Introduction to Microbiology
This learning journey introduces core concepts in microbiology, including microbial diversity across bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes. It covers cell structure, metabolism, motility, and biofilms, as well as the human microbiome and the roles of microorganisms in health, disease, industry, and the environment.
Table of Contents
- Overview of microorganisms: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, and Archaea
- Introduction to viruses: Definition and structure
- Structure and function of bacterial cells: Cell envelopes, Peptidoglycan, and Gram staining
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), O-antigens, and serotyping in Gram-negative bacteria
- Bacterial motility and flagellar movement: Structure, function, and chemotaxis
- Biofilms: Formation, structure, resistance, and impact on health and industry
- Microbial nutrition and metabolism: Chemoheterotrophs, autotrophs, fermentation, and photosynthesis
- The human microbiome: Diversity and function
1. Overview of microorganisms: Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, and Archaea
By Dr. Martin Goldberg – Birmingham City University, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to microbiology 1
2. Introduction to viruses: Definition and structure
By Prof. Vincent Racaniello – Columbia University, USA
An excerpt from Principles of virology
3. Structure and function of bacterial cells: Cell envelopes, Peptidoglycan, and Gram staining
By Dr. Martin Goldberg – Birmingham City University, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to microbiology 1
4. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), O-antigens, and serotyping in Gram-negative bacteria
By Dr. Martin Goldberg – Birmingham City University, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to microbiology 2
5. Bacterial motility and flagellar movement: Structure, function, and chemotaxis
By Dr. Martin Goldberg – Birmingham City University, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to microbiology 2
6. Biofilms: Formation, structure, resistance, and impact on health and industry
By Dr. Martin Goldberg – Birmingham City University, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to microbiology 2
7. Microbial nutrition and metabolism: Chemoheterotrophs, autotrophs, fermentation, and photosynthesis
By Dr. Primrose Freestone – University of Leicester, UK
An excerpt from Bacterial nutrition: types and modes of feeding in prokaryotes
8. The human microbiome: Diversity and function
By Prof. Sheena Cruickshank – The University of Manchester, UK
An excerpt from Immunology, the microbiome and future perspectives