Scope of microbiology, History of microbiology, Origin of life, Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. Microbial Diversity and Taxonomy. Structure, Classification and Reproduction of bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Protozoa and Algae. General features of Prions, Spirochetes, Actinomycetes and Rickettsiae.
Microscopy: Concepts, Light, Electron, Phase Contrast, Acoustic Microscopy, camera Lucida and Micrometry. Media preparation, types of media, Culture methods, pure culture techniques, Staining Techniques. Sterilization & disinfection.
Growth curve patterns, Physical conditions required for growth. Metabolism; Primary and Secondary metabolites with examples, metabolic pathways important in Microorganisms-Respiration and Fermentation
Introduction to Medical Microbiology, Common diseases caused by microbes: Bacterial diseases: Typhoid, Diphtheria, Cholera, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Plague, Syphilis,Gonorrhea; Viral diseases: Herpes, Polio, Hepatitis, AIDS, Rabies, SARS and H1N1; Protozoan diseases: Malaria: common types of fungal infections.
Soil Microbiology: Soil micro flora and biogeochemical cycles. Bio fertilizers: VAM and Rhizobium. Atmospheric Microbiology: Aerobiology and allergy. Air sampling principles and types of samplers, Selective media for air sampling, significance of aerobiological studies. Aquatic Microbiology: Marine micro flora, fresh water microflora, Microbiology of potable water, Purification, Sewage disposal, Microbes in Bioremediation. Industrial Microbiology: Production of antibiotics (penicillin), Organic acids (citric acid), Enzymes from Microbes (proteases). Production of Vitamin B12.