2024 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)
- Takashi Hirasawa / Masaaki Wachi / Susumu Kajiwara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon / 1-2 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A345
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 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, 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) Application of microbes
Keywords
Molecular phylogenetics, Phylogenetic tree, Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotic microbes, Metabolism, Respiration, Fermentation, Pathogenic microbes
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
A summary of the previous lecture is given, followed by the main points of the day's lecture. During 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 | Taxonomy (Evolution and molecular phylogenetics) | Understand molecular phylogenetics |
| Class 3 | Handlings of microorganisms (Isolation, culture and observation of microorganisms) | Understand handing of microorganisms |
| Class 4 | Structures of microorganims: Bacteria, archaea, eukaryotic microbes and virus | Understand cell structures of bacteria and eukaryotic microbes |
| Class 5 | Energy metabolism of microorganisms: Glycolysis, fermentation, respiration, amino acid metabolism, and nucleic acid metabolism | Understand glycolysis, TCA cycle and electron transport chain |
| Class 6 | History of microbial fermentation: alcoholic brewing, amino acid fermentation, etc. | Understand the microorganisms used in traditional fermentation |
| Class 7 | Review of the first half of the course (classes 1–6) and midterm exam. | Revise what was taught during classes 1-6 to prepare for the exam. |
| Class 8 | Microbial growth: Mathematical expressin of growth of microorganisms, celldivision, and factors affecting cell growth | Understand growth rate constant and continuous culture |
| Class 9 | Microbial genetics: Transformation, trunsduction and recombination | Understand DNA and gene |
| Class 10 | Microbial infection and pathogenesis | Understand infection of microorganisms as pathogens and pathways of infection in vivo, etc |
| Class 11 | Pathogenic microorganisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa | Understand the morphology, properties, and growth of typical viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that are pathogenic |
| Class 12 | Immunity to infection | Understand the pathogenesis of infectious diseases based on the basic human defense mechanisms |
| Class 13 | Prevention and treatment of microbial infections | Understand the methods and characteristics of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases |
| Class 14 | Review of the second half of the course (classes 8-13) and final exam. | Revise what was taught during classes 8-13 to prepare for the exam. |
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
Midterm exam: 50%, final exam: 50%
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), Susumu Kajiwara (kajiwara.s.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp, 5715)
Office hours
Students may approach the instructors at the end of class or visit their offices upon securing an appointment through e-mail.