Front Matter from OpenStax Microbiology

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About Microbiology

Microbiology is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements for the single-semester Microbiology course for non-majors. The book presents the core concepts of microbiology with a focus on applications for careers in allied health. The pedagogical features of Microbiology make the material interesting and accessible to students while maintaining the career-application focus and scientific rigor inherent in the subject matter.

Coverage and Scope

The scope and sequence of Microbiology has been developed and vetted with input from numerous instructors at institutions across the US. It is designed to meet the needs of most microbiology courses for non-majors and allied health students. In addition, we have also considered the needs of institutions that offer microbiology to a mixed audience of science majors and non-majors by frequently integrating topics that may not have obvious clinical

relevance, such as environmental and applied microbiology and the history of science.

With these objectives in mind, the content of this textbook has been arranged in a logical progression from fundamental to more advanced concepts. The opening chapters present an overview of the discipline, with individual chapters focusing on microscopy and cellular biology as well as each of the classifications of microorganisms. Students then explore the foundations of microbial biochemistry, metabolism, and genetics, topics that provide a basis for understanding the various means by which we can control and combat microbial growth. Beginning with Chapter 15, the focus turns to microbial pathogenicity, emphasizing how interactions between microbes and the human immune system contribute to human health and disease. The last several chapters of the text provide a survey of medical microbiology, presenting the characteristics of microbial diseases organized by body system.

While we have made every effort to align the Table of Contents with the needs of our audience, we recognize that some instructors may prefer to teach topics in a different order. A particular strength of Microbiology is that instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom.

About ASM

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 47,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources and provides a network for scientists in academia, industry, and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences and is committed to offering open-access materials through their new journals, American Academy of Microbiology reports, and textbooks.

ASM Recommended Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology Education

PART 1: Concepts and Statements Evolution

1. Cells, organelles (e.g., mitochondria and chloroplasts) and all major metabolic pathways evolved from early prokaryotic cells.

2. Mutations and horizontal gene transfer, with the immense variety of microenvironments, have selected for a huge diversity of microorganisms.

3. Human impact on the environment influences the evolution of microorganisms (e.g., emerging diseases and the selection of antibiotic resistance).

4. The traditional concept of species is not readily applicable to microbes due to asexual reproduction and the frequent occurrence of horizontal gene transfer.

5. The evolutionary relatedness of organisms is best reflected in phylogenetic trees.

Cell Structure and Function

6. The structure and function of microorganisms have been revealed by the use of microscopy (including bright field, phase contrast, fluorescent, and electron).

7. Bacteria have unique cell structures that can be targets for antibiotics, immunity and phage infection.

8. Bacteria and Archaea have specialized structures (e.g., flagella, endospores, and pili) that often confer critical capabilities.

9. While microscopic eukaryotes (for example, fungi, protozoa and algae) carry out some of the same processes as bacteria, many of the cellular properties are fundamentally different.

10 . The replication cycles of viruses (lytic and lysogenic) differ among viruses and are determined by their unique structures and genomes.

Metabolic Pathways

11 . Bacteria and Archaea exhibit extensive, and often unique, metabolic diversity (e.g., nitrogen fixation, methane

production, anoxygenic photosynthesis) .

12. The interactions of microorganisms among themselves and with their environment are determined by their metabolic abilities (e.g., quorum sensing, oxygen consumption, nitrogen transformations).

13. . The survival and growth of any microorganism in a given environment depends on its metabolic characteristics.

14. . The growth of microorganisms can be controlled by physical, chemical, mechanical, or biological means.

Information Flow and Genetics

15. Genetic variations can impact microbial functions (e.g., in biofilm formation, pathogenicity and drug resistance).

16 . Although the central dogma is universal in all cells, the processes of replication, transcription, and translation differ in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes.

17 . The regulation of gene expression is influenced by external and internal molecular cues and/or signals. 18 . The synthesis of viral genetic material and proteins is dependent on host cells.

19. . Cell genomes can be manipulated to alter cell function.

Microbial Systems

20. Microorganisms are ubiquitous and live in diverse and dynamic ecosystems.

21. Most bacteria in nature live in biofilm communities.

22. Microorganisms and their environment interact with and modify each other.

23. Microorganisms, cellular and viral, can interact with both human and nonhuman hosts in beneficial, neutral or detrimental ways.

Impact of Microorganisms

24. Microbes are essential for life as we know it and the processes that support life (e.g., in biogeochemical cycles and plant and/or animal microbiota).

25. Microorganisms provide essential models that give us fundamental knowledge about life processes.

26. Humans utilize and harness microorganisms and their products.

27. Because the true diversity of microbial life is largely unknown , its effects and potential benefits have not been fully explored.

PART 2: Competencies and Skills Scientific Thinking

28. Ability to apply the process of science

a. Demonstrate an ability to formulate hypotheses and design experiments based on the scientific method.

b. Analyze and interpret results from a variety of microbiological methods and apply these methods to analogous situations.

29. Ability to use quantitative reasoning

a. Use mathematical reasoning and graphing skills to solve problems in microbiology.

30. . Ability to communicate and collaborate with other disciplines

a. Effectively communicate fundamental concepts of microbiology in written and oral format.

b. Identify credible scientific sources and interpret and evaluate the information therein.

31. Ability to understand the relationship between science and society

a. Identify and discuss ethical issues in microbiology.

Microbiology Laboratory Skills

32. Properly prepare and view specimens for examination using microscopy (bright field and, if possible, phase contrast).

33. Use pure culture and selective techniques to enrich for and isolate microorganisms.

34. Use appropriate methods to identify microorganisms (media-based, molecular and serological).

35. Estimate the number of microorganisms in a sample (using, for example, direct count, viable plate count, and spectrophotometric methods).

36. Use appropriate microbiological and molecular lab equipment and methods.

37. Practice safe microbiology, using appropriate protective and emergency procedures.

38. Document and report on experimental protocols, results and conclusions.

About the Authors