MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

Paper Code:

MBL 324

Credits:

Contact Hours:

Objective:

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course Outcomes

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Upon completion of the course the learner will:

CO 91: Assess Aero microbiology, soil microbiology and aquatic microbiology

CO 92: Acquaint with Environment sampling and processing devices.

CO 93: Evaluate adaptation mechanisms and applications of various extremophiles.

CO 94: Acquire knowledge of conventional and molecular methods for studying microbial diversity.

CO 95: Apply techniques used in microbial ecology.

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Giving tasks

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

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.

15.00

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:

Environmental Biotechnology – Basic concepts and applications, Indu Shekhar Thakur, I K International publications. 2011.
Environmental Microbiology R.M Maier, I.L. Pepper and C.P. Gerba, Academic Press. 2008.
Environmental Microbiology, Michel. R. and Ji-Dong Gu, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. 2010.
Microbial Ecology- Fundamentals & Applications, 4^th Edition, Ronald M. Atlas, Richard Bartha, Pearsrson Publication. 2005.
Advances in Microbial ecology. Alexander, M. Springer. 2012.

REFERENCES:

SUGGESTED READINGS:

· Microbial Ecology: A conceptual approach Lynch and Poole -Blackwell Scientific Publications 1984.

· Microbial life in extremes of environments D. A. Kushner, Academic Press. 1978.

· Soil Organic matter and biological activity. Vanghan, D.and Malcolm, R.E Martinus NighoffW. Junk Publishers. 1985.

· Advances in microbial ecology K.C. Marshall, Vol-8 Plenum Press. 1985.

· Aronson - Experimental Microbial Ecology -Academic Press

· Experimental Microbial Ecology Burns R.G., and Slater J.H. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London. 1982.

· Introduction to soil microbiology. Alexander, M John, Wiley & Sons. Inc., New York. 1977.

· Microbial interactions and communities, A.T. Bull and J.H.Slater Academic Press 1982.

· Biofilms in environmental biotechnology. P.S. Murthy, Raju Sekar, Thiyagarajan, V. Alpha Science International Ltd. 2018.

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