Microbiology 150 Tentative Schedule Summer 2015

Instructor: Katie Curnyn

Email: kcurn001@ucr.edu
Text: Microbiology, An Introduction, 11th edition, by Tortora
Assigned HW: www.MasteringMicrobiology.com
Course ID: CURNYN2015MICRO150
INTRODUCTION
The Microbial World and You
Chemical Principles
Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
EXAM 1 (6/22)

CHAPTER
1
2
4

MICROBIAL PROCESSES
Microbial Metabolism
Microbial Growth
Microbial Genetics
EXAM 2 (6/29)

5
6
8

SURVEY OF THE MICROBIAL WORLD

Classification of Microorganisms
Bacteria
Fungi, Protozoans and Multicellular Parasites
Viruses, Viroids and Prions
EXAM 3 (7/13)

10
11
12
13

IMMUNOLOGY
Non-Specific Defenses of the Host
Specific Defenses of the Host
Disorders Associated with the Immune System

16
17
19

CONTROL OF MICROBES
Control of Microbial Growth
Antimicrobial Drugs
EXAM 4 (7/27)

7
20

DISEASES
Principles of Disease and Epidemiology
Diseases of the Respiratory System
Diseases of the Digestive System
Diseases of the Urogenital System
EXAM 5 8/6

14
24
25
26

Grading Scale
90% - A

80% - B

Tentative Evaluation
Lecture
5 Exams - approx. 100 - 200 points each
4-5 page research paper 75 points
HW online 5% of total grade

70% - C

60% - D
Laboratory

Lab Reports - 5 points each (55 points total)

1st Unknown - 10 points
2nd Unknown - 100 points
Quizzes: (15-25pts)
Lab exams (3) - approx. 50 - 150 points each

Course description
Study of microbiology-the biology of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoans, helminthes and viruses.
Introduces fundamental principles of medical microbiology including microbial cultivation, metabolism, genetics,

growth and control. Principles of epidemiology, disease transmission and a survey of communicable diseases are also
included.
Microbiology 150 Student Learning Outcomes (Partial list)
Area
Lab safety skills
Information
competency/written
communication skills
Cell theory
Critical thinking/problem
solving
Immunology
Microbial genetics

Specific outcomes

Correctly use aseptic techniques and display a habit of good laboratory practices
which extends to relevant situations in the students home.
Retrieve, evaluate and use contemporary microbiologic information. Use the
information to synthesize a research paper on a topic in microbiology.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of various microbes (including viruses,
prions, bacteria, protozoans, fungi and helminthes)
Collect information from Bergeys Manual and create a flow chart. Navigate
thru the flow chart to determine the identity of a bacterial unknown
Articulate the role of the immune system in challenging infections.
Summarize basic bacterial genetics principles

Laboratory cultures
Make no mistake! Live materials are used in the laboratory & are not to be removed UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES!!! If I become aware that a student has removed any organisms they will receive an F in the
class and be dismissed from the college.
Make up exams, quizzes, assignments, laboratories
Exams will always be announced in advance. If you are aware of a conflict, notify me as soon as possible! If you are ill,
or have an emergency, notify me as soon as possible! Make up exams are only given if prior arrangements are made
and you have an acceptable excuse (such as illness with a Doctors note or jury duty with evidence). I am serious! If
you do not have an acceptable excuse, you get a 0!. You must make prior arrangements to make up an exam. Each
student can only make up one lecture exam. The format of the makeup exam is at the instructors discretion.
Quizzes may not be made up under any circumstances. Due to the nature of lab, exams and lab experiments are
not able to be made up under any circumstances. Missed lab exams will be recorded as a zero, if you are absent for
one of the graded lab reports, you also receive a 0 for that lab. Late assignments are not accepted.
Arriving on Time/Attendance Policy
All students are expected to arrive on time to class. This means the student should be seated and ready to learn by 7:30
am. Students will be allowed to enter class up to 10 minutes late, but no later, and this counts as a tardy! I expect you to
be on time to class. If you arrive after this time you will have to arrange to get notes from another student. Two tardies
equal one absence. This policy applies to both lecture and laboratory.
Only one absence is allowed - after which the student will not be allowed to return. If you do not want to receive an F
for the course, then you need to drop the course before the deadline! You are responsible for dropping the course, not
me.
Cheating
Cheating in ANY form will not be tolerated. A single incident of cheating will result in expulsion from class and a
grade of F. At the instructors discretion the student may also be dismissed from the college and have a permanent
notation placed on their transcript.
Cell phone and pagers TURN THEM OFF BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASSROOM!
Resources
Tutoring: Students are encouraged to utilize instructors office hours for tutoring or academic advisement
services. Please make an appointment if you require assistance at another time. Tutoring is available to students free
of charge at the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Phone: (909) 389-3312 LRC Website:
http://www.craftonhills.edu/Student_Resources/Learning_Center
Disabled Student Programs & Services: DSPS provides a number of services to students including: readers, note
takers, interpreters for the deaf, tutoring and much more. Phone: (909) 389-3325 DSPS Website:
http://www.craftonhills.edu/Student_Resources

Blackboard
Class documents and announcements will be posted on Blackboard. Speak to Registration to get your CHC user
name and password to access Blackboard. I expect you to check blackboard daily.
Mastering Microbiology Website
This is a great tool, in addition to the HW assignments which are required, I suggest you use their study tools to
prepare for exams. www.masteringmicrobiology.com you must register using the registration code that comes with
your textbook and the Course ID: CURNYN2015MICRO150
Research Paper
Each student is required to write a research paper on the micro flora of either the gut or the skin. This is a major
growing field, as the advent of high-throughput sequencing is making it possible to study microorganisms that are
not able to be cultured in the lab. We will focus on the human micro flora, although microbial ecology includes
ocean, soil, and any other environment you can name!
1.

Here are the particulars of the assignment:

Value 75 points maximum (see below for a more complete breakdown of the possible points)
4-5 pages, single spaced.
The paper is due: July 13th
Your paper must be referenced (numerical in text citations). Be sure to carefully and completely reference
your paper.
1 margins on all sides of the paper, single spaced, 12 font size Times New Roman or equivalent
You are not required to include a table of content or figures but if you do they do not count as part of the
4-5 pages, and figures must be on a separate page at the end of the paper.
You may use a variety of sources but at least two of them must be from journals (for example,
AEM=Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology) that are no more than 3 years old. You may
not use Wikipedia as a source.

2.

In your paper you may address the following:

a. What is known about the microbial community, richness vs. diversity (define these terms)
Does geographic location or ethnicity play a role?
For skin, differences between body areas (scalp, nose, back, feet, elbow/knee, vagina)
For gut, difference between large and small intestine, and even smaller anatomical regions okay
too
b. What general methods are used to detect microbial communities of the gut or skin
c. What are the normal (non disease) host-microbe interactions (how do we benefit from them, how do they
tolerate our pH, temperature, what happens when they are disturbed)
d. Demographics of diseases (gender, age, ethnicity, underlying conditions, the pathology if disease is
pathogenic)
e. Prevention of disease, if any
f. Risk factors for developing disease
g. Detection/ symptoms and diagnosis of disease
h. Treatment options, effectiveness, side effects, antibiotic resistance or overuse
i. Factors that may influence treatment choices
j. Long-term effects, if any
k. How does this disease and its treatment effect the patients immunity (if known)
l. What is the disease burden or disease adjusted life years (DALY)
m. Are there any new treatments being tested?
n. Technology

3.
4.

You may want to focus in on two or three specific microbes or diseases/disorders

Some additional information about the research paper
A.
An acceptable paper meaning it meets all of the minimum requirements can earn a maximum of
55 points. This means an ADEQUATE paper meeting the MINIMUM requirements can earn a
maximum of 55/75 points (73%)
B.
If you would like to earn a letter grade of B or A you will need to perform above average. You
have a couple of options:

The more sources the better, and good integration (use) of sources
More topics and thorough coverage. Good flow of the paper, well organized.
Have some ideas of your own, like, possible sources of errors (analysis of research methods),
ideas for future work and why it would be beneficial, have some support for your ideas.

What should I expect this summer and how can I succeed in microbiology?

Attend every lecture and lab. Come prepared (read the text book, print out any handouts, do
the HW) TAKE GOOD NOTES. Getting notes from another student is NOT effective.
Lecture notes are very personal and they are not especially useful when shared.

This is summer, we only have 8 weeks (usually~18) and we cover everything that is covered
in the full semester, so be prepared to work hard and long hours. DONT GET BEHIND; you
wont have time to catch up!

Pay attention in class. Be engaged. That means you are not only listening to your professor
but you are actively taking notes and asking questions when appropriate.

Read the syllabus and check it often for due dates and guidelines.

Check Blackboard frequently. Print the documents loaded on Blackboard and bring them to
class. I will NOT have copies available in class.

Complete the HW online (mastering microbiology) and try their study tools (not assigned)
and other resources, this is an excellent source! Use the calendar on the main page to see
when these HW assignments are due, I expect you to do this on your own and on a regular
basis. Typically I give 2 days for each assignment starting the day we cover it in lecture.

I do not accept late assignments. Those points add up in a hurry and will have a detrimental
effect on your grade if they are not turned in.

Dont turn in junk. If the quality of your work is poor, I may decline to accept it.

Be prepared for your lab quizzes, these points add up fast!

How much time should you expect to spend on microbiology per week to be successful in
class?
o The formula is 3 hours per week per unit in ADDITION to the time we spend
together in class. That means Micro 150 students will spend 15 hours a week in
addition to our class meetings.

Be engaged. I know Ive already mentioned this but it bears repeating. Students take
microbiology for many reasons. Give yourself up to microbiology. Immerse yourself in the
course. Do the work and you will be happy with your grade at the end of the semester.

Let me know how I can help. I genuinely want you to succeed in microbiology, in your career,
and in life.