Microbiology Laboratory

Not applicable.

In the laboratory classes of microbiology, 7 experimental works are carried out, with the protocols previously made available to the students, through the NONIO platform. Students work in a group of 2 or 3 elements. After the experimental work is done, the students will have a week to prepare a summary report, which will be given to the teacher and discussed with them. In some laboratory classes students will perform, at the beginning of the class, a surprise test for diagnostic evaluation of the experimental protocol to be executed.

The main objective of the Training Unit is to introduce the student to the laboratory techniques of Microbiology, with a special emphasis on basic procedures such as the preparation of culture media, sterilization and asepsis techniques, inoculation techniques, and biochemical characterization of bacteria.

Students at the end of the course unit should know to: Prepare culture media; Use sterilization and asepsis techniques; Recognize microorganisms in the environment and colony morphology; Transfer and isolate microorganisms under aseptic conditions; Conserve and revive cultures; Characterize physiologically and biochemically bacteria; Evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics; Recognize the methods of microorganisms quantification.

1. Methodologies for the cultivation of microorganisms.

2. Physiological and biochemical characterization of microorganisms.

3. Quantification of microorganisms’ number and biomass. Microscopic, electronic, plate and filter membrane counting methodologies. Turbidimetry. Dry weight and metabolic products method.

4. Quantification of microbial growth. Experimental determination of the growth of prokaryotic microorganisms.

5. Use of microorganism control techniques. Evaluation of the effectiveness of antibiotics. Kirby-Bauer method.

NAO

1. LABORATÓRIO DE MICROBIOLOGIA: Protocolos experimentais (available at InforEstudante)
2. BLACK, G. (2005). Microbiology – principles and explorations (6ª ed.). NJ: John Wiley & Sons (available at ISEC library: 6-14-11)
3. WILLEY, J. M., SHERWOOD, L. M., WOOLVERTON, C. J. (2008). Microbiology (7ª ed.). Boston: McGrawHill Higher Education ((available at ISEC library: 6-14-8)
4. ISAAC, S. & JENNINGS, D. (1995). Microbial Culture, Bios Scientific Publishers ((available at ISEC library: 6-14-10)
5. COLLINS, C. H., LYNE, P. M., GRANGE, J. M. (1995). Microbiological Methods (7ª ed.). Oxford: Hodder Education Publishers.
6. SEELEY, H. W., VANDEMARK, P. J., LEE, J. J. (1991). Microbes in action: a laboratory manual of microbiology (4ª ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company ((available at ISEC library: 6-14-5)
7. CAPPUCCINO, J. G., SHERMAN, N. (1999). Microbiology: a laboratory manual (5ª ed.). Menlo Park, CA: Benjamin/Cummings Science Publishing.