Overview

Explore the fascinating microscopic world of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions that profoundly impact human health and disease. Learn evidence-based infection prevention strategies and antimicrobial stewardship principles essential for safe patient care and public health protection. Develop critical skills in microbial identification and infection control protocols fundamental to nursing practice. By the end of this course, you will be able to: Classify and differentiate bacterial structures, including Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative characteristics and metabolic processes Analyze viral biology, replication mechanisms, and the spectrum from pathogenic to beneficial viruses in human health Identify eukaryotic microbes including pathogenic yeasts, molds, and parasitic organisms from protozoa to helminths Evaluate prion biology and unique infectious mechanisms in neurological diseases like BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Skills: Microbial Identification, Infection Control, Evidence-Based Practice

Syllabus

Foundations of Microbiology

This foundational module introduces students to the diverse world of microorganisms and their fundamental role in life on Earth. Students will explore the major groups of microbes including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, while learning essential microbiological terminology and concepts. The module emphasizes why microorganisms are crucial to human health, environmental processes, and biotechnology, including their remarkable ability to survive in extreme environments through diverse metabolic strategies.

Bacteria

This module provides an in-depth examination of bacterial structure, physiology, and genetics, focusing on the unique characteristics that make bacteria successful microorganisms. Students will learn to distinguish between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, understand bacterial cellular organization, and explore how bacteria obtain energy through various metabolic pathways. The module concludes with an analysis of horizontal gene transfer mechanisms that enable bacterial adaptation and contribute to challenges such as antibiotic resistance.

Viruses

This module explores the unique nature of viruses as obligate intracellular parasites that challenge traditional definitions of life. Students will examine viral size, structure, and evolutionary origins while tracing the historical discovery of viruses and ongoing identification of new viral species. The module addresses the complex relationship between viruses and human health, including both their role as pathogens and their beneficial applications in medicine and biotechnology.

Fungi

This module focuses on fungi as eukaryotic microorganisms, examining both yeasts and filamentous fungi (molds) and their distinct characteristics and life cycles. Students will study pathogenic fungi that cause human infections, environmental concerns related to indoor mold exposure, and the conditions that promote fungal growth. The module concludes with an analysis of how global environmental changes, particularly climate change, are influencing the emergence and spread of fungal diseases worldwide.

Parasites

This module examines parasitic organisms, including both protozoan and helminthic parasites that cause significant human disease. Students will learn to classify major groups of parasitic protozoa and helminths, including nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes, while understanding their complex life cycles and transmission mechanisms. The module emphasizes the global burden of parasitic infections, with detailed study of specific pathogens such as schistosomes and analysis of worldwide prevalence patterns.

Prions

This module introduces students to prions, the most unusual infectious agents consisting entirely of misfolded proteins without nucleic acids. Students will explore the historical discovery of prion diseases through scrapie research and learn about the unique resistance of prions to conventional sterilization methods. The module covers specific prion diseases including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, and Chronic Wasting Disease, examining how these protein-only pathogens spread and cause devastating neurological disorders.