Microbial Physiology

The Microbial Physiology course is an advanced course that addresses various aspects of microbial physiology. The following subjects are dealt with in the lectures: 1. Bioenergetics of microbial processes, 2. Respiration and fermentation, 3. Catabolic and 4. Anabolic pathways. In addition to these general aspects, various specific topics will be covered, such as pathway analysis using -omics, microbial interactions, methane formation and oxidation, bacteria and electricity, production of chemicals by microorganisms, and biofuels.
Apart from the lectures the students will participate in a tutorial in which they work on theoretical assignments, including the analysis of recent scientific papers. The assignments guide the students to get familiar with various techniques that are common in microbial physiology research, e.g. to construct mass balances, calculate free energy changes, and look into the catabolic and anabolic pathways of diverse microorganisms. In addition, the students will take part in a practical course. In small groups (2-3 students) practical experience will be gathered by using methods and techniques that are common in microbial physiology research. The various experiments are often part of the current research of the laboratory.

• Explain the principles of the energy-yielding and -consuming reactions

• Compose redox reactions and calculate Gibbs energy values for energy generating reactions using thermodynamic data as well as redox potentials

• Explain the various catabolic and anabolic pathways and the mechanisms of energy conservation in microbial metabolism

• Identify the various physiological groups of bacteria/archaea with their special features, their applications and ways to study them

• Analyse recent microbial physiology related papers by working on tutorial assignments and to compose concise and accurate answers

• Execute various analyses/experiments commonly involved in microbial physiology research and interpret and describe the results concisely

• Written test with open and closed questions (60%)
• Assignment other (15%) 1 individual assignment (questionnaire); 1 group assignment (case + poster presentation) - each weighting 50% of the tutorial grade
• Assignment other (25%) 3 interim practical experiments (evaluation of performance + questionnaires)
• Mandatory attendance (%) Presence in practicals is mandatory

ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety Microbiology & Biochemistry

• Michael T. Madigan [et.al]. (2021). Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 16th Global edition. Pearson, ISBN: 9781292404790. Alternatively, the 15th edition of the book can be used, ISBN: 9780134261928.