https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AB_1276The course provides basic knowledge and understanding of (medical) microbiology supplemented, extended and illustrated with experiments, models and current topics. A total of 17 specific learning objectives are defined: microbiology (1-10); medical microbiology (11-14); wet and dry practicals, plus exercises (15-16); computer modelling-workgroups (17) After successful completion of the course, the student can:review the history of microbiology on the basis of major discoveries.describe the methods used to make microorganisms visible and explain the underlying principles.illustrate the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial diversity using classification criteria.identify and characterise the structures and functions of parts of the cytoplasm, membranes and cell walls of prokaryotes.identify the processes of prokaryotic cell division and population growth, reproduce the ways to measure growth, and characterise the effects of environmental factors on growth.explain the concepts of (anaerobic) respiration and fermentation.identify and characterise the distinctive processes of viruses and subviral particles.reproduce and apply the principles of microbial culturing methods.identify and describe the methods and principles of Systems Microbiology.identify and characterise physical, chemical and biological agents for the control of microorganism growth.identify and characterise positive and negative interactions between humans and microorganisms.name and characterise a number of diagnostic microbiology methods.reproduce the concepts of epidemiology and characterise the different ways of transmission of microbic diseases.characterise a number of specific microbial diseases: lyme, malaria, plague, tetanus and cholera.independently perform basic microbiological-experimental techniques,critically consider these techniques, and reproduce the associated calculations.use and (de)construct computer models, of microbial growth curves and immunological herd-immunity, and understand the underlying mathematics.In the course, basic (medical) microbiological theory is taught and illustrated with computer and laboratory experiments; these parts cover most of the course. With regard to (medical) microbiology, the negative effects of micro-organisms on humans will be covered (e.g. infectious diseases), but attention will also be paid to the positive effects on humans. Students will not only acquire theoretical knowledge from lectures and study books but also hands-on experience during workgroups and practicals. In the in-depth part of the course, attention will be paid to the contemporary systems-perspective within (medical) microbiological contexts. Systems-(micro)biological aspects will be treated in relation to the use of mathematical and computer models. Two different seminar workgroups will also be devoted to considering microbiology from a system perspective. In the practicals, students will acquire knowledge about experimental techniques and learn how to process and interpret the measurement and results they obtain. These laboratory practicals consist of up to nine "wet"-experiments and one "dry" computer-based experiment. By carrying out wet experiments, students also acquire practical and basic laboratory skills that are essential for their further studies. In addition, special lectures and seminars will focus on 'microbiological numeracy skills'. As part of the mathematical line of the first year, the use and construction of basic mathematical models in (medical) microbiology will be dealt with during Practical Computer Classes. Here the emphasis will be on obtaining a first understanding of model-based quantitative approaches. The models that the students will make and study (using Microsoft Excel) will deal with the following topics: 1. a model-based description of exponential microbial growth under nutrient limitation; 2. a model-based description of herd immunity. The following learning pathway is incorporated into this course: Mathematic skillsFormal lectures (LE): 18 hours Q&A sessions: 4 hours Modeling (mathematic track) lectures: 4 hours Practical Computer Classes (PCC) (mathematic track): 4 hours Practicals (Laboratory, PT A and B): 26 hours Self-study: 112 hoursPractical: the list of results of the most important experiments is drawn up in pairs and evaluated by the teaching assistant as satisfactory/unsatisfactory.Attendance at the compulsory practicals and seminars (there are NO opportunities to make up for missed days) will be recorded, and assessed as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. In principle, full attendance is expected. In exceptional cases, absence may be compensated for by writing and submitting a satisfactory report (topic to be specified), no later than 8 working days after the end of the course.Completion of compulsory assignments will be recorded and assessed as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. In the event of unsatisfactory completion, a student will be given one chance to resubmit the assignment(s) in question, no later than 8 working days after the end of the course.A single multiple-choice digital test at the end of the course. A substantial part of the questions (approximately one-third) will be about the practicals and the seminars and seminar workgroups. The grade for the digital exam is also the final grade for the course as a whole, provided that all assignments (and report where applicable) have been assessed as satisfactory. If one or more assignments or reports are evaluated as unsatisfactory, the consequence may be that the course as a whole must be redone in the next academic year, regardless of the score for the digital (multiple-choice) exam. Students will only be allowed to do the regular resit, if all assignments (and report where applicable) have been assessed as satisfactory.The studybook Brock: Biology of Microorganisms is used throughout the course. Additional syllabi for the mathematical track and the practicals will be supplied through Canvasa. Students should take advantage of the knowledge acquired during the courses Genetics, Biochemistry and Cell Biology in the period September-December of the first year. b. Knowledge of cellular processes of eukaryotic macro-organisms will serve as contrast for the knowledge of similar processes in prokaryotic microorganisms that students gain within Microbiology. c. Basic knowledge of Excel is required.