1. Department of Microbiology & Immunology MIMM 323 Microbial Physiology and Genetics J.W. Coulton, Ph.D., Professor james.coulton@mcgill.ca

2. Assigned reading Lengeler et al. (1999) Chapter 1, p. 1-17 Bacteriology………..

3. Clostridium difficile Canadian Medical Association Journal www.cmaj.ca July 6; August 31, 2004 http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/171/1/27 http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/171/5/466

4. Microbial Physiology Conflicting character of micro-organisms Cause disease –Destroy useful products Foods Computer chips Jet fuel –Alter ecosystems Kill/control detrimental micro-organisms

5. Microbial Physiology Conflicting character of micro-organisms Food production Solve problems –Environment: bioremediation –Agriculture: GMF –Medicine: recombinant vaccines Exploit potential of beneficial m-o

6. 3 Questions How do micro-organisms find / transport nutrients? How do micro-organisms convert nutrients into cellular components? How do micro-ogranisms respond to changes in type / availability of nutrients?

7. Bacterial cell architecture Major structural and functional components of micro-organisms Light microscopy of bacteria –Rod shape –Coccus shape –Spiral shape

9. Staining Gram stain Differentiate groups of bacteria –Gram positive –Gram negative

10. Nomenclature Rods: Escherichia coli, Bacteriodes fragilis, Bacillus subtilis Coccus: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Sarcina lutea Spiral: Aquaspirillum serpens, Treponema pallidum, Borrelia bergdorferi

11. Electron microscopy Different surface organizations: –Thick, undifferentiated –Multilaminated –Exotic decorations: RS or S layers external to Gram-negative or Gram-positive cells –capsule