MICROBIAL ECOLOGY

Paper Code: 
MBL 324
Credits: 
5
Contact Hours: 
75
Objective: 

 

  • 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.

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: 
  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: 
2015-2016
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