Microbiology [SVETB310]

Objectives

The aim of this course is to introduce students to life on a 'micro' scale. We will look at viruses, bacteria, archaea and microbial eukaryotes. The structure of microbial cells will be described by distinguishing between the three domains of archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes. Microbial metabolism will be explained on the basis of fundamental principles of physics and chemistry. The extraordinary diversity of bacterial catabolism will be compared with the multitude of ecosystems colonised by microbes. The study of anabolism will illustrate the universality of the biosynthetic pathways of macromolecules. The description of microbial genetics and, in particular, the mechanisms of variation will provide the molecular basis for the phenomena of resistance to antimicrobial agents. Methods of prophylaxis and antibiotic chemotherapy will be presented. The second part of the course will describe the viral cycle, from the entry of the virus into the host organism to the infection of a new individual, through the hijacking of the cellular machinery and the subversion of the immune response. The different taxa will be detailed, in particular during the exposition of the mechanisms of replication of the viral genome. Finally, different antiviral strategies will be presented.

Content

Bacteria Archaea Single-celled eukaryotes Introduction to microbial metabolism Supply reaction, catabolism Energy use for biosynthesis, anabolism Microbial culture and identification Control of microorganisms in the environment Antimicrobial chemotherapy Bacterial genetics and antibiotic resistance Bacterial infection and pathogenicity Introduction to virology Virus culture and identification Virus genome and genetics Capsid and envelope structure Virus attachment and entry Synthesis of viral RNA from an RNA template Transcription and maturation of viral RNA Replication of the DNA virus genome Reverse transcriptase and integrase Translation Virus assembly, exit and maturation Virus evolution Antivirals