IIS University - International College for Girls - ICG Courses

M.Sc. (Microbiology)

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Duration: 2 Years

Eligibility: Graduation

Course Structure

Course Code	Course Title
Semester – I
MBL 121	Bacteriology
MBL 122	Biochemistry & Enzymology
MBL 123	Microbial Physiology and Diversity
MBL 124	Instrumentation
MBL 125	Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
MBL 126	Laboratory I
Semester - II
MBL 221	Microbial Genetics
MBL 222	Molecular Biology
MBL 223	Immunology
MBL 224	Genetic engineering
MBL 225	Virology, Mycology and Phycology
MBL 226	Laboratory II
Semester - III
MBL 321	Medical Microbiology
MBL 322	Fermentation Technology
MBL 323	Microbial Technology
MBL 324	Microbial Ecology
MBL 325	Applied Environmental Microbiology
MBL 326	Laboratory III
Semester - IV
MBL 421	Review Report
MBL 422	Dissertation

 

Course Syllabus

Semester - I

MBL 121   Bacteriology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• To learn about structure of bacterial cell
• Have an idea about characters of different Eubacteria and Archaebacteria
• To understand growth and preservation of microbes.
• understand classification and taxonomy of bacteria

Unit-I Ultra structure of bacteria

Cell wall structure and synthesis, cell membrane,. Flagella and motility, chemotaxis Pili, Cell inclusions like Glycogen granules, Volutin granules, Carboxysomes etc, Slime sheet and capsule. Endospre structure and formation, stages of sporulation, activation germination and outgrowth of bacterial endospres

Unit-II Eubacteria and Archaebacteria

General characters and structure of Spirochetes, cyanobacteria, purple and green bacteria, rickettsia, Chlamydia and mycoplasma Gram positive bacteria- endospore forming bacteria, actinomycetes, mycobacteria. Archaebacteria-methanotrophs, halophiles and sulphur bacteria.

Unit-III Microbial Growth

The definition of growth, mathematical expression of growth, growth curve, measurement of growth and growth yields, Synchronous growth, Continuous, Batch and Fed Batch Culture; Growth as affected by environmental factors like temperature, pH , activity of water and gaseous environment, maintenance and preservation of microorganisms

Unit-IV Classification

Classification of microorganisms-introduction,Haekels three kingdom concept- Whittaker’s five kingdom concept-three domain concept of Carl Woese Characteristics of primary domains Classification and salient features of bacteria according to Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology(a brief outline) Morphlogical types of bacteria Nutritional classification of bacteria

Unit-V Taxonomy

Chemotaxonomy (cell wall components, isoprenoid - quinones, amino acid sequence of proteins, protein profiles, cytochrome composition , ribosomal RNA, etc) Genetic methods in taxonomy (PCR and DNA Fingerprinting as Identification Tools for Bacteria, DNA base composition and hybridisation, nucleic acid hybridization, ribotyping; Ribosomal RNA sequencing, molecular chronometers) Culture collections

 

MBL 122   Biochemistry & Enzymology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• understand the chemistry of biomolecules
• Understand the bioenergetic principles underlying biochemical reactions.
• Understand the structure, mechanism of action and inhibition of enzymes.

Unit-I Chemical foundations of Biology

pH, pK, acids, bases, buffers, chemical bonds, Bioenergetics: Principles of thermodynamics: free energy, important energy, rich molecules, standard free energy change, concept of redox reactions. Principles of self assembly, Hierarchy of molecular organization of living systems.

Unit-II Amino acids and proteins .

Amino acids, Classification, Chemical Reactions and Physical Properties, Proteins-purification and criteria for homogeneity, structural organization of proteinsprimary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Conformational analysis. Ramachandran plot.

Unit- III Carbohydrates

Classification and reactions, types, structural features. Metabolism of carbohydrates, main sources of carbohydrates, enzymatic conversion and mobilization as glucoses or fructoses, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, terminal oxidation/ oxidative phosphorylation, mechanism of ATP synthesis, rate controlling steps and regulation.

Unit-IV Lipids .

Classification, Structure and functions, Biosynthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, Metabolism of Lipid and fat bodies: Beta-oxidation and channeling of the products to ATP production: minor pathway of fatty acid oxidation, (alpha and omega oxidation), Biosynthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, Ketone bodies, membrane lipids-cholesterol, phospholipid and glycolipid; biosynthesis of fat soluble vitamins; biosynthesis of Eicosonoids (prostaglandin, leucotriens and thromboxane).

Unit-V Enzymes.

Kinetics: Rate of reactions, specific activity, molecular activity, Km, Kcat, Michaelis – Menten & Line weaver Burk plot and Bisubstrate Reaction, enzyme inhibition, mechanism of enzyme catalysis (acid-base electrostatic, metal ion, free radicals, transition state binding and covalent, proximity and orientation effects, Contribution of strain). Factors affecting enzyme activity, enzyme inhibition. Allosteric enzymes in bisubstrate reactions. Enzyme Engineering.

 

MBL 123    Microbial Physiology and Diversity

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• Understand Photosynthesis in microbes.
• Understand different type of bacterial fermentations.
• To learn about different types of chemolithotropic pathways.
• To have an overview of nitrogen metabolism, purines and puyrimidines.
• To learn about signaling mechanisms and microbial response to stress.

Unit-I Utilization of sugars and Bacterial fermentations

Utilization of lactose , galactose, maltose. Alcoholic fermentation, lactate fermentation homo and heterolactic fermentations, butyrate and butanol acetone fermentation, mixed acid fermentations. Rumen as an anaerobic system.

Unit-II Photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthetic microbes and anoxygenic photosynthetic microbes. Brief account of photosynthetic and accessory pigments- chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophylls, rhodopsin, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins; oxygenic-anoxygenic photosynthesis, autotrophic generation of ATP Carbohydrates - anabolism; fixation of CO2 - Calvin cycle

Unit-III Chemolithotrophy -

Oxidative transformation of metals: sulphur oxidation, iron oxidation, ammonia oxidation and hydrogen oxidation. Microbial diversity in anoxic ecosystem - methanogens - reduction of carbon monoxide - reduction of iron, sulphur, manganese, nitrate and oxygen.

Unit-IV Nitrogen metabolism, Purines and Pyrimidines

Biological nitrogen fixation process, components of nitrogenase enzyme, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, Denitrification, biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids. Biosynthesis and degradation of purines and pyrimidines, salvage pathway.

Unit-V Signaling mechanisms and Microbial stress response

Prokaryotic signaling, Two component signaling systems Quorum sensing and bacterial pheromones, intracellular signaling, signaling pathways. Microbial stress response, stress proteins Cold and heat shocks, oxidative, and starvation stress. Bioluminescence.

 

MBL 124   Instrumentation

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• Understand the basic operating characteristics of instruments.
• Understand principles and applications of techniques.

Unit-I Spectroscopy

Beer-Lambert law, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy, NMR, ESR, CD/ORD, MALDI-ToF-MS, X-Ray Diffraction.

Unit-II Chromatography

Principle, Paper chromatography, TLC, Column chromatography (GC, HPLC), Adsorption chromatography, Partition chromatography, Gel filtration, Ion-exchange chromatography and Affinity chromatography.

Unit-III Electrophoresis .

Principle, factors affecting electrophoresis, pH, voltage, supporting medium (agarose, polyacrylamide, dextran). Agarose gel electrophoresis, PAGE, SDS-PAGE, 2-D electrophoresis, Pulsed field gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, immuno electrophoresis.

Unit-IV Centrifugation & Microscopy

Centrifugation: principle differential and density gradient, ultracentrifugation (Preparative and analytical centrifuges) sedimentation analysis & RCF. Microscopy: construction of a microscope, light microscopy (bright field, dark field, phase-contrast, interference, confocal, polarization microscopy). Electron microscopy-TEM, SEM, Scanned probe microscopic techniques (STEM, AFM) Cytophotometry, flow cytometry.

Unit-V Radioisotopic Techniques

Radioisotopes; nature of radioactivity, types of radioactive decay, unit of radioactivity. Radiation dosimetry, radioactive isotopes, autoradiography, Cerenckov radiation, liquid scintillation counting, Geiger-Muller counter.

 

MBL 125   Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• Appreciate the significance of statistical analysis of biological data.
• Learn the methods of statistical analysis.
• know about Bioinformatics as a tool in Biotechnology

Unit -I Sampling and classification of data

Sampling - Sampling procedure, types of sampling, Classification and tabulation of data, frequency distribution, probability, addition and multiplication theorem of probability. A brief idea of normal, Poisson and binomial distribution.

Unit -II Measures of central tendency and dispersion

Measure of central tendency-Mean, median and mode, Measures of dispersion - range , mean deviation ,standard deviation, coefficient of variation, Skewness and kurtosis.

Unit -III Tests of significance

Hypothesis testing, Nulls hypothesis and alternative hypothesis, level of significance. Chi-square test, t-test, F-test, ANOVA-one way and two way classifications. Simple correlation and simple regression.

Unit -IV Bioinformatics

Overview of bioinformatics – introduction, the internet and the biologist, Database types- Primary and Secondary databases, sequence databases - nucleotide and protein sequence databases (NCBI, EMBL, DDBJ, UNIPORT, PIR), Structural databases (PDB, MMDB, CSD, NDB) Genomics and Genome project (a brief idea)

Unit -V Sequence analysis

Concept of similarity searching, methods of similarity searching (BLAST, FASTA) statistical significance of sequence comparisons, application of similarity searching in gene identification and functional assignment. Information retrieval from biological databases. Computer tools for finding and retrieving sequences, pair wise and multiple alignments.

 

MBL 126   Laboratory I

• Preparation of liquid and solid media for growth of microorganisms.
• Pure culture techniques- streak plate method, pour plate method, spread plate method.
• Growth Kinetics, Effect of temperature, pH and carbon and nitrogen source on growth.
• Enumeration of bacteria: standard plate count.
• Microscopic examination of bacteria by simple staining, Gram stain, Negative staining, staining for spores etc.
• Hanging drop method to study motility in bacteria.
• study of culture characters of microorganisms
• Biochemical characterization of selected microbes.
  •  oxidation and fermentation tests
  •  catalase test
  •  oxidase test
  •  nitrate reduction test
  •  starch hydrolysis
  •  IMVIC
  •  H2S production test
• Estimation of protein in bacteria by Folin Lowry method
• Estimation of protein by Biuret test
• Estimation of reducing sugar by DNSA method
• Estimation of sugar in bacteria by Anthrone reagent
• To study the effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity
• To study the effect of temperature on enzyme activity
• To study the effect of pH on enzyme activity
• To assay the activity of acid phosphatase
• Separation and identification of amino acids by TLC
• Separation of protein by SDS-PAGE
• Demonstrations:
  • Gel Filtration Chromatography
  • Ion Exchange Chromatography
  • Adsorbtion Chromatography
  • Affinity Chromatography
  • e. Blotting Techniques
• Biostatistics exercises
• Information searching on Internet.
• Sequence retrievals form NCBI, Genbank, EMBL, DDBJ
• Any other practical based on theory syllabus.

 

Semester - II

MBL 221   Microbial Genetics

Objectives:

To enable the student to:

• Understand the basic mechanism of point mutation.
• Concept of gene.
• Understand the mechanisms of conjugation, transformation, transduction in bacteria
• Understand the role of microbial genetics in vaccine designing.

Unit - I: Introduction to gene and mutagenesis

Gene as unit of mutation and recombination. Molecular nature of mutations. Physical and chemical mutagens. Spontaneous mutations- random and non-adaptive mutation, mutation rates, origin. Genetic analysis of mutants.

Unit -  II: Bacterial genetics

Gene transfer mechanisms- Transformation- molecular mechanism, mapping and other uses of transformation, Transduction- generalized transduction, co transduction and linkage, mapping by co transduction, specialized transduction, specialized transducing phage as a cloning vehicle. Bacterial conjugation- insertion of F in E. coli, Hfr transfer, recombination in recipient cells. Chromosome transfer in other bacteria.

Unit - III: Plasmids and Transposons

Plasmids- types and properties, F-factors description. Colicins and col factors. Plasmids as vectors for genetic cloning. Plasmid replication. Transposons- types, genetic phenomena mediated by transposons in bacteria. Use of plasmid and tranposons in genetic analysis.

Unit - IV:Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, Lytic phages-T7 and T4.Lysogenic phages Lambda phage, and P1, M13 and _ X174 life cycles, Phage MU and their uses in microbial genetics.

Unit - V: Role of microbial genetics in vaccine designing

Microbial genetics and design of vaccines. BCG and design of vaccine for TB and leprosy. DNA vaccines, design and advantages.

 

MBL 222   Molecular Biology

Objectives:

To enable the student to:

• Understand the Molecular basis of life.
• Flow of genetic onformation.
• Regulation of gene expression.

Unit - 1: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic gene structure and function.

Structure and properties of nucleic acids, Central dogma of molecular biology, Prokaryotic gene structure and organization, Eukaryotic genome structure and chromosome organization

Unit - II: Replication in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.

DNA Replication in prokaryotes & eukaryotes, enzymes and accessory proteins involved in DNA Replication, Recombination (Holliday model), FLP/ FRT and Cre/ Lox recombination, Rec A and other recombinases.

Unit - III: Transcription in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic transcription (Initiation ,Elongation & Termination), RNA Polymerase, General & Specific Transcription Factors, Regulatory elements & mechanism of transcription regulation, Post transcriptional gene silencing(PTGS), Modifications in RNA (5’ cap formation, Transcription termination, 3’end processing & Polyadenylation, Splicing, Editing), Nuclear export of mRNA, m-RNA stability.

Unit - IV: Machinery involved in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Translation.

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Translation, the translation machinery, Mechanism of initiation, elongation, termination, Regulation of translation, Co & post translational modification of proteins, Localization of proteins, synthesis of secretory & membrane proteins, Import into nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast & peroxisomes, receptor mediated endocytosis.

Unit - V: Antisense and Ribozyme Technology.

Molecular mechanism of antisense molecules-Inhibition of splicing, polyadenylation, translation. disruption of RNA structure & capping, Biochemistry of ribozymeshammerhead, hairpin, other ribozymes, strategies for designing ribozymes, Application  of antisense & ribozyme technology, Viral & cellular oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes from humans, structure, function and Mechanism of action of Prb & p53 tumor suppressor proteins.

 

MBL 223  Immunology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• understand the various cells involved in Immune system.
• learn the cellular and molecular aspects of Immune system.
• study about the regulation of Immune response and Antigen – Antibody reactions.
• learn about the applied aspects of Immunology.

Unit - I Introduction to immune system

Basic Immunology: - Phylogeny of immune system, Innate and acquired immunity, Clonal nature of immune response. Cells of the Immune system: Hematopoiesis and differentiation, Lymphocyte trafficking, B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, Macrophages, Dendritic cells, NK and Lymphokine activated killer cells, Eosinophils, Neutrophils and Mast Cells. Organization and structure of lymphoid organs

Unit - II Cellular and molecular aspects

Nature and biology of antigens and super antigens. Immunoglobulin: structure, types and their function, Major histocompatibility complex, B-Cell Receptor and T-Cell Receptor, generation and diversity, Complement system

Unit - III Immune response & its regulation

Antigen processing and presentation, generation of Humoral and Cell mediated immune responses, B- and T- cell maturation, activation and differentiation, Cytokines and their role in immune regulation, T-cell regulation, MHC restriction, Immunological tolerance, Cell-mediated cytotoxicity: Mechanism of T cell and NK cell mediated lysis, Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity, and macrophage mediated cytotoxicity

Unit - IV Antigen- antibody interactions

Precipitation, Immunodiffusion, Immunoelectrophoresis, Agglutination, RIA, ELISA, Immunofluorescence

Unit - V Advanced concepts in Immunology

Hypersensivity, Autoimmunity, Vaccine development and immunization programme, Transplantation, Immunity of infectious agents (intracellular parasites, helminthes and viruses), Tumor Immunology, AIDS and other immunodeficiencies, Hybridoma Technology and Monoclonal antibodies.

 

MBL 224    Genetic engineering

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• get an insight of tools of genetic engineering.
• understand steps involved in the formation of genomic library and fundamentals of gene sequencing.
• know the strategies of genome mapping and analysis of genetic variations.
• understand the techniques involved in gene expression studies.
• know and understand in detail strategies of gene delivery.

Unit - I Tools of genetic engineering

Scope and milestones in genetic engineering, Basic tools and techniques used in recombinant DNA technology: Restriction endonuclease, DNA modifying enzymes, cloning vectors: plasmids, bacteriophage, cosmid, phagemids, in vitro construction of  vectors, expression vectors. Principle and uses of nucleic acid hybridization. Principle and applications of polymerase chain reaction. Patenting of cloned life forms. Site directed mutagenesis and protein engineering, in vitro DNA synthesis, in vitro transcription and translation.

Unit - II Sequencing of genes

DNA and genomic library: m- RNA enrichment, reverse transcription, Linkers, Adaptors, Screening of c DNA and genomic library, Sequencing and mapping: Sequencing vector, fluorescent tagging, Automated DNA sequencing, Pyrosequencing. Restriction mapping and map construction, Application of sequence information for identification of defective genes.

Unit - III Molecular Mapping of Genome

Genetic and physical mapping, Genome sequencing: genome size, organelle genome, YAC, BAC libraries, strategies of genome sequencing, Analysis of genetic variations: RAPD, RFLP, AFLP and other molecular marker techniques, application of RFLP in forensic studies, disease prognosis, genetic counselling, pedigree analysis etc.

Unit - IV Strategies of gene delivery

Agrobacterium mediated transformation, electoporation, particle bombardment, microinjection, Gene therapy: Target gene replacement, gene knockout technique, computer aided drug designing.

Unit - V Gene expression

DNA and protein microarray technology, RNase protection assay, Reporter gene assay, northern blotting and S1 nuclease assay, Heterologous gene expression in bacteria, yeasts, insects, mammals and plants. codon optimization.

 

MBL 225  Virology, Mycology and Phycology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• To learn about classification and structure of viruses.
• To know about general methods of diagnosis and serology.
• Know about bacteriophages.
• To understand mycology and phycology.

Unit - I General Virology

Brief outline on discovery of viruses, nomenclature and classification of viruses : distinctive properties of viruses; morphology & ultra structure; capsids & their  arrangements; types of envelops and their composition-viral genome, their types and structures; virus related agents (viroids, prions)

Unit - II Cultivation, Diagnosis and serology

Cultivation of viruses in embryonated eggs, experimental animals , cell cultures; Primary & secondary cell cultures; suspension cell cultures and monolayer cell cultures; cell lines and transgenic systems; serological methods - heamagglutination & HAU; compliment fixation ;immunofluorescenemethods, ELISA and Radioimmunoassay; assay of viruses physical and chemical methods (Protein, nucleic acid, radioactivity, trackers, electron microscopy)-Infectivity assay (plaque method, end point method)- Infectivity of plant viruses.

Unit - III Animals and Plant Viruses

Animal viruses Epidemiology, life cycle, pathogenicity, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of RNA viruses, Picorna , Ortho Myxo, Paramyxo, Toga , Rhabdo, Rota, Retroviruses, Oncogenic viruses, Viral vaccines (conventional vaccines, recombinant vaccines, vaccines used in national immunization programmes with example , newer generation vaccines including DNA vaccines with examples) interferon , and antiviral drugs.

Plant viruses Effect of viruses on plants, Appearance of plants; histology , physiology and cytology of plants; common virus disease of plants eg paddy (Rice Tungro, Rice Hozablanca), tomato(Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl, Tomato Mottle) and sugarcane (Sugarcane Mosaic); Transmission of plant virus with vectors (insects, nematodes, fungi) and without vectors (contact, seed and pollens), Prevention of crop loss due to virus infection- virus free planting mater ial; vector control.

Unit - IV Mycology

An Introduction to fungi-History, general features of fungi, Classification of fungi, according to Aiasworth and Sussman (1974) as per UGC classification with the general aspects of Major division of fungi Nutrition of fungi, Vitamin requirements, Homothallism, Heterothallism, Heterokaryosis, The Parasexual cycle, Sex Hormones in Fungi. Fungi as insect symbiont . Mycotoxins and Mycotoxicoses. Attack on fungi by other microbes, yeasts, moulds and viruses.

Unit - V Phycology

An introduction to Algae, General features and classification of algae. Occurrence, thallus organization and reproduction in chlorophyceae euglenophyceae, phaeophyceae, pyrrophyceae and diatoms. Algal ecology & biotechnology. Economic importance of algae. Lichen, ascolichen, basidiolichen, deuterolichen

 

MBL 226   Laboratory II

• Isolation of antibiotic resistant microorganisms by replica plating.
• Isolation of antibiotic resistant microorganisms by Gradient plate technique.
• Effect of U.V. rays on bacteria.
• Isolation of plasmid DNA
• Isolation of genomic DNA
• Spectrophotometric quantitation of nucleic acids
• Ouchterlony double diffusion
• ELISA
• Demonstrations:
  • Sandwich ELISA
  • Latex agglutination
  • Rocket Immunoelectrophoresis
• Restriction digestion of _DNA
• Ligation
• Transformation of DH5_ (including preparation of competent cells)
• Demonstartions:
  • Conjugation
  • Reporter gene assay (GFP)/ Bacterial Transduction
• Study of various symptoms produced in plants due to virus infection.
• Study of viral diseases of plants/animals/human (Specimen/photographs)
• Different type of viruses (Photographs/sketches).
• Titration of Phages
• Isolation and identification of fungi .
• study of permanent slides of algae and fungi

 

Semester - III

MBL 321   Medical Microbiology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• To learn about normal microbial flora of body and establishment of pathogenesis.
• To know about different types of diseases caused by bacteria
• To know about viral diseases of humans.
• To learn about chemotherapy and vaccines.

Unit-I Normal micro flora and factors responsible for pathogenesis

Classification of medically important micro organisms; Normal microbial flora of human body; role of the resident flora. Entry of pathogens into the host; colonization and mechanism of bacterial adhesion establishment, spreading, tissue damage and anti-phagocytic factors; factors predisposing to infections, types of toxins and their structure; mode of action.

Unit-II Pathogenic bacteria-I

Diagnostic features of important diseases including their pathogenecity and control Pyogenic cocci- Staphylococci, Streptococci, Neisseria meningitides, N. gonococcus Gram positive cocci- Clostridium tetani Mycobacteria- M. tuberculosis, M. leprae

Unit-III Pathogenic bacteria II, Fungi and Protozoan

Enteric Gram negative bacteria- Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholera, E. coli Spirochaetes- Treponema palladium Chlamydiae- Trachoma, Rickettesial diseases, Diseases caused by Mycoplasma, Pathogenic fungi- Candida albicans Protozoan diseases – Malaria, Amoebiasis

Unit-IV Viral diseases

Animal viruses Epidemiology, life cycle, pathogen city, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of RNA viruses- Picorna virus family- Poliomyelitis, Orthomyxovirusesinfluenza,  Paramyxoviruses- Mumps, Measles, HIV; DNA viruses; Pox virus- Variola and Vaccina, Herpes virus- Varicella Zoster virus, Hepatitis viruses, Arthropod borne (arbo) Viral disease- Dengu

Unit-V Chemotherapy and Antimicrobial agents

Mode of action of penicillin, cephalosporin, quinonoles, Sulfa drugs, streptomycin, tetracycline and other broad spectrum antibiotics, antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Antifungal drugs, antiviral drugs. Laboratory control of antimicrobial therapy; various methods of drug susceptibility testing. Brief account on available vaccines and Schedules; passive prophylactic measures. Viral vaccines (conventional vaccines, genetic recombinant vaccines used in national immunization programmes with example, newer generation vaccines including DNA vaccines with examples)

 

MBL 322   Fermentation Technology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• get an overview of design of Bioreactor types
• understand microbial growth kinetics
• learn various techniques of isolation and screening and improvement of industrially important micro organisms.
• understand the rationale of medium formulation for industrial production of different products
• understand downstream processing

Unit- I Fermentor: design and operation

Fermentation as an ancient tradition, development of fermentation microbiology: historical background.

Fermentor: Main components and its uses, peripheral parts and accessories. Control systems and sensors. Fermentor preparation and use: disassembly and cleaning of vessel, autoclaving, inoculation of fermentor vessel, sampling from fermentor vessel and routine maintenance of a fermentor. Specialized bioreactors (pulsed, fluidized bed, airlift bioreactor).

Unit –II Fermentation media ad scale up of fermentation

Medium formulation, energy source, carbon sources, nitrogen sources, minerals, growth factors, buffers, inhibitors and precursors, antifoaming agents. Air and medium sterilization. Inoculum preparation and scale up of fermentations.

Unit- III Microbial growth kinetics and fermentation processes

Batch, fed batch and continuous fermentations. Multiple fermentation and solid substrate fermentations. Microbial growth cycle, diauxic growth, growth yields. Kinetics of microbial growth and death. Framework for kinetic models- stoichiometry, reaction rates, yield coefficients and linear rate equation.

Unit- IV Isolation, preservation and improvement of industrially important microorganism

Isolation of industrially important microorganisms. Primary and secondary screening. Preservation of industrially important microorganisms. Strain improvement by genetic recombination approaches and directed screening for mutants with altered metabolism.

Unit-V Downstream processing, detection and assay of fermentation products 

Removal of microbial cells and solid matter, foam separation, cell disruption, precipitation, filtration, centrifugation, liquid-liquid extraction, chromatography, membrane process, drying and crystallization. Physical, chemical and biological assays for detection of fermentation products.

 

MBL 323   Microbial Technology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• get an overview of fermenter control systems
• to learn the industrial production of various products
• to understand principles of food spoilage and preservation
• to learn different types of dairy fermentations.

Unit-I Industrial application of microorganism-I

Concept of primary and secondary metabolites. Industrial production of organic feed stocks- ethanol, acetone/ butanol fermentations,  organic acids- citric acid, acetic acid, amino acids- glutamic acid, lysine, vitaminsriboflavin. Microbial transformation of steroids.

Unit-II Industrial application of microorganism-II

Industrial uses of molds. Industrial production of antibiotics- penicillin, streptomycins, tetracyclines, polyketides and polyketide antibiotics. Enzymes as fermentation products- amylases, proteases. Techniques of enzyme immobilization. Microbial cells as fermentation products- commercial production of bakers yeast, food and feed yeast, mushrooms and algae.

Unit-III Introduction to food Technology

Introduction to food fermentation technology. Microorganisms responsible for spoilage. General Principle underlying spoilage: Chemical changes caused by micro organisms. Elementary idea of canning and packing, Sterilization and pasteurization of Food Products, Food preservation by Radiations, low and high Temperature. Chemical preservation and naturally occurring antimicrobials. Fermented foods (Soya sauce, bread, Sauerkraut, idly), fermented beverages (wine, Beer) Microbiological examination of food.

Unit-V Industrial Dairy fermentations

Classification of various groups of microorganisms associated with dairy industry. Starter cultures for fermented dairy products (Streptococcus thermophillus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,). Acid fermented milks (Yoghurt, Cultured butter milk, Kefir). Cheese production Introduction to Probiotics

Unit-V Alcoholic beverages and alternative energy sources

Commercial production of beer, wines, distilled beverages (Rum, Brandy and Whiskey) Microorganisms and alternative energy sources: Bioconversion of biomass (methane, ethanol from agricultural products and hydrogen).

 

MBL 324    Microbial Ecology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• To understand aero microbiology and aquatic microbiology..

• To understand soil structure, properties and microbial interactions.
• To learn about Environmental sample collection and processing
• To learn about microbial life in extreme environments.
• To study techniques used in microbial ecology.

Unit-I   Aero microbiology and aquatic microbiology

Aero microbiology: Aerosols, Pathways (Launching, Transport and Deposition), Microbial survival in air. Airborne pathogens and toxicants. Biosafety in Laboratory

Aquatic microbiology: Planktonic environment, Benthic habitat, Microbial mats. Biofilms: Formation, Morphology, Physiology, beneficial and detrimental proprties, Physical, chemical and microbiolgical characteristics of rivers, lakes and oceans.

Unit-II Soil Microbiology

Physicochemical characteristics: Solid phase(Particles texture and Profile),Orgaic matter(Humus),Soil pH. Soil atmosphere, microbal environment (Biotic and Abiotic Stresses).  Soil microorganisms: Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa. Microbial interactions: Symbiosis, Mutualism, Commensalism, competition, amensalism, synergism, parasitism, predation. Microbial transformation: P, S, N, Hg.

Unit-III Environmental sample collection and processing

Sampling devices for collection of bioaerosols (impingement, impaction, centrifugation, filtrations and depositions Soil and sediments-sampling strategies and methods for surface soil and subsurface, sample processing and storage. Water- sampling strategies and methods for water, processing of water samples for virus analysis, detection of bacteria, protozoan parasites, detection of microorganisms on fomites.

Unit-IV Microorganisms in extreme environments:

Acidophilic, alkalophilic, thermophilic, barophilic and osmophilic microorganismsmechanisms of adaptation. Halophiles- membrane variation, electron transport. Applications of thermophiles and extrempohiles.

Unit-V Techniques in the study of microbial ecology.

Unculturable and culturable bacteria-conventional and molecular methods of studying microbial diversity Culture methods- for enumeration of bacteria, culture methods for fungi, algae, cyanobacteria. Cell culture based methods for detection of viruses. physiological methods including measurement of microbial activity, carbon respiration, use of radio labeled tracers, Adenylate energy charge .enzyme assays (dehydrogenase and esterase assay)

 

MBL 325   Applied Environmental Microbiology

Objectives:

To enable students to-

• To understand solid and liquid waste management.
• To understand biodegradation,bioremediation, bioleaching and biodeterioration.
• To learn about biofertilizers.
• To know about biopesticides and bioplastics

Unit-I Waste management

Treatment of industrial effluents and municipal waste through microorganisms. Aerobic Processes: Oxidation pools, Rotating Biological Discs, Rotating Drums, Anaerobic Processes: Anaerobic digestion, Anaerobic filter, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors. Indicator microorganisms. Solid wastes: Sources and management (composting, vermiculture and Methane production

Unit-II Biodegradation

Biodegradation of natural compounds (cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, chitin,)  Biodegradation of xenobiotics in environment – Organisms involved in degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons, substituted simple aromatic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, synthetic polymers, detergents and hydrocarbons Bioremediation- exsitu and in situ. bioaccumulation, biomagnifications

Unit-III Biodeterioration and Bioleaching

Definition, biodetorioration of paper, wood, paint, textiles, leather, metals (corrosion). Control of biodetorioration. Microorganisms and metal pollutants- metal bioavalibility in environment, mechanism of microbial metal resistance and detoxification, metal- microbe interaction, Bioleaching of metals, Microbial enhanced oil recovery.

Unit-IV Biofertilizers

Definition and types of biofertilizers, Mass cultivation and methods of inoculation of microbial inoculants – (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, & Asospirillium.)Cyanobacteria – Azolla – Anabaena association and its role in rice cultivation Quality control and ISI specifications for Rhizobium cultures.

Unit-V Mycorrhizal Relationship, Biopesticides and Bioplastics

VAM mycorrhizal association, Types of mycorrhizal association, Isolation, stock plants and inoculum production of VAM . Physiology and function of mycorrhizas- Nutrient Uptake and other effects. Biopesticides (with special emphasis on B. Thruingenesis.) Bioplastics

MBL 326    Laboratory III

• Enumeration of the following in blood sample
  • RBC
  • WBC
  • Eosinophils
• Widal test
• Haemagglutination test
• Preparation of blood smear and determination of differential WBC count
• Isolation and identification of Staphylococci and Streptococci from human body.
• Separation of serum proteins by electrophoresis
• Antibiotic sensitivity test by disc method
• Determination of MIC of antibiotics
• Production and estimation of Lipases etc.
• Microbial production of antibiotics
• Use of alginate for cell immobilization
• Isolation of industrially important microorganisms for microbial processes
• Isolation of Lactobacillus species from curd.
• Production of lactic acid from whey
• Production of baker’s yeast
• Production of alcohol
• Detection of microbial protease production
• Cellulose production by microorganisms
• Isolation of rhizospheric microflora
• Determination of R : S ratio of soil.
• Isolation of microorganisms from soil, water and air
• Detection of coliforms for determination of the purity of potable water.
• Determination of biological oxygen demand (BOD) of sewage sample.
• Determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of sewage sample.
• Isolation and identification of common microorganisms spoiling food (Fungi and bacteria).
• Preparation of fermented foods (Saukeraut).
• Determination of number of bacteria in milk by
  • Standard plate count
  • Direct microscopic count
• Testing of milk by MBRT
• Isolation and identification of Rhizobium from root nodules of leguminous plants.
• Isolation and identification of Azotobacter from soil.
• Study of ammonification by bacteria
• study of microbial antagonism and bacterial synergism
• Any other practical based on theory syllabus.

 

Semester - IV

MBL 421  Review Report

The review report of M.Sc. IV semester will be based on a detailed review of any one of the topics listed in syllabus in about 100 pages. This review will be evaluated by a supervisor, Head of the Department and any other person appointed by the Principal.

 

MBL 422Dissertation

The dissertation work will involve practical work on a problem suggested by the supervisor of the candidate. The student will submit the dissertation report at the end of IV semester. This dissertation report will be examined by the supervisor of the student, Head of the Department and any other person appointed by Principal.