• Understand, discuss, and apply knowledge of biochemistry, general cell structure and physiology, metabolism, genetics, and evolution as it pertains to human and bacterial cells MnTC Goal 3;
• Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and function MnTC Goal 3;
• Compare and contrast the cell wall structure of Gram positive and negative cells and explain the medical significance of these differences.   Compare to the Archaea and Mycoplasma MnTC Goal 3;
• Describe structural and functional features of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes in a survey of the microbial world, including: bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses, protozoans, and helminths MnTC Goal 3;
• List and explain how variations in physical and chemical conditions can affect microbial growth, and provide examples of ways we manipulate these conditions to control microbial growth MnTC Goal 3;
• Demonstrate proficiency in culturing, isolating, and staining MnTC Goal 3;
• Demonstrate ability to use the microscope, identify microbes, and perform dilution series MnTC Goal 3;
• Utilize and understand the application of the isolation of microbes from the environment, food and water MnTC Goal 3;
• Communicate experimental findings, analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing MnTC Goal 3;
• Explain microbe-host interactions by providing examples of the methods of disease transmission, portals of entry, and specific methods of pathogenicity MnTC Goal 3;
• Understand the action of antibiotics and disinfectants MnTC Goal 3;
• Describe the mechanisms of antimicrobial drug resistance, what factors contribute to this, and how to prevent it MnTC Goal 3;
• Understand Microbial biotechnology and Infection control MnTC Goal 3;
• Understand the response of the human immune system to microbial infection, therapies, and vaccines MnTC Goal 3;
• Discuss public health interventions with considerations to global customs and cultures MnTC Goal 8; and
  
• Compare health practices across the world during pandemics over the centuries MnTC Goal 8.

I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Fundamentals of Microbiology

2. Course Prefix & Number:
BIOL 2447

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course is an introduction to the basic characteristics of microorganisms and their impacts on human health, including the classification, structure, and function of bacteria and other microorganisms. The laboratory portion of the course will focus on aseptic technique, microscopy, diagnostic microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and virology for public health policy development. Introductory Microbiology is intended for those interested in nursing, allied health careers and liberal arts studies. MnTC Goals 3 and 8

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading college level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University, BIOL 2750 Medical Microbiology, 3 credits

St. Cloud State University, BIOL 206 Introductory Microbiology, 4 credits

St. Cloud Technical & Community College, BLGY 2330 Microbiology, 4 credits

Inver Hills Community College, BIOL 2205 Microbiology, 4 credits

 

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):

Dental Hygiene AAS
Health Sciences Broad Field AS
Nursing AS

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 3 – Natural Sciences
• Goal 8 – Global Perspective

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Write lab reports in which data are analyzed and results are communicated.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Read the textbook; listen to lectures, videos, instructions; complete lab exercises that involve the following of written and orally-communicated instructions and techniques.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Complete lab exercises requiring sequential steps (examples: bacterial staining methods, aseptic transfer technique, and bacteria culturing).
Utilize appropriate technology	Effectively use and maintain lab equipment (examples: use a microscope, use microbiological culturing and sampling techniques, and use staining tools).
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Discuss public health interventions with considerations to global customs and cultures. Compare world health practices during pandemics over the centuries.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Science as a process
• observing, generating hypotheses, and prediction
• application of experimental design
• analyzing and reporting experimental findings
• use of tools of biological investigation
2. Fundamentals of Microbiology
• Describe characteristics of microorganisms, their beneficial uses, and their negative consequences.
• Describe significant historical events in microbiology, including experiments and discoveries made by select scientists and how their work contributed to the discipline.
• Identify how microbes are classified.
3. Microscopy and Staining
• Differentiate acidic and basic dyes, and positive and negative staining techniques.
• Compare and contrast simple, differential, and special stains and provide examples of when each would be used.
• List the steps of a Gram stain, describe what each step accomplishes, and know the resulting color of Gram positive and negative cells at the end of each step.
4. Microbial Functional Anatomy
• Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and function.
• Compare and contrast the cell wall structure of Gram positive and negative cells and explain the medical significance of these differences.  Compare to the Archaea and Mycoplasma.
• Describe structure and function of the plasma membrane and methods of membrane transport.
• Explain endosymbiotic theory and provide evidence that supports it.
5. Microbial Growth and Control of Growth
• Draw and label the stages of the bacterial growth curve and explain events that occur in each.
• Define generation time and list factors that influence it.
• List and explain how variations in physical and chemical conditions can affect microbial growth.
• Classify microbes based on preferences for physical conditions such as temperature, pH, and salinity.
• Provide examples of ways we manipulate physical and chemical conditions to control microbial growth; define key terms related to the destruction or suppression of microbial growth.
• List physical and chemical control agents, their effectiveness, their limitations, and how these agents are used to control microbial growth.
6. Microbial Genetics & Biotechnology
• Detail the processes involved in microbial DNA replication, transcription, and translation.
• understand organization of bacterial operons and genomes
• Understand microevolution:
• Descent with modification
• transformation, transduction, conjugation
• Natural selection
7. Survey of the Microbial World
• Learn structural and functional features of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes in a survey of the microbial world, including:
• Bacteria:  specific features of select Gram positive and negative bacteria and Archaea
• Fungi:  structural differences, microscopic appearances, reproductive patterns, and examples of the fungal phyla
• Algae: distinguishing features among the phyla and examples
• Protozoans:  distinguishing features among the phyla and examples
• Helminths:  distinguishing features among the phyla, and definitive and intermediate hosts of select examples
• Describe general structural features of viruses, host range, size, and shape.
8. Microbe-Host Interactions
• Define normal microbiota and the significance of their relationships with the host.
• Understand epidemiology and cycles of microbial disease and prevention.
• Graph the stages of disease development.
• Compare and contrast human, animal, and non-living reservoirs of infection and provide examples.
• Define Epidemiology and understand cycles of microbial disease and prevention.
• Explain the methods of disease transmission and provide examples of each. 
• Define nosocomial infections and cite the most effective way to prevent their spread.
• List the most common portals of entry for microbes to enter a host and describe how microbes use them.
• Explain mechanisms of pathogenicity in bacteria and viruses
• Define herd immunity and how it is achieved with the use of attenuated, inactivated, subunit, and toxoid vaccines. 
• Provide examples and advantages/disadvantages of each vaccine type.
• Explain the beneficial aspects of microbes: Therapies and Research.
• Describe the mechanisms of antimicrobial drug resistance, what factors contribute to this, and how to prevent it. 

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. Introduction to Science
• Science as a process
• Safety in the Microbiology lab
2. Microscopy
• Identify micro
• Compare and contrast compound light microscope structure and function with other types of microscopes used in microbiology.
3. Aseptic Technique and Culturing Techniques
• Practice aseptic technique when transferring microbes among various media.
• Know and practice other related lab safety techniques.
• Perform various microbial culturing techniques, including pure culture techniques, streak plate technique, and environmental sampling using microbiological tools (examples: loop, needle, Bunsen burner, swab, Petri plate, slant, deep, broth, dilution).
4. Staining Techniques
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing staining techniques (examples: simple stain, negative stain, Gram stain)
• View prepared slides of techniques used with pathogens, (examples: acid fast stains, capsule stains)
5. Applied Microbiology
• Food Microbiology
• Environmental Microbiology and Water quality
6. Survey of the microbial world
• Culture bacteria and observe them using macro- and microscopic techniques.
• View living or preserved samples, prepared slides, and videos of fungi, algae, protozoans, helminths, and viruses to study their morphology, growth, and behavior.