MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

Paper Code: 
MBL 324
Credits: 
05
Contact Hours: 
75
Objective: 

to enable students to-

  • To understand aero microbiology and aquatic microbiology..
  • To understand soil structure, properties and microbial interactions.
  • To learn about Environmental sample collection and processing
  • To learn about microbial life in extreme environments.
  • To study techniques used in microbial ecology.

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

Learning outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

MBL 324

 

Microbial Ecology

Upon completion of the course students will be able to

CO 70: Assess Aero microbiology, soil microbiology and aquatic microbiology

CO 71: Acquaint with Environment sampling and processing devices.

CO 72: Evaluate adaptation mechanisms and applications of various extremophiles.

CO 73: Acquire knowledge of conventional and molecular methods for studying microbial diversity.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Giving tasks

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation

 

15.00
Unit I: 
Aero microbiology and aquatic microbiology

Aero microbiology: Aerosols, Pathways (Launching, Transport and Deposition), Microbial survival in air. Airborne pathogens and toxicants. Biosafety in Laboratory

Aquatic microbiology: Planktonic environment, Benthic habitat, Microbial mats.

 Biofilms: Formation, Morphology, Physiology, beneficial and detrimental proprties,

Physical, chemical and microbiolgical characteristics of rivers, lakes and oceans.

15.00
Unit II: 
Soil Microbiology

Physicochemical characteristics: Solid phase(Particles texture and Profile),Organic matter(Humus),Soil pH.

Soil atmosphere, microbal environment (Biotic and Abiotic Stresses).

Soil microorganisms: Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa.

Microbial interactions: Symbiosis, Mutualism, Commensalism, competition, amensalism, synergism, parasitism, predation.

Microbial transformation: P, S, N, Hg.

Unit III: 
Environmental sample collection and processing

Sampling devices for collection of bioaerosols (impingement, impaction, centrifugation, filtrations and depositions Soil and sediments-sampling strategies and methods for surface soil and subsurface, sample processing and storage.

Water- sampling strategies and methods for water, processing of water samples for virus analysis, detection of bacteria, protozoan parasites, detection of microorganisms on fomites.

15.00
Unit IV: 
Microorganisms in extreme environments

Acidophilic, alkalophilic, thermophilic, barophilic and osmophilic microorganisms- mechanisms of adaptation. Halophiles- membrane variation, electron transport. Applications of thermophiles and extrempohiles.

15.00
Unit V: 
Techniques in the study of microbial ecology.

Unculturable and culturable bacteria-conventional and molecular methods of studying microbial diversity

Culture methods- for enumeration of bacteria, culture methods for fungi, algae, cyanobacteria. Cell culture based methods for detection of viruses.

physiological methods including measurement of microbial activity, carbon respiration, use of radio labeled tracers, Adenylate energy charge .enzyme assays (dehydrogenase and esterase assay)

 

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
  1. Environmental Biotechnology – Basic concepts and applications, Indu Shekhar Thakur, I K International publications. 2006
  2. Environmental Microbiology R.M Maier, I.L. Pepper and C.P.Gerba, Academic Press. (2000)
  3. Introduction of Environmental Microbiology, Michel. R.  1999
  4. Microbial Ecology- Fundamentals & Applications, 4th Edition, Ronald M. Atlas, Richard Bartha, Pearsrson Publication. 2005.
  5.  Microbial ecology. Alexander, M.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. (1971) 
  6. Microbial Ecology: A conceptual approach Lynch and Poole -Blackwell Scientific Publications (1984).
  7. Microbial life in extremes of environments D. A. Kushner, Academic Press. (1978)
REFERENCES: 
  1. Soil Organic matter and biological activity. Vanghan, D.and Malcolm, R.E Martinus Nighoff W.Junk Publishers. 1985.
  2. Advances in microbial ecology K.C. Marshall, Vol-8 Plenum Press. (1985) 
  3. Aronson - Experimental Microbial Ecology -Academic Press
  4. Experimental Microbial Ecology Burns R.G., and Slater J.H. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London. (1982)
  5. Introduction to soil microbiology. Alexander, M John, Wiley & Sons. Inc., New York. (1977)
  6. Microbial interactions and communities , A.T.Bull and J.H.Slater Academic Press (1982)
  7. S. P. Denier- Biofilms.
Academic Year: 
2019-2020
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