2024-2025 / MICR0719-1

Introduction to microbiology

Duration

10h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in biology2 crédits 

Lecturer

François Beaufay, N...

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Introduction on the diversity and importance of the microbe world.  Through various example the student will discover the wealth and huge diversity of micro-organims and their importance for humans and their environnement 

Main topic developped during lessons

- Diversity of microbes : virus, procaryotes (bacteria and archea) and eucaryotic microbes
- History of mircobiology
- Biological relevance of microorganisms
- The structure of the bacterial cell and the function of essential components
- practical applications (microbial biotechnologies).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course aims at consolidating the student's knowledge of biology and diversity of microorganisms, as well as their importance in the environment, the agro-food industry, human health and microbial biotechnologies.

The student will also acquire basic knowledge concerning the structure and function of essential and accessory structures of the bacterial cell, the diversity of metabolism, and the interaction of bacteria with other biological entities (plants, human beings).

Considering the importance of microbiology in both scientific research and the industry, the methods underlying their study and their manipulation in the laboratory will be described during both the lectures and the practical sessions, during which the student will have the opportunity to consolidate his/her knowledge of these aspects.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Course "Biology" (BIOL0006): basic knowledge  of general and cellular biology and of chemical biology.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures ex cathedra (10 hours).  Interactive ex cathedra learning in person involving videos and wooclap to engage the student.  Depending on the schedule, short talks from researchers in microbiology will be organized to illustrate some of the research performed at the university.



The practical sessions (10 hours) will be organized in the laboratories of the Institute of Botany (B22). Students will carry out various experiments each illustrating a specific aspect of the course, also allowing a better understanding of and acquaintance with the basic methodologies specific to bacteriology (aseptic manipulation, ecc.).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Interactive ex cathedra learning in person involving videos and wooclap to engage the student




Additional information:

See "Planned learning activities and teaching methods" for details.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Mandatory readings: the slides used during the lectures (as well as other relevant material, including e. g. podcasts) will be available on the University e-learning platform.

Recommended readings: the following textbooks, available at the University libraries, could be used as an additional support for the study of the course. Chapters corresponding to the different parts of the course will be clearly indicated in the provided slides.




  • Microbiologie, Prescott, Willey, Sherwood, Woolverton ; De Boeck Supérieur (ISBN, 9782807308022).
  • Brock Biologie des micro-organismes, Madigan & Martinko, Pearson (ISBN, 9782744058400) ;

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )



Additional information:

Written exam with multiple choice questions et open-ended questions

The students will provide a laboratory report following the practical sessions, whose evaluation will contribute 20% of the final grade.

Work placement(s)

None.

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The presence at the practical sessions is MANDATORY.
Students are required to wear a laboratory coat and other personal protection equipment (PPE) during the practical sessions. Access to the laboratory will be refused to incompliant student.

Contacts

Association of one or more MOOCs