2020 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Microbiology
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Masaaki Wachi / Takashi Hirasawa / Naoyuki Yamamoto
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon (H121) / 1-2 Thu (H121)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A345
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides a comprehensive view of microbiology, including the history of microbiology, handlings of microorganisms (isolation, culture and observation of microorganisms), taxonomy, cell growth, structures of microbial cells (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotic microbes), energy metabolism, cellular metabolism, pathogenic microbes, metagenome analaysis, symbiosis, and application of microorganisms.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will understand;
1) History of microbiology
2) Handlings of microorganisms (Isolation, culture and observation of microorganisms)
3) Taxonomy (Molecular phylogenetics with 16S rRNA)
4) Mathematical expression of growth of microorganisms
5) Structures of microbial cells (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotic microbes)
6) Energy metabolism of microorganisms
7) Cellular metabolism of microorganisms
8) Pathogenic microbes
9) Metagenome analysis
10) Symbiosis
11) Application of microbes
Keywords
Molecular phylogenetics, Phylogenetic tree, Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotic microbes, Metabolism, Respiration, Fermentation, Pathogenic microbes, Metagenome, Symbiosis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures are given by the Zoom broadcasting. When necessary, a summary of the previous lecture is given, followed by the main points of the day's lecture. During each lecture, questions may be given to find out if students have learned the material given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | History of microbiology | Explain about Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek |
| Class 2 | Handlings of microorganisms (Isolation, culture and obserbation of microorganisms) | Understand handing of microorganisms |
| Class 3 | Taxosonomy (Evolution and molecular phylogenetics) | Understand molecular phylogenetics |
| Class 4 | Structures of microorganims (1): Bacteria, archaea, and virus | Understand cell structures of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria |
| Class 5 | Structures of microorganisms (2): Eukaryotic microbes (Yeast, fungi, and protists) | Understand structures of eukaryoteic cells |
| Class 6 | Energy metabolism of microorganisms (1): Glycolysis and fermentation | Understand glycolysis |
| Class 7 | Energy metabolism of microorganisms (2): Respiration and photosynthesis | Understand TCA cycle, electron transport chain, and photosynthesis |
| Class 8 | Cellular metabolism: Amino acids, nucleic acids, and so on | Understand nitrogen metabolism |
| Class 9 | Microbial growth: Mathematical expressin of growth of microorganisms, celldivision, and factors affecting cell growth | Understand growth rate constant and continuous culture |
| Class 10 | Microbial genetics: Transformation, trunsduction and recombination | Understand DNA and gene |
| Class 11 | Pathogenic microbes | Understand bacterial virulence |
| Class 12 | Metagenome analysis | Understand metagenome and its application |
| Class 13 | Symbiosis | Understand symbiotic intestinal microflora |
| Class 14 | Application of microbes | Understand application of microbes for food industry |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Handouts will be distributed when necessary.
Brock Biology of Microorganisms (14th edition)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their ability to describe the basic knowledge on Microbiology given in the course and to utilize the knowledge for problem solving, and students' course scores are based on the reports etc. given in the lectures.
Related courses
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
- LST.A503 ： Environmental Microbiology
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses is desirable except Environmental Microbiology (LST.A503).
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Masaaki Wachi (mwachi[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5770), Takashi Hirasawa (thirasawa[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5780), Naoyuki Yamamoto（n-yamamoto[at]bio.titech.ac.jp、5105）
Office hours
Students may approach the instructors at the end of class or visit their offices upon securing an appointment through e-mail.