Basics of Medical Microbiology

An Introduction to the study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, with a main emphasis on bacteria. Topics include History of Microbiology, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells, Classification, Microscopy, Staining techniques, and Microbial growth and nutrition. Materials will include PowerPoint presentations, links to videos, and lecture notes.

The Course itself is for 5 hours. So, based on the time one can allot to the course, depending on the time constraints, it may take a week to 2 weeks to complete it. The course is structured in such a way that there will be a progression from one concept to the next, although each lesson will be a stand-alone.

It will include laboratory aspects associated with Microbiology such as use of microscopes, Gram-staining technique, streak plate method of bacterial cell isolation. The techniques are explained along with the theory or "reasoning" behind them. This should help one to not only assimilate the subject better but to avoid mistakes in the step-by-step process by recalling the "why" before the "what" for each technique.

Whether you are new to Microbiology, want to refresher course, or want to learn certain basic yet complex concepts, this course aims to deliver quality material which will make learning more engaging and Microbiology a more fascinating subject, especially as it relates to Medicine.