This document provides information on the BIO341 Bacteriology course. It discusses the importance of bacteriology in microbiology and its contributions to fields like genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The course objectives are to provide students with basic knowledge of bacterial structure, classification, growth, physiology, and genetics. Topics covered include bacterial ecology, cell structure and function, taxonomy, nutrition and growth, metabolism, reproduction, pathogenesis, and practical laboratory techniques. Students will be assessed through assignments, tests, practical reports, and a final exam.

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BIO341: BACTERIOLOGY
RATIONALE
The study of prokaryotic cells serves as a foundation for many of the sub-discipline
of microbiology, including mycology, virology immunology, medical Microbiology,
food and industrial microbiology. Bacteriology has contributed significantly to
advances in cells. It has been used for some of the most significant experiment in the
biological science in basic areas of research such as: Genetics, molecular biology,
biochemistry and physiology. The study of microbiology and immunology would not
be complete without an understanding of biology of infections agents called
bacteria. This course will enable students to comprehend the biology of bacteria as it
relates to aspects of biological science, public health society, and the environment.
OBJECTIVES:
The course should provide the student with basic knowledge of bacteria.
Upon completion of the course the student is expected to:
1. Be able to describe the structure and morphology of important bacteria
2. Be able to describe the bacterial classification system according to Bergey’s
manual of systematic Bacteriology
3. Be able to describe bacterial classification based on cell wall properties, gram
stain; call shape, arrangement, and biochemical properties.
4. Be able to account for microbiological techniques including substrate
composition, sterilization techniques, disinfection, isolation techniques and
isolation substrates.
5. Be able to describe bacterial growth, physiology, metabolism and genetic
mechanisms.

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Pre-requisites: BIO232 BASIC MICROBIOLOGY
COURSE CONTENTS
Introduction to Bacteriology: Historical overview of Bacteriology. Bacterial
ecology ( size and distribution of bacteria). Importance of bacteria to other living
organisms (Bacteria interaction with plants and animals). Role and importance of
bacteria in nutrients recycling (Carbon and Nitrogen Fixations). Global use and
importance of bacteria in food, agriculture, medicine, public health, pharmaceutical
and biotechnology sectors.
Bactrerial Cell Structures and their functions: Surface structure; flagella, fibriae, pili
(Sex Pilus). Cell wall difference (gram positive and gram negative bacterial cell wall),
outer membrane (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or endotoxin of gram negative bacteria),
plasma-membrane and the electron transport system, importance of surface
structures or components sensing proteins adhesion, permeability barriers).
Cytoplasmic constituents –consider only those unique to bacteria (the chromosomes,
ribosomes, mesosomes, plamids, inclusion bodies and endospores).
Taxonomy: Classification; nomenclature and identification methods of identification,
methods of identification (microscopy physiological characteristic, biochemical test,
genetic and immunological criteria) major groups of bacteria: characteristics,
grouping according to bergey’s manual of systematic Bacteriology. The Deinococci
and non-proteobacteria, the proteobacteria, the low G+C and, high G+C gram –
positive bacteria(The actinomycetes).
Bacterial Nutrition and Growth: Nutrient requirements for growth (physical and
chemical requirement). Cultivation of bacterial cells, generation time, growth

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characteristics and phases, measurements of growth generation time cultivation.
Bacterial cell response to the environmental conditions; response to molecular
oxygen, temperature, moisture and pH.
Bacterial Metabolism: Nutritional types: Auto-trophic, hetero-trophi, lithoauto-
trophic photoheterotrophic, chemo-autotrophic. Photosynthetic (oxygenic and
anoxgenic) metabolism Metabolic pathway; Enter Doudroff pathway and its products.
Bacterial Reproduction and Genetics: Binary fission, replication and segregation of
bacterial DNA. Genetic exchange in bacterial: Genetic recombination; Conjugation,
Transduction and Transformation. Plasmids (RTFs colicins etc), mutations and
selection.
Bacterial Pathogenicity: Overview of bacterial pathogens of plants and animals, and
pathogenicity mechanism.
SUGGESTED PRACTICAL WORK
1. Isolation of bacteria from samples (soil, water, plants etc) and their
identification.
2. The use of selective, enrichment and differential culture media.
3. Techniques (microscopic, biochemical and molecular) for identification of
bacteria from dairy industrial other sources.
4. Growth and enumeration of microorganisms on agar and in broth (streaking
and spread plating).
5. Effects of temperature, pH and nutrients on microbial growth.
6. Report on the study of an industrial process from one industrial institution.
TIME ALLOCATION
 Two 2-hours lectures per week
 One (1) 3-hours practical session per week
ASSESSMENT
 Continuous assessment (CA): 40%
 Final Examination: 60%
Task description Weights

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Assignments 10%
Tests 20%
Practical reports 10%
One theory exam paper 60%
Prescribed books
1. Heritage J Evans E,G V and killington R.A 1996 Introductory microbiology,
Cambridge university press.
2. Koch,A,L 2001 Bacterial growth and form .2nd
ed springer.
Recommended books
1. Hammond S.M lambert P.A and Rycroft A.N 2001 the Bacterial cell surface
Kapita Szabo pulishres Washington DC.
2. Logan, N. A. 1995 Bacterial systematic. Blackwell Science.
3. Moat, A,G and foster, J.W. and Spector, M.P. 2002. Microbial physiology
4th
ed, wiley.