The following topics within general microbiology and virology will be covered:

• Mechanisms of regulation. How prokaryotes regulate gene expression, metabolism and cell division.
• Microbial evolution, phylogeny and classification of Bacteria and Archaea.
• The great diversity of microorganisms. The most important groups of bacteria are described as well as some examples of eukaryotic microorganisms. The students will study selected groups of bacteria/archaea in depth during a project assignment.
• Microbial metabolism and diversity of microbial processes of prokaryotes. How prokaryotes living in different environments obtain energy from different catabolic processes, how this energy is used to build new cells and cell structures.
• Microbial ecology. How different microorganisms are adapted to specific environments.
• Interactions between bacteria and other organisms, including how bacteria cause infections.
• The structure, replication and host specificity of the most important groups of viruses (both bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses). Selected important viruses will be highlighted.

The course content will be relevant for further work on several on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including goal 3 (Good health), 6 (Clean water), 14 (Life below water), 15 (Life on land).

Knowledge:

By taking BIO230 the student will learn the following processes, principles and concepts:

• Mechanisms of regulation of gene expression, metabolism and cell division in prokaryotes.
• Processes involved in a bacterial cell cycle, including methods used to study these.
• How microorganisms have developed during evolution,
• Classification and phylogeny of Archaea and Bacteria. 
• The different nutritional types of microorganisms and the principles behind the large diversity of energy and carbon metabolism of Bacteria and Archaea.
• How microorganisms have adapted to different environments.
• Characteristic features (structures, lifestyle, metabolism, habitat, pathogenicity, industrial applications, involvement in biogeochemical cycles) of well-known bacterial species and genera.
• How Archaea differs from Bacteria, and characteristic properties of Archaea.
• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses and their large diversity with respect to structure, function and life cycle. Specific knowledge about some important viruses.
• How bacteria and viruses can cause infections.

Skills:

After completing the course, the student will be able to explain principles and processes related to regulation, cell division, metabolism, ecology, evolution and phylogeny of prokaryote organisms. The student should be able to give examples of bacterial and archaeal species within different phylogenetic subgroups and their characteristic properties. The students should also be able to explain how viruses are build up and be able to describe in detail the life cycle and properties of some selected bacteriophages and viruses. The students should be able to describe and suggest experimental methods that can be used to study different topics within microbiology.

Qualifications:

The course will a solid foundation for further studies in microbiology and related disciplines. The students should also be able to acquire knowledge from reading scientific papers and presenting this to other students.

Textbook: Selected chapters in Brock Biology of Microorganisms by Madigan et  al. (Pearson)

Other written material will be handed out or is available in Canvas.