27618 - General And Enviromental Microbiology

Learning outcomes

After completing the lecture, the student holds basic prokariotic and eukariotic microbes' structure, physiology, biochemistry and genetics. Students will be able to evaluate microbial roles in Nature and utilize analitical and interpretation knowledge to understand microbial interactions within the agri-forestry environment.

Course contents

Essential requirements: students should hold propaedeutical knowledge about chemistry, pedology and plant biology, received during previous lectures in years I and II. The present lecture is propaedeutical for other biological topics to be teached in next years and Master courses.

Teaching unit GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY (20 hours)

[Expected results: the student will know prokariotic and eukariotic microbes' structure, metabolism, regulation; she/he will be able to exchange microbiological data in scientific and technical ways adapted to the sector stackeholders]

Evolution and structure of microbial cells. Hystory, definitions and glossary of microbiology.

Microbial role in terrestrial life evolution. Prokariotic microbes. archaea and bacteria. Eukariotic microbes: micro-algae, fungi, protozoa.

Nutrition and metabolism of microbial cells. Energetic processes: respiration, fermentation, photosyntheses. Biosynthetici processes: growth and environmental adaptation. Metabolism regulation: environmental interactions, regulation of enzimes' activity and synthesis. Microbial growth: speed, curves, limits. Environmental factors which influence microbial growth. Physiological-nutritional groups.

Genetics and taxonomy of microorganisms. Pure cultures and microbial culture collections. Recombination and mutations. Plasmids and phages. Transformation, conjugation, transduction. Eukariotic microbes genetics. Synthetic microorganisms. Taxonomic criteria and phylogenetical taxonomy: Archaea, Bacteria, Eucarya.

Teaching unit ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY (20 hours)

[Expected results: the student will be able to select among actual microbial applications in agriculture, forestry, Nature conservation and environmental bioremediation]

Environmental role of microorganisms. Microbial ecology of air, freshwater, marine, soil, extreme and anthropic environments. Microbial communities and biofilms. Unculturable microorganisms. Microbial role in environmental adaptation of animal and plant holobionts. Microbial transformations of macroelements, microelements and heavy metals in biosphere geochemical cycles. Interactions with otrer organisms.

Plant-probiotic microorganisms in agriculture and forestry. Rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Pioneer and invasive plants have multi-partite symbioses. Biotechnology of micorrhizal symbioses. Biotechnology of nitrogen-fixing symbioses.

Microbial processes in solid and liquid wastes treatment. Composting: definitions, microbial successions, environmental and technological factors. Wastewaters treatment: oxidation by activated sludges, anaerobic digestion, transformation by photosynthetic microorganisms.

Microbial processes in soil and water bioremediation. Xenobiotics degradation. Oil derivates degradation. Heavy metals bioremediation. Microbial role in phytoremediation.

Teaching unit MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY (20 hours)

[Expected results: the student will know how to select basic microbiological laboratory techniques, understand and explain analytical results to related stackehorders]

Chemical, biological hazards and security in the modern microbiology laboratory. Observation techniques for microorganisms. Diffusion-control techniques for microorganisms. Evidencing, growing and storing techniques for microorganisms. Counting techniques for microorganisms. Characterizing and identificative techniques for microorganisms.

Readings/Bibliography

• Some chapters, listed by the teacher in class, from the book: “Microbiologia Generale e Agraria". (B.Biavati & C. Solini, Editors). CEA, Milan - Italy, 2012. ISBN 978 8840813943. [available at the Library].

• Some chapters, listed by the teacher in class, from the book: “Microbiologia Agroambientale”. (Biavati B. & C. Solini, Editors). CEA, Milan - Italy 2008. ISBN9788840813837. [available at the Library].

• For some topics and for the laboratory unit, teaching materials would be uploaded by the teacher on the Unibo AMS Campus website. In this case, the student should subscribe to the dedicated Teacher-Students communication list "STAAF-18", in order to be qualified to download them.

Teaching methods

This lecture is given at the Bologna site, by lectures and laboratory demonstrations and experiments performed by the teacher, eventually integrated by specialists seminars and technical visits.

The lecture is composed by three units: the first two, theoretical, are given by powerpoint presentations including examples and scientific logics, with the aim to stimolating student's critical learning.

The third, not needed for passing the final exam,
provides hazard/security instructions before going to the teaching laboratory, then 10 laboratory experiences of 2 hours, intended to introduce students into laboratory skills for basic microbiology. At the end, students may produce a written report.

Students with Learning Disorders or Disabilities are kindly invited to contact the specific Service and/or the teacher, with adequate advance notice.

Assessment methods

Achieved theoretical learning is assessed on teaching objectives, such as prokariotic and eukariotic microbes' structure, metabolism, regulation, evolution; microbial role in diverse habitats, especially the agri-forestal environment; microbial applications in agri-forestal productions and in depollution.

There will be a single final exam, after the end of lecture schedule. It will consists of a colloquium with the teacher, generally structured on three principal questions, and eventual other deeping/clarifying questions. The lenght of oral exam is generally about 25 minutes.

Students should demonstrate to know the theory and to be able to link lecture topics with technical problems of applications.

Students with Learning Disorders or Disabilities are kindly invited to contact the specific Service and/or the teacher, with adequate advance notice.

On students request, learning assessment can be a written exam which length is about one hour, generally composed of three questions.

For both types of exam, each question is evaluated a maximum of 30 points. Final note will be calculated by the mean of the three principal or written questions.

On students request, learning assessment can be performed, for both types of exam, in English or French languages.

Teaching tools

Internet-connected PC, video projector, overhead projector, slide projector, white board.

Teaching laboratory instruments, teaching greenhouse.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/marco.bosco

Office hours

See the website of Marco Bosco