| Microbiology |
MICR 501 - Microbes in Human Disease
Credits:
4.00
Microorganisms have a profound effect on our everyday lives.
This effect can often be dramatic enough to capture many of
today's news headlines. Did you ever wonder why people died
from eating hamburgers contaminated with E. coli? How do
"flesh-eating bacteria" function? Will there be an AIDS
vaccine? This course explores the answers to these and many
other fascinating questions by examining the role of
microorganisms in human disease. The fundamental structure,
metabolism, genetics, and ecology of clinically relevant
bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and presented in
relationship to the human host and its immune system. The
foundation, incidence, and control of microbial diseases are
presented through case studies. Emphasis on active learning
in which students participate in classroom discussions,
experiments, and demonstrations. Laboratory exercises
designed to introduce techniques for the identification of
important pathogenic microorganisms and disease diagnosis.
Special fee. Lab.
MICR 501H - Honors/Microbes in Human Disease
Credits:
4.00
See description for MICR 501.
MICR 503 - General Microbiology
Credits:
5.00
Principles of microbiology; morphology, physiology,
genetics, culture, and classification of bacteria and other
microorganisms; and their relationships to agriculture,
environment, industry, sanitation, and infectious diseases.
Prereq: BIOL 411-412 or equivalent; CHEM 403-404 or
equivalent. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 504 - Brewing and Industrial Microbiology Applications
Credits:
4.00
Lectures and laboratories will address basic concepts of
microbiology, chemistry, and biochemistry related to the
brewing and food industries. The theoretical and practical
approach will serve as an integrative learning experience.
A hands-on course for students wishing to learn microbiology
industrial applications and for those working in the field
seeking to upgrade their sanitary microbiology skills.
Topics will include: bacterial cell wall composition and
Gram stain characteristics, the isolation, enumeration, and
identification of spoilage bacteria, yeast fermentation and
biochemistry, total and viable yeast counts, wild yeast,
media selection and preparation and the role of Lactobacilli
and Pediococci in beer and other foods. Biochemical testing
procedures and the HACCP food safety system will also be
emphasized. Prereq: MICR 503 or permission of the
instructor. Special fee.
MICR 600 - Field Experience
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
A supervised experience providing the opportunity to apply
academic experience in settings associated with future
professional employment and/or related graduate
opportunities. Must be approved by a faculty advisor
selected by the student. Prereq: permission. May be repeated
to a maximum of 8 credit hours. Only 4 credit hours can be
used toward the major. CR/F.
MICR 602 - Pathogenic Microbiology
Credits:
5.00
Morphologic, cultural, biochemical, serologic,
epidemiologic, and pathogenic characteristics of
microorganisms causing human and animal diseases. Discussion
of clinical presentation in host and laboratory diagnosis
and treatment measures. Prereq: MICR 503. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 603 - Bacteriology of Food
Credits:
4.00
Lectures and laboratories will address modern technical
concepts of the microbiology, physiology, and biochemistry
related to food sanitation. Theoretical and practical
approach serves as an integrative experience. Food
sanitation is a serious public health issue in the meat,
dairy, fish, and water industries. Benefits students seeking
employment in public health or sanitary microbiology fields.
Topics include: food as a substrate for microorganisms,
causes of food spoilage, foodborne disease outbreaks, public
health complications, isolation and identification of food
spoiling microorganisms, and essentials for food safety
and sanitation. Prereq: MICR 503 or equivalent. (Not offered
every year.)
MICR 604 - Bacteriology of Food Lab
Credits:
1.00
This lab will address modern technical concepts of the
microbiology, physiology, and biochemistry related to food
sanitation. Special fee.
Co-requisites:
MICR 603
MICR 651 - Biotechnology Experience: Cell Culture and Biomanufacturing
Credits:
4.00
Course begins by introducing the student to the proteins and
companies of biotechnology and to current good manufacturing
practices. Remainder of course students use cell culture of
bacteria, mammalian and yeast cells to produce human
proteins using the tools and manufacturing standards,
operating procedures of biotechnology, including upstream
and downstream processing of proteins, and quality control
of protein production. (Also offered as ANSC 651.)
MICR 655 - Biotechnology - Manufacturing
Credits:
4.00
Biotechnology Research Experience is one of two courses
that provides students with state-of-the art tools of
biotechnology and an opportunity to master skills and
acquire the knowledge needed to effectively work in a
biotechnology lab within the industry. Research protocols
used in this course illustrate aspects of the "central
dogma" of molecular biology. Prereq: BIOL 411, 412, and
MICR 503. (Also listed as ANSC 655.)
MICR #702 - Infectious Disease and Health
Credits:
5.00
Principles underlying the nature of infectious agents; the
diseases they cause; pathogenic strategies; response of the
host; intracellular parasitism; epidemiology; control
measures including vaccines and chemotherapy; action of
antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents; pharmacokinetics and
drug metabolism. Ethical issues in infectious disease
covered. Well-established pathogens and newer, emerging
human and animal disease agents covered. Prereq: MICR 700;
permission. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 704 - Genetics of Prokaryotic Microbes
Credits:
4.00
Expression and transfer of genetic elements (chromosomal and
nonchromosomal) in prokaryotic microorganisms; consideration
of factors influencing public health, industry, the
environment, and society. Students earning credit for PBIO
754; BCHM 754; GEN 754 may not receive credit for MICR 704.
Prereq: MICR 503; BCHM 658. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 705 - Immunology
Credits:
5.00
Introduction to the major cellular and molecular components
of the immune system; examination of their development and
production, their interactions with each other and with
other systems in the body, and their regulation; exploration
of their role in beneficial and harmful immune responses in
humans and animals. Prereq: MICR 503. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 706 - Virology
Credits:
3.00
Principles of animal and selected plant and bacterial
virology in relation to infection and disease. Emphasis on
the molecular biology of viruses, viral replication,
isolation, propagation, assay, pathogenesis, diagnosis,
detection, epidemiology, and control. Prereq: MICR 503.
Co-requisites:
MICR 708
MICR 707 - Marine Microbiology
Credits:
5.00
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the physiological
activities of microorganisms that influence the state of
carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, iron, manganese, phosphorous,
hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements in the sea and its
sediments. Provides an understanding of the
interrelationships between marine microorganisms and their
surroundings by integrating microbiological phenomena with
known aspects of physical, chemical, and biological
oceanography. Introduces students to the primary scientific
literature in marine microbiology, teaches each student how
to think provocatively and concertedly, and convey those
thoughts clearly and concisely in both oral and written
form. Prereq: MICR 503. Writing intensive.
MICR 708 - Virology Lab
Credits:
2.00
Principles and practices of animal, selected plants, and
bacterial virological methods for the propagation, detection
and enumeration of viruses. Prereq: MICR 503. Coreq: MICR
706. Special fee.
Co-requisites:
MICR 706
MICR 710 - Electron Microscopy and Microbial Cytology/Electron Microscopy Lab
Credits:
5.00
Ultrastructure of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses. Role
of bacterial appendages; cell membranes and cell walls;
cytoplasmic inclusions; cell division and sporulation and
virus ultrastructure. Preparative electron microscopy
techniques for biological material described in detail.
Practical applications of electron microscopy
instrumentation together with theory of electron optics,
and instrument function discussed. Lab. Prereq: MICR 503;
permission. (Not offered every year.)
Co-requisites:
MICR 711 - Genomics and Bioinformatics
Credits:
4.00
The methods, applications, and implications of genomics--
the analysis of whole genomes. Microbial, plant and animal
genomics are addressed, as well as medical, ethical and
legal implications. The lab provides exposure and experience
of a range of bioinformatics approaches--the computer
applications used in genome analysis. Prereq: BIOL 604.
(Also offered as BCHM 711 and GEN 711.) Lab.
MICR 713 - Microbes and the Environment
Credits:
5.00
Physiological ecology as required to understand the roles of
microbes in matter and energy flow through ecosystems.
Structure and function of aquatic, terrestrial, and biotic
habitats in which microbes are important, including life in
biofilms. Consideration is given to (micro)biotic community
interactions including syntrophy, consortial mixtures, and
stable symbioses between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Lab
provides experience with methods of evaluating composition,
structure, and activity of microbial communities including
extraction of nucleic acids from the environment and
ecological use of oligonucleotide probes. An important facet
of both lab and lecture includes biochemistry of and
enumeration methods for physiological groups of aerobic and
anaerobic microbes (such as denitrifiers, sulfate reducers,
metal reducers, homoacetogens, celluloytics, nitrogen
fixers, diverse extremophiles and autotrophs including
nitrifyers, methanogens, and photosynthesis). Prereq: MICR
503. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 714 - Water Pollution Microbiology
Credits:
4.00
Application of general principles of microbial ecology to
water pollution. Study of viruses, bacteria, algae, and
parasites found in contaminated water: their genetics,
physiology, occurrence, detection, and health implications
in addition to the organic and inorganic chemistry of the
water they are found in. Prereq: MICR 503. Special fee. Lab.
(Not offered every year.)
MICR 717 - Microbial Physiology
Credits:
5.00
Fundamental physiological and metabolic processes of
archaea, bacteria and fungi with a strong emphasis on
prokaryotes. Literature-based course. Topics include
regulation of and coordination of microbial metabolism,
bacterial cell cycle, global control of gene expresssion,
diversity of energy metabolism, and microbial cell
differentiation. Prereq: MICR 503, BCHM 658 or 751; or
permission. Special fee. Lab. Writing intensive.
MICR 718 - Ethics and Issues in Microbiology
Credits:
3.00
In conjunction with advances being made in the biological
sciences is the need for scientific integrity. From guiding
students in the laboratory to scientific record keeping,
from authorship and peer review to potential conflicts of
interest, from use of animals and humans in research to
genetic technology, scientists need to understand the
ethical issues that underlie their work. These and related
issues will be presented and discussed in a format that
encourages both an appreciation of established guidelines
and an opportunity to critically examine them. Writing
intensive.
MICR #719 - Prokaryote Biodiversity
Credits:
5.00
By what means can we evaluate the composition and diversity
of the prokaryotic world? What are the molecular techniques
that have provided new ways of collecting taxonomic and
phylogenetic data and of evaluating the evolutionary history
of prokaryotes? How can we use molecular methodologies
epidemiologically to track the distribution of particular
strains of microorganisms? What characteristics distinguish
each fascinating group of (known) prokaryotes? In addition
to exploring these topics, students in this course will
isolate new strains of microbes and will proceed to identify
and characterize them by molecular and other methods. The
laboratory will also enable students to learn how to examine
natural habitats for the presence of particular prokaryotic
groups in the absence of cultivating their representatives.
Prereq: MICR 503. Special fee. Lab.
MICR #720 - Marine Microbial Ecology
Credits:
4.00
Examines the fundamental role of marine microbial
communities in the function of the biosphere. Lectures
survey bacterial, protozoan, and micrometazoan assemblages
from Arctic to deep sea vent communities. Laboratory
exercises cover several principle techniques of field
microbial ecology and explore the rich marine microbial
environment surrounding the Isles of Shoals. Lab. (Summers
only, at Shoals Marine Lab.)
MICR 751 - Cell Culture
Credits:
5.00
Theory and principles fundamental to the culture of cells in
vitro. Introduction to techniques of preparation and
maintenance of animal, plant, insect, and fish cell
cultures. Application of cell culture to contemporary
research in biological sciences. Prereq: MICR 503;
permission. (Also offered as ANSC 751 and PBIO 751. No
credit if credit received for MICR 751 of ANSCI 746.)
Special fee. Lab.
MICR #752 - Mammalian Cell Culture
Credits:
5.00
Basic concepts and techniques associated with the
cultivation of mammalian cells in vitro, including media
preparation, cell viability, transfer, cloning,
cryopreservation; use of transformed cells harboring cloning
vectors for production of bioproducts. (Also offered as ANSC
752. No credit if credit received for MICR 751 or ANSCI 746.
Prereq: MICR 503. Special fee. Lab.
MICR 766 - Plant-Microbe Interactions
Credits:
3.00
Physical, chemical, genetic and molecular methods utilized
by plant pathogens in interactions with plants, as well as
plant defense mechanisms. Major groups of plant pathogens
(bacteria, fungi, and viruses) will be discussed, as well as
beneficial plant-microbe symbioses. (Also offered as
PBIO 766.)
MICR 790 - Laboratory Teaching Experience
Credits:
1.00 to 4.00
Students will assist Graduate Teaching Assistants in
preparing, presenting, and executing Microbiology Laboratory
Laboratory.
MICR 795 - Problems
Credits:
1.00 to 8.00
Special projects in microbiology. Research topics in
immunology; virology; microbial genetics; pathogenics;
microbial ecology; microbial physiology; marine
microbiology; detection of pathogens in shellfish.
MICR 795W - Problems
Credits:
1.00 to 8.00
See description for MICR 795. Writing intensive.