B300 students -

This study guide will provide you information about your text. It is to be used in addition to the notes you take in class. (You are responsible for everything in your notes - including any reading assignments given during lecture). At times I will assign only part of a chapter. However, it is still a good idea to read the whole chapter because it will give you a broader perspective on the topic.

Chapter 1 - The History and Scope of Microbiology
 

1. Know who discovered bacteria and when they were discovered.
2. Understand the issue of spontaenous generation and the role that Pasteur played in disproving it. Also know and understand the role that Tyndall played.
3. Understand what Koch's postulates are and why they can't always be applied to human diseases. How does the use of molecular Koch's postulates overcome these problems?
4. Be sure you understand the scientific method (Box 1.1)
5. Have a general overview of the microbial world and be able to disintinguish bacteria, algae, protozoa and fungi.

Chapter 3 - Procaryotic Cell Structure and Function

We just about covered the whole chapter in lecture (the physiology lectures) so study the whole chapter. I gave you specific information in your notes on what you should know and understand about each structure. Please note the following:
 

1.  For the section the mechanism of flagella movement (pg 65) - do not try to memorize all the details about the M and C rings.  However, understand   Fig. 3.35 and that there are other modes of locomotion (discussed on page 66) carried out by procaryotes.
2. For chemotaxis be able to answer the questions on page 68.

Chapter 4 - Eucaryotic Cell Structure and Function

We are not going to spend a great deal of time on this in class. What I would like you to do when you study is:
 

1.  Know the major eucaryotic organelles - their function - and be able to compare procaryotic and eucaryotic cells. You will find the information in Tables 4.1 and 4.2 to be very helpful.

Microbial Taxonomy - Chapter 19

1. You are responsible for the material covered under general introduction and microbial evolution and diversity (pgs 422-425).
2. Know taxonomic ranks as described in Table 19.1.
3. Know that microbiologists name microbes using the binomial system of Carl von Linee.
4. Know what the following types of classifications are: natural, phenetic, phylogenetic.
5. Know the major characteristics used in taxonomy.
6. For assessing microbial phylogeny understand the concept of the molecular chronometer and the use of rRNA, DNA and proteins as indicators of phylogeny.
7. Understand the major divisions of life (pg 435) - understand the material under Domains - this provides the information on Woese's three domain system that I want you to study. Under the section on Kingdoms (pg 438) concentrate on Whittaker's 5 kingdom system - be sure you understand the differences between Woese's 3 domains (Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya) and Whittaker's 5 kingdoms.  Know where each of the major groups of microbes are in the two systems.
8. Read and understand the material presented on Bergey's manual - do not try to memorize the names of the various groups of organisms or which volume of the manual covers which organisms. Do, however, read the information in Box 19.1 and understand the statement that is being made.
9. I would like you to read, but I will not test you on the material under A survey of bacterial phylogeny and Diversity - pg 443 to the end of the chapter.

Study the whole chapter. Note the following:

1.  For common nutrient requirements - know which macroelement is present in each molecule of life. Aslo know the role in the cell of the other 4 macroelements.
2. Be able to distinguish between macronutrients and micronutrients (trace elements).
3. Know the information provided in requirements for C,H and O - we also went over this in class. Again - don't get hung up and try to memorize that Actinomycetes can degrade amyl alcohol, paraffin and rubber or that Leptospira can use only long-chain fatty acids as their carbon and energy sources.
4. Understand the basis for distinguishing the major nutritional types of microorganisms. I should be able to either give you a type of organism (ex = chemoheterotroph) or a specific group (ex = fungi) and you should be able to indicate what their nutritional type is and what sources they use).
5. Know the three major classes of growth factors. Know the characteristics of vitamins and look at Table 5.3 - this will give you a good overview of the functions of various vitamins - but do not memorize the table.
6. Uptake of nutrients by the cell - we discussed this in class and you have guidelines in your notes for what to study. Be sure you understand these processes - they are obviously very important for the survival of a cell. Also study iron uptake in the text.
7. Be sure also to read and understand the material provided on pages 104- end of the chapter. Some of this will reinforce what you are doing in lab. Be sure to check out Box 5.1 on page 106.

Chapter 6 - Microbial Growth
 

1. You will be constructing a growth curve as a laboratory exercise so you will find this information very important. Know what is going on in each phase. When you do your lab reports you will have to do the math involved in determining generation time and growth rate constant.
2. Know the major ways we measure growth - and understand what you are measuring (cell numbers or cell mass) . Also know if you are measuring total (live and dead) or just live cells.
3. Understand what unbalanced growth is and why it occurs.
4. Understand how continuous culturing is different from batch culturing and the advantages of each.
5. The influence of environmental factors on growth - starts on page 121. For each of the factors - know the terms used to describe organisms associated with that factor - ex. that osmotolerant organisms grow over broad ranges of water activity - also know the range that most organisms survive in.

Chapter 7 - Control of Microorganisms by Physical and Chemical Agents

I will test on the entire chapter and will concentrate on the following:
 

1. Know the terms described in the text on page 137-138.
2. Understand the way a microbial population dies and be able to determine a D value (from a graph provided to you)
3. Understand the factors that influence the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent.
4. Understand how the physical methods discussed in the text control bacterial growth (do they sterilize, reduce cell numbers or inhibit growth?). Know the terms described and specific applications for each method.
5. Understand how the following chemical methods discussed in the text control bacterial growth: alcohols, halogens, quaternary ammonium compounds and sterilizing gases. For each of these, be able to give a specific example of an application.
6. Know how the effectiveness of an antimicrobial agent is evaluated. Know how to determine a phenol coefficient.

As I told you in class, we will start this chapter on Section 29.5 - Waters and Disease Transmission

1. Read about waterborne pathogens - look at but don't try to memorize Table 29.3.
2. Read about and understand how drinking water is purified - we will also discuss this in class
3. Understand why an indicator organism is needed
4. I will not test you on the specific tests used for coliforms in drinking water analysis
5. Understand what each of the major steps in conventional water treatment accomplishs. For wastewater treatment (section 29.6) understand the major steps in conventional treatment
6. Know what groundwater is and how a conventional septic tank works (section 29.7)

That's it for the first exam - I hope this helps and that your studying goes well.