Microbiology

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Microbiology

Biology N010

Life Sciences Centre

Institute of Biosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

3

Self-studies

7

Seminars

0

Aims of course

• To develop/update subject-specific competencies in the field of Microbiology related to theoretical knowledge of the subject of Microbiology and practical skills for working with archaeal, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms;
• To acquire knowledge of the biological processes occurring in microorganisms at the molecular, cellular and ecosystem levels;
• Understand the importance of microorganisms to the surrounding world and their relevance to life sciences.

Main topics

1. Cell structure and organisation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms.
2. External structures and different modes of movement of bacterial and archaeal microorganisms.
3. Biofilms.
4. Internal structures of the prokaryotic cell. Endospores, their formation; variety of sporulation; reserve compounds; carboxysomes, magnetosomes, gaseous vacuoles etc.
5. Genetics of microorganisms. Structure and functions of genetic material. Regulation of gene expression. Gene transfer and recombination. Transcription and translation in prokaryotes. Essential differences from eukaryotic cells.
6. Practicalities of culturing microorganisms.
7. Strategies for adaptation of microorganisms to grow in extreme environmental conditions: relationship to temperature, pressure, ionising radiation, pH, high salt concentrations, heavy metal ions, oxygen.
8. Metabolism and energy production strategies of microorganisms: oxygenic and oxygen-free photosynthesis, chemolithotrophy, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, fermentation diversity.
9. Growth and division of microorganisms. Catabolic repression and its regulation - hierarchical uptake of different carbon sources.
10. Synthesis and control of secondary metabolites in micromycetes.
11. Binary cell division.
12. Concept of virology. Viruses as a subject of microbiological science. Structure, diversity and importance of viruses.
13. Prions as an object of microbiological science. Prions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms.
14. Principles of taxonomy of micro-organisms.
15. Microorganisms in the human environment.

Main literature

Journals: Nature Reviews Microbiology, Nature Microbiology,  Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, Annual Review of Microbiology, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Current Opinion in Microbiology, Trends in Microbiology, Microbial genomics, Environmental Microbiology, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Anaerobe, International Journal of Medical Microbiology ir kt.

J. Willey, L. Sherwood, C.J. Woolverton, 2017. Prescott‘s Microbiology, 10 Ed.

G.J.Tortora, B.R. Funke, C.L. Case, 2018. Microbiology. An introduction, 13 Ed.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Oral presentation

For the presentation, the PhD student prepares a 30-40 minute presentation detailing the topic analysed. The presentation must be based on publications from the last 5 years.

Grading:

10: Excellent knowledge and skills. The presentation is comprehensive and detailed; the presenter is able to discuss the topic and analyse the issues well.

9: Very good knowledge and skills. The presentation is comprehensive and detailed; the speaker is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

8: Good knowledge and skills. The presentation contains minor errors; the presenter is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

7: Moderate knowledge and skills. The presentation contains substantial errors; the presenter is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

6: Satisfactory knowledge and skills. The presentation is full of fundamental errors; the speaker is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

5: Weak knowledge and skills that still meet the minimum requirements. The presentation is full of errors; the speaker's ability to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues is weak.

0-4: The minimum requirements are not met.

Renata Gudiukaitė

dr.

Alisa Gricajeva

dr.

Audrius Gegeckas

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sceinces Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairperson dr. Daiva Baltriukienė