M.Sc.Microbiology Semester II-

TH-V RECENT TRENDS IN VIROLOGY

Unit –1 Classification and Morphology of Viruses
Cataloging the virus through virus classification schemes of ICTV / ICNV. Morphology and ultrastructure of viruses. Virus related agents, viroids and prions.

Unit – 2 Cultivation and assay of viruses
Cultivation of viruses using embryonated eggs, experimental animals and cell cultures (Cell-lines, cell strains and transgenic systems). Purification of viruses by adsorption, precipitation, enzymes, serological methods – haeme agglutination and ELISA.
Assay of viruses – Physical and Chemical methods (Electron Microscopy and Protein and Nucleic acids studies.)
Infectivity Assays (Plaque and end-point)
Genetic analysis of viruses by classical genetic methods.

Unit – 3 Viral Multiplication
Mechanism of virus adsorption and entry into the host cell including genome replication and mRNA production by animal viruses, mechanism of RNA synthesis, mechanism of DNA synthesis, transcription mechanism and post transcriptional processing, translation of viral proteins, assembly, exit and maturation of progeny virions, multiplication of bacteriophages.

Unit – 4 Pathogenesis of Viruses
Host and virus factors involved in pathogenesis, patterns of infection, pathogenesis of animal viruses Adenovirus, Herpes virus, Hepatitis virus, Picorna virus, Poxvirus and Orthomyxovirus, pathogenesis of plant [TMV] and insect viruses [NPV]. Host cell transformation by viruses and oncogenesis of DNA and RNA viruses.

Unit – 5 Control of Viruses and Emerging Viruses
Control of viral infections through vaccines, interferons and chemotherapeutic agents. Structure, genomic organization, pathogenesis and control of Human immunodeficiency virus. Emerging viruses.

References-

  1. Medical Virology 10th Edition by Morag C and Tim bury M C 1994. Churchil Livingstone, London.
  2. Introduction to Modern Virology 4th Edition by Dimmock N J, Primrose S. B. 1994. Blackwell Scientific Publications. Oxford.
  3. Virology 3 rd Edition by Conrat H.F., Kimball P.C. and Levy J.A. 1994. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliff, New Jersey.
  4. Text Book on Principles of Bacteriology, Virology and Immunology Topley and Wilsons 1995.
  5. Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis and Control by S.J. Flint and others. ASM Press, Washington, D.C.
  6. Applied Virology. 1984. Edited by Edonard Kurstak. Academic Press Inc.
  7. Introduction to Modern Virology by Dimmock.
  8. Prion diseases by Gaschup, M.H.
  9. Clinical virology Manual by Steven, S., Adinka, R.L., Young, S.A.
  10. Principles of Virology. 2000 by Edward Arnold.

TH-VI MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY

Unit – 1 Immune System
Organs and cells involved in immune system and immune response. Lymphocytes, their subpopulation, their properties and functions, membrane bound receptors of lymph cells, helper T cells, T cells suppression, lymphocyte trafficking.

Unit – 2 Antigens and Immunoglobulins
Concept of haptens, determinants, conditions of antigenicity, antigens and immunogenecity, superantigen.
Immunoglobulins: Structure and properties of immunoglobulin classes. Theories of antibody formation, hybridoma technology for monoclonal antibodies and designer monoclonal antibodies. Multiple mylomas and structural basis of antibody diversity. Freund’s adjuvants and its significance.

Unit – 3 Antigen – Antibody reactions
Antigen-Antibody reaction by precipitation, agglutination and complement fixation.
Non-specific immune mechanism: – Surface defenses, tissue defenses, opsonization, inflamatory reaction, and hormone balance.
Tissue metabolites with bactericidal properties (lysozyme, nuclein, histone, protamine, basic peptides of tissues – leukins, phagocytins, lecterins, haemocompounds).

Unit – 4 Expressions and Regulation of Immune Response
Regulation of immune response: antigen processing and presentation, generation of humoral and cell mediated immune response, activation of B and T lymphocytes, cytokines and their role in immune regulation, T cell regulation, MHC restriction, immunological tolerance. Cell mediated cytotoxicity: Mechanism of T cells and NK mediated lysis, antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity, and macrophage mediated cytotoxicity.
Complement system: Classical, alternate, lectin pathway of complement activation. Regulation of complement activation.
Transplantation immunology: MHC, types of grafts, grafts rejection, GVH reactions, mechanism of graft rejection, and prevention of graft rejection.

Unit – 5 Immunity and Immunoassays
Defense against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Immunodiagnostics and immunotherapy in virology – Serological methods for detection and quantitation of viruses including Hepatitis, Influenza, HIV and others.
Immuno-assays: SRID, ELISA, ELISA-PCR, RIA, Western Blotting, Immunofluroscens and their application. Immune deficiencies and autoimmunity.

References-

  1. Essentials of Immunology by Riott I .M. 1998. ELBS, Blackwell Scientific Publishers, London.
  2. Immunology 2nd Edition by Kuby J. 1994. W.H. Freeman and Co. New York.
  3. Immunology – Understanding of Immune System by Claus D. Elgert. 1996. Wiley – Liss, New York.
  4. Fundamentals of Immunology by William Paul.
  5. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. 3rd Edition by Abbas.
  6. Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 3rd Edition by Travers.
  7. Immunology- A short Course. 2nd Edition by Benjamin.
  8. Manual of Clinical Laboratory and Immunology 6th Edition. 2002 by Noel R. Rose, Chief Editor: Robert G. Hamilton and Barbara Detrick (Eds.), ASM Publications.
  9. Pocket Guide to Clinical Microbiology. 2nd Edition. 1998 by Patrick R. Murray, ASM Publications.

TH-VII MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY

Unit – 1 Bacterial photosynthesis
Photosynthetic microorganisms, photosynthetic pigments, and generation of reducing power by cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation, electron transport chain in photosynthetic bacteria. Carbon dioxide fixation pathways.

Unit – 2 Bacterial Respiration
Bacterial aerobic respiration, components of electron transport chain, free energy changes and electron transport, oxidative phosphorylation and theories of ATP formation, inhibition of electron transport chain. Electron transport chain in some heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic bacteria. Bacterial anaerobic respiration: Introduction. Nitrate, carbonate and sulfate as electron acceptors. Electron transport chains in some anaerobic bacteria. Catalase, super oxide dismutase, mechanism of oxygen toxicity.

Unit – 3 Bacterial Permeation
Structure and organization of membrane (Glyco-conjugants and proteins in membrane systems), fluid mosaic model of membrane. Methods to study diffusion of solutes in bacteria, passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion, different mechanisms of active diffusion (Proton Motive Force, PTS, role of permeases in transport, different permeases in E. coli. Transport of aminoacids and inorganic ions in microorganisms and their mechanisms.

Unit – 4 Bacterial Sporulation
Sporulating bacteria, molecular architecture of spores, induction and stages of sporulation, Influence of different factors on sporulation. Cytological and macromolecular changes duringsporulation. Heat resistance and sporulation.

Unit –5 Bacterial Chemolithotrophy
Physiological groups of chemolithotrophs, ammonia oxidation by members of Genus Nitroso group, nitrite oxidation by Nitro group of genera. Oxidation of molecular hydrogen by Hydrogenomonas species. Ferrous and sulfur/sulfide oxidation by Thiobacillus species.

References-

  1. Microbial Physiology and Metabolism by Caldwell D.R. 1995 Brown Publishers.
  2. Microbial Physiology by Moat A.G. and Foster J. W. 1999.. Wiley.
  3. Prokaryotic Development by Brun. Y.V. and Shimkets L.J. 2000. ASM Press.
  4. Advances in Microbial Physiology. Volumes. Edited by By A.H. Rose. Academic Press, New York.
  5. Applied Microbial Physiology by Rhodes.
  6. Biosynthesis by Smith.
  7. The Bacteria. Volumes by I.C. Gunsalus and Rogery Stanier, Acadenic Press.
  8. Microbial Physiology by Benjamin

TH-VIII MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND EXTREMOPHILES

Unit – 1 Biodiversity
Introduction to microbial biodiversity – distribution, abundance, ecological niche. Types- Bacterial, Archael and Eucaryal.

Unit – 2 Characteristics and classification of Archaebacteria.
Thermophiles: Classification, hyperthermophilic habitats and ecological aspects. Extremely Thermophilic Archaebacteria, Thermophily, commercial aspects of thermophiles. Applications of thermozymes.
Methanogens: Classification, Habitats, applications.

Unit – 3 Alkalophiles and Acidophiles
Classification, alkaline environment, soda lakes and deserts, calcium alkalophily Applications.
Acidophiles: Classification, life at low pH, acidotolerence, applications.

Unit – 4 Halophiles and Barophiles
Classification, Dead Sea, discovery basin, cell walls and membranes – Purple membrane, compatible solutes. Osmoadaptation / halotolerence. Applications of halophiles and their extremozymes.
Barophiles: Classification, high-pressure habitats, life under pressure, barophily, death under pressure.

Unit – 5 Space Microbiology
Aims and objectives of Space research. Life detection methods a] Evidence of metabolism (Gulliver) b] Evidence of photosynthesis (autotrophic and heterotrophic) c] ATP production d] Phosphate uptake e] Sulphur uptake. Martian environment (atmosphere, climate and other details).
Antartica as a model for Mars. Search for life on Mars, Viking mission, Viking landers, and Biology box experiment. Gas exchange , Label release and pyrolytic release experiments. Monitoring of astronauts microbial flora: Alterations in the load of medically important microorganisms, changes
in mycological autoflora, and changes in bacterial autoflora.

Reference-

  1. Extremophiles by Johri B.N. 2000. Springer V erlag., New York
  2. Microbial Diversity by Colwd, D. 1999, Academic Press.
  3. MIcrobial Life in Extreme Environments. Edited by D. J. Kushner. Academic Press.
  4. Microbiology of Extreme Environments. Edited by Clive Edward. Open University Press. Milton Keynes.
  5. Microbiology of Extreme Environments and its potential for Biotechnology. Edited by M.S. Da Costa, J.C. Duarate, R.A. D. Williams. Elsiever Applied Science, London.
  6. Extreme Environment. Mechanism of Microbial Adaptation. Edited by Milton R. Heinrich. Academic Press.
  7. Thermophiles. General, Molecular and Applied Microbiology. Edited by Thomas D. Brock. Wiley Interscience Publication.
  8. Microbiology: Dynamics and Diversity by Perry.
  9. Microbial Ecology. Fundamentals and Applications by. Ronald M. Atlas and Richard Bartha. 2nd and 4th Edition. The Benjamin Cummins Publication Co. Inc.
  10. Microbial Ecology. 2nd Edition. by R. Campbell. Blackwell Scientifc Publication.
  11. Brocks Biology of Microorganisms. 8th Edition. (International Edition – 1997) by Michael T. Madigan, John M. Martinko. Jack Parker. Prentice Hall Internation Inc.
  12. Advances in Applied Microbiology. Vol. 10. Edited by Wayne W. Umbreit and D. Pearlman. Academic Press.