Course Description
Basic microbiology laboratory techniques to include aseptic technique, microscopy, use of media, analysis of morphological and biochemical properties, and experimental design.
Athena Title
Intro Microbiology Lab I
Pre or Corequisite
MIBO 3500 or MIBO 3500E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course objective is to have students become proficient in experimental design and basic bench skills in a microbiology laboratory. Students who successfully completed the course will: LO1 Demonstrate lab safety measures in handling BSL2 microorganisms LO2 Demonstrate the laboratory method of aseptic technique, isolation, and identification of pure bacterial cultures LO3 Prepare and observe microbes with the use of a light microscope to distinguish morphology and other physiological properties LO4 Identify the selective and differential properties of growth media and biochemical tests to distinguish certain bacterial species properties LO5 Design and implement serial dilution of bacterial culture and accurately quantify plate counts LO6 Test and identify environmental factors for microbial growth LO7 Formulate and implement experimental approaches to identify unknown bacterial species, analyze results to draw conclusions, and design future experimental steps LO8 Prepare written work that conveys experimental approach, results, analysis, conclusion, and projection of future experimental steps to take
Topical Outline
Students will learn how to safely handle bacterial cultures in the lab, as well as how to generate and maintain pure cultures of bacteria in the laboratory. Students will learn how to determine viable cell counts for a bacterial culture. • Lab safety and handling of BSL 2 microorganisms • Aseptic transfers – inoculation of liquid and solid media • Interpretation of microbial growth patterns • Methods for isolation of pure cultures – streak and spread plate techniques • Bacteria growth curves • Serial dilutions and quantitative plate counts Students will learn how to use a microscope to determine the morphology and cellular arrangement of bacteria. Students will also learn how to use differential staining to determine biochemical and morphological characteristics of bacterial cultures. These skills will be used to initiate the experimental process of identifying an unknown microbe. • Introduction to microbiology and simple stains • Gram stain Students will understand that bacteria obtain basic cellular requirements (carbon, nutrients, energy) through different methods and are adapted to specific environmental conditions. Students will learn how to manipulate growth conditions in the laboratory in order to select for different microbial species. Application of growth conditions will be utilized to continue in identifying an unknown microbe. • Media components and design, as well as their relationship to the nutritional requirements of bacteria • Temperature, pH, osmotic pressure, oxygen tolerance, and their impact on the growth of bacteria. Understand that all microbes are adapted to • Selective isolation of spore-forming bacteria (includes endospore stain) • Selective isolation of nitrogen cycle bacteria Students will learn how to utilize classical microbiological techniques to determine biochemical capabilities of microbes. These techniques are also applied to the identification of an unknown microbe. • Oxidation/Fermentation Tests • Carbohydrate Fermentation Tests • Extracellular Enzyme Tests: Blood agar, DNAse test agar, skim milk agar, tryptophan agar and indole tests, urease test, IMViCs test series • Combination media: SIM, TSI, LIA Students will learn how to utilize selective and differential media for selective isolation and biochemical characterization of microbes, as well as how these techniques can be used in clinical diagnostics, industrial quality control, and public health settings. • CNA Blood agar, MSA, BEA, MAC, EMB, XLD • Characterization of your native microbiome: tests for Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in student throat and nasal swabs.
Syllabus