From boiling thermal hot springs to deep beneath the Antarctic ice, microorganisms can be found almost everywhere on earth in great quantities. Microorganisms (or microbes, as they are also called) are small organisms. Most are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope.
Most microorganisms are harmless to humans and, in fact, many are helpful. They play fundamental roles in ecosystems everywhere on earth, forming the backbone of many food webs. People use them to make biofuels, medicines, and even foods. Without microbes, there would be no bread, cheese, or beer. Our bodies are filled with microbes, and our skin alone is home to trillions of them. Some of them we can’t live without; others cause diseases that can make us sick or even kill us.
Although much more is known today about microbial life than ever before, the vast majority of this invisible world remains unexplored. Microbiologists continue to identify new ways that microbes benefit and threaten humans.
“Source: OpenStax College, Microbiology. OpenStax CNX | Download for free at Download for free at https://cnx.org/contents/e42bd376-624b-4c0f-972f-e0c57998e765@4.8”
Course Curriculum
| Preface | |||
| Preface – Microbiology Foundation | 00:30:00 | ||
| 1. An Invisible World | |||
| Introduction – An Invisible World | 01:00:00 | ||
| What Our Ancestors Knew | 01:30:00 | ||
| A Systematic Approach | 01:30:00 | ||
| Types of Microorganisms | 01:30:00 | ||
| Microbio Ch1 Quiz | 00:10:00 | ||
| 2. How We See the Invisible World | |||
| Introduction – How We See the Invisible World | 01:00:00 | ||
| The Properties of Light | 01:30:00 | ||
| Peering Into the Invisible World | 01:30:00 | ||
| Instruments of Microscopy | 01:30:00 | ||
| Staining Microscopic Specimens | 01:30:00 | ||
| MicroBio Ch2 Quiz | 00:10:00 | ||
| 3. The Cell | |||
| Introduction – The Cell | FREE | 01:30:00 | |
| Spontaneous Generation | 01:30:00 | ||
| Foundations of Modern Cell Theory | 01:30:00 | ||
| Unique Characteristics of Prokaryotic Cells | 01:30:00 | ||
| Unique Characteristics of Eukaryotic Cells | 01:30:00 | ||
| 4. Prokaryotic Diversity | |||
| Introduction – Prokaryotic Diversity | 01:00:00 | ||
| Prokaryote Habitats, Relationships, and Microbiomes | 01:30:00 | ||
| Proteobacteria | 01:30:00 | ||
| Nonproteobacteria Gram-Negative Bacteria and Phototrophic Bacteria | 01:30:00 | ||
| Gram-Positive Bacteria | 01:30:00 | ||
| Deeply Branching Bacteria | 01:30:00 | ||
| Archaea | 01:30:00 | ||
| 5. The Eukaryotes of Microbiology | |||
| Introduction – The Eukaryotes of Microbiology | 01:30:00 | ||
| Unicellular Eukaryotic Parasites | 01:30:00 | ||
| Parasitic Helminths | 01:30:00 | ||
| Fungi | 01:30:00 | ||
| Algae | 01:30:00 | ||
| Lichens | 01:30:00 | ||
| 6. Acellular Pathogens | |||
| Introduction – Acellular Pathogens | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viruses | 01:30:00 | ||
| The Viral Life Cycle | 01:30:00 | ||
| Isolation, Culture, and Identification of Viruses | 01:30:00 | ||
| Viroids, Virusoids, and Prions | 01:30:00 | ||
| 7. Microbial Biochemistry | |||
| Introduction – Microbial Biochemistry | 01:30:00 | ||
| Organic Molecules | 01:30:00 | ||
| Carbohydrates | 01:30:00 | ||
| Lipids | 01:30:00 | ||
| Proteins | 01:30:00 | ||
| Using Biochemistry to Identify Microorganisms | 01:30:00 | ||
| 8. Microbial Metabolism | |||
| Introduction – Microbial Metabolism | 01:30:00 | ||
| Energy, Matter, and Enzymes | 01:30:00 | ||
| Catabolism of Carbohydrates | 01:30:00 | ||
| Cellular Respiration | 01:30:00 | ||
| Fermentation | 01:30:00 | ||
| Catabolism of Lipids and Proteins | 01:30:00 | ||
| Photosynthesis | 01:30:00 | ||
| Biogeochemical Cycles | 01:30:00 | ||
| 9. Microbial Growth | |||
| Introduction – Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| How Microbes Grow | FREE | 01:30:00 | |
| Oxygen Requirements for Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| The Effects of pH on Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| Temperature and Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| Other Environmental Conditions that Affect Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| Media Used for Bacterial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| 10. Biochemistry of the Genome | |||
| Introduction – Biochemistry of the Genome | 01:30:00 | ||
| Using Microbiology to Discover the Secrets of Life | 01:30:00 | ||
| Structure and Function of DNA | 01:30:00 | ||
| Structure and Function of RNA | 01:30:00 | ||
| Structure and Function of Cellular Genomes | 01:30:00 | ||
| 11. Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics | |||
| Introduction – Mechanisms of Microbial Genetics | 01:30:00 | ||
| The Functions of Genetic Material | 01:30:00 | ||
| DNA Replication | 01:30:00 | ||
| RNA Transcription | 01:30:00 | ||
| Protein Synthesis (Translation) | 01:30:00 | ||
| Mutations | 01:30:00 | ||
| How Asexual Prokaryotes Achieve Genetic Diversity | 01:30:00 | ||
| Gene Regulation: Operon Theory | 01:30:00 | ||
| 12. Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics | |||
| Introduction – Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics | 01:30:00 | ||
| Microbes and the Tools of Genetic Engineering | 01:30:00 | ||
| Visualizing and Characterizing DNA, RNA, and Protein | 01:30:00 | ||
| Whole Genome Methods and Pharmaceutical Applications of Genetic Engineering | 01:30:00 | ||
| Gene Therapy | 01:30:00 | ||
| 13. Control of Microbial Growth | |||
| Introduction – Control of Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| Controlling Microbial Growth | 01:30:00 | ||
| Using Physical Methods to Control Microorganisms | 01:30:00 | ||
| Using Chemicals to Control Microorganisms | 01:30:00 | ||
| Testing the Effectiveness of Antiseptics and Disinfectants | 01:30:00 | ||
| 14. Antimicrobial Drugs | |||
| Introduction – Antimicrobial Drugs | 01:30:00 | ||
| History of Chemotherapy and Antimicrobial Discovery | 01:30:00 | ||
| Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy | 01:30:00 | ||
| Mechanisms of Antibacterial Drugs | 01:30:00 | ||
| Mechanisms of Other Antimicrobial Drugs | 01:30:00 | ||
| Drug Resistance | 01:30:00 | ||
| Testing the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials | 01:30:00 | ||
| 15. Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity | |||
| Introduction – Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity | 01:30:00 | ||
| Characteristics of Infectious Disease | 01:30:00 | ||
| How Pathogens Cause Disease | 01:30:00 | ||
| Virulence Factors of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens | 01:00:00 | ||
| Virulence Factors of Eukaryotic Pathogens | 01:30:00 | ||
| 16. Disease and Epidemiology | |||
| Introduction – Disease and Epidemiology | 01:00:00 | ||
| The Language of Epidemiologists | 01:00:00 | ||
| Tracking Infectious Diseases | 00:00:00 | ||
| Modes of Disease Transmission | 01:00:00 | ||
| Global Public Health | 01:00:00 | ||
| 17. Innate Nonspecific Host Defenses | |||
| Introduction – Innate Nonspecific Host Defenses | FREE | 01:00:00 | |
| Physical Defenses | 00:00:00 | ||
| Chemical Defenses | 01:00:00 | ||
| Cellular Defenses | 01:00:00 | ||
| Pathogen Recognition and Phagocytosis | 01:00:00 | ||
| Inflammation and Fever | 00:00:00 | ||
| 18. Adaptive Specific Host Defenses | |||
| Introduction – Adaptive Specific Host Defenses | 01:00:00 | ||
| Overview of Specific Adaptive Immunity | 01:00:00 | ||
| Major Histocompatibility Complexes and Antigen-Presenting Cells | 01:00:00 | ||
| T Lymphocytes and Cellular Immunity | 01:00:00 | ||
| B Lymphocytes and Humoral Immunity | FREE | 01:00:00 | |
| Vaccines | FREE | 01:00:00 | |
| 19. Diseases of the Immune System | |||
| Introduction – Diseases of the Immune System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Hypersensitivities | 00:00:00 | ||
| Autoimmune Disorders | 01:00:00 | ||
| Organ Transplantation and Rejection | 01:00:00 | ||
| Immunodeficiency | 01:00:00 | ||
| Cancer Immunobiology and Immunotherapy | 01:00:00 | ||
| 20. Laboratory Analysis of the Immune Response | |||
| Introduction – Laboratory Analysis of the Immune Response | 01:00:00 | ||
| Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibody Production | 01:00:00 | ||
| Detecting Antigen-Antibody Complexes | 01:00:00 | ||
| Agglutination Assays | 01:00:00 | ||
| EIAs and ELISAs | 01:00:00 | ||
| Fluorescent Antibody Techniques | 01:00:00 | ||
| 21. Skin and Eye Infections | |||
| Introduction – Skin and Eye Infections | 01:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Skin and Eyes | 00:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Skin and Eyes | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viral Infections of the Skin and Eyes | 01:00:00 | ||
| Mycoses of the Skin | 01:00:00 | ||
| Protozoan and Helminthic Infections of the Skin and Eyes | 01:00:00 | ||
| 22. Respiratory System Infections | |||
| Introduction – Respiratory System Infections | 01:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Respiratory Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viral Infections of the Respiratory Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Respiratory Mycoses | 01:00:00 | ||
| 23. Urogenital System Infections | |||
| Introduction – Urogenital System Infections | 01:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Urinary System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Reproductive System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viral Infections of the Reproductive System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Fungal Infections of the Reproductive System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Protozoan Infections of the Urogenital System | 01:00:00 | ||
| 24. Digestive System Infections | |||
| Introduction – Digestive System Infections | 01:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Digestive System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Microbial Diseases of the Mouth and Oral Cavity | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viral Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| Protozoan Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract | 00:00:00 | ||
| Helminthic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract | 01:00:00 | ||
| 25. Circulatory and Lymphatic System Infections | |||
| Introduction – Circulatory and Lymphatic System Infections | 00:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy of the Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Infections of the Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems | 01:00:00 | ||
| Viral Infections of the Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems | 01:00:00 | ||
| Parasitic Infections of the Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems | 00:00:00 | ||
| 26. Nervous System Infections | |||
| Introduction – Nervous System Infections | 01:00:00 | ||
| Anatomy of the Nervous System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Bacterial Diseases of the Nervous System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Acellular Diseases of the Nervous System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Fungal and Parasitic Diseases of the Nervous System | 01:00:00 | ||
| Appendix A | |||
| Fundamentals of Physics and Chemistry Important to Microbiology | 01:00:00 | ||
| Appendix B | |||
| Mathematical Basics | 01:00:00 | ||
| Appendix C | |||
| Metabolic Pathways | 01:00:00 | ||
| Appendix D | |||
| Taxonomy of Clinically Relevant Microorganisms | 01:00:00 | ||
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