fermentation

            B.     Products of Fermentation

 Study Resources:

·        Principal textbook: Foundation In Microbiology, by Talaro & talaro.

·        Additional Textbooks: Microbiology Principle and Application By Creager, Black, and Davison (Science Learning Center).

·        Lecture Handout & Dr. Salama website.

·        Text Website:

·        CD of the textbook.

·        Videotapes:  Un-Seen World: tape#1

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