65932 - Environmental Microbiology

Academic Year 2014/2015

  • Docente: Roberto Borghese
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: BIO/19
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Environmental Sciences (cod. 8011)

Learning outcomes

This course is intended to give the students a general knowledge of the main structural and functional features of the microbial cell, the growth characteristics of microorganisms (Bacteria and Archaea) and their intimate interaction with the surrounding environment.

Course contents

Structure of the prokaryotic cell: membranes, cell wall, flagella, endospores. Bacteria and Archaea. Movement and chemotaxis.

Bacterial metabolism: oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis; aerobic and anaerobic respiration; chemolithotrophy; fermentations.

Microbial groups: phototrophic bacteria; nitrifying bacteria; extreme halophiles; methanogenic archaea.

Environmental microbiology: Vinogradskij column; nitrogen fixation; carbon cycle; nitrogen cycle.

Readings/Bibliography

Biologia dei microrganismi".

A cura di Gianni Dehò e Enrica Galli. Prima edizione - 2012.                                                                               Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

"Brock. Biologia dei Microrganismi". Vol.1 Microbiologia Generale e Vol. 2 Microbiologia ambientale e industriale.

M.T.Madigan, J.M. Martinko, D.A. Stahl, D.P. Clark. Traduzione della 13ma edizione americana - 2012 Pearson Italia         

Teaching methods

The course is composed of 40 hours of theoretical lectures and 12 hours of class room exercises.

Assessment methods

Final written exam

Teaching tools

The teaching material will be available to the students in electronic format via internet.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Borghese