Bacteriology: The Good, the Bad, and the Deadly

Course Description

Did you know that the bubonic plague killed approximate 50% of Europe's population in the middle ages? Did you know that the bacterium that causes leprosy lives inside of the American Armadillo? Bacteria floating miles high in the atmosphere can cause meningitis. Bacteria even contribute to obesity and heart attacks. Come learn about the amazing world of bacteria!

Bacteria are found everywhere on earth; in the deepest oceans, the hottest geysers, and all over our bodies. In fact, your body has ten times more bacterial cells than human cells! Bacteria are essential to life on earth. While the majority of microorganisms have no impact on human health, a few species cause human disease. This course will explore the world of bacteria and introduce how the human immune system controls bacterial infection.

This course will provide an introduction to bacteriology and strengthen the students’ grasp of biology. By the end of this course, students will:
• Be able to describe the morphology, physiology, metabolism, growth, control, and genetics of multiple microorganisms.
• Have an appreciation for the necessity of bacteria in the environment, food production, research, and biomedical fields.
• Understand multiple pathogenic bacteria and describe the mechanisms they use to infect and cause disease in humans.
• Be able to explain how the human immune system responds to invading microbial pathogens.
• Be able to conduct a number of experimental techniques used in a microbiology laboratory, including sterile technique, bacterial culturing, staining, and metabolic tests.

Prerequisites: Completion of a high school biology course is recommended. This course will be useful to students interested in pre-med or infectious disease research.