Unit 1 Introduction to the World of Microbes

• Overview of microbial life
• debate between spontaneous generation and biogenesis
• Development of the germ theory of disease and Koch’s postulates
• Comparative study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms
• structural organization of microbial cells—internal structures (nucleoid
• inclusions) and external structures (cell wall
• flagella) with their functions
• Basic principles and applications of light microscopy and introduction to advanced microscopy techniques (fluorescence
• 10 Program Name: Bachelor of Engineering Level: UG Branch: Biotechnology Subject Code: BE03004041 Subject Name: Microbiology electron microscopy)

Unit 2 Microbial Nutrition and Growth

10 lecture hours

• Nutritional requirements of microbes—macronutrients and micronutrients
• essential growth factors, and mechanisms of nutrient uptake
• Preparation and types of culture media—selective
• enriched, and minimal media
• Methods for isolation of pure cultures—streak plate
• pour plate
• spread plate, and enrichment techniques
• Microbial growth curve: phases of growth and the impact of environmental factors (temperature, pH, osmolarity
• oxygen levels)
• Control of microbial growth using physical methods (heat
• radiation) and chemical agents (disinfectants
• Introduction to antibiotics
• mechanisms of action, and antibiotic resistance

Unit 3 Microbial Genetics and Virology

10 lecture hours

• Microbial genetics: DNA as the hereditary material
• nature and significance of spontaneous mutations
• Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms—conjugation
• transformation, and transduction
• General features of viruses
• cultivation and quantification methods for bacteriophages
• animal, and plant viruses
• Baltimore classification of viruses based on genome structure and replication strategies
• Introduction to viroids and prions

Unit 4 Diverse Types of Microorganisms and Their Applications

15 lecture hours

• Study of fungi (yeasts and molds)—morphology
• reproduction, and their industrial and medical significance
• Overview of algae—classification
• biological roles, and commercial applications
• Lichens as symbiotic organisms— morphology and ecological importance
• reproduction, and pathogenic potential
• Introduction to microbial ecology and microbial interactions (symbiosis
• Applications of microorganisms in environmental microbiology: roles in biogeochemical cycles (nitrogen
• carbon cycles)
• wastewater treatment processes (primary
• tertiary treatment)
• Introduction to biofilms and their significance
• Extremophiles—microbes in extreme environments and their biotechnological potential
• Introduction to microbial biotechnology: production of enzymes
• bioplastics, and antibiotics