Microbiology (MB)
Curricular bridge between high school and college for high school and transitional students. A "hands on" introduction to fundamentals in Microbiology and Biochemistry. Bacterial isolation, identification and growth using aseptic technique, microscopy, and metabolic analysis. Experiments with DNA isolation and analysis, protein isolation, and purification, and enzyme kinetics. Lectures and readings on background, theory and applications of these techniques. Field trips to university and industry research laboratories. This course is part of the Summer College in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (SCIBLS) as well as other pre-college, transitional and early-college programs and is offered as 4 week intensive course. Applicants should have completed high school courses in biology and chemistry. Students must have completed no more than 30 credit hours. Departmental approval is required for current NCSU students.
Typically offered in Summer only
Introduction to scope and objectives of university education. Emphasis on microbiology. Career opportunities, computers, university resources.
Typically offered in Fall only
Curricular bridge between high school and college for high school and transitional students. Fundamental cell biology concepts pertaining to biomanufacturing. Students gain an understanding of the basic principles of microbiology, culture preparation, physiology, and genetics of microbial cell cultures. Team-based decisions, collaborations and consideration of multiple perspectives are emphasized. Practical experience in laboratory and culture techniques used in biomanufacturing. Transportation will be provided for field trips. This course is part of the Summer College in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (SCIBLS), as well as other pre-college, transitional and early-college programs. Suitable for students with less than 30 credit hours.
Typically offered in Summer only
An integrated and in-depth study of select microbial pathogens and their influence on history, public health, and human affairs. Five major pathogens will be examined to identify causative agents of disease, modes of transmission, prevention, and treatment. These pathogens will be framed in the power of plagues to shape human history and their impact on public health.
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives, GEP Natural Sciences
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
This course offers first-year students an opportunity for mentored research. Students will apply the scientific method to make novel discoveries. Students will isolate and characterize naturally-occurring bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria, but not humans) from the environment. They will present their data to each other, and the genome of one phage will be sequenced. Students have the option to continue in a second semester to annotate that genome, culminating in a submission to genbank and a poster presentation. Students in the course are part of the National Genome Research Initiative funded by The Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Student should have had a high school biology course before taking this course.
GEP Natural Sciences
Typically offered in Fall only
This course offers first-year students an opportunity for mentored research. Student will apply the scientific method to make novel discoveries. Students will build on the work they began in BIT/MB 210; The novel phage isolated in the previous semester will undergo genome sequencing over winter break, and in this course students will learn to analyze and annotate the genome sequence. This semester will culminate in a submission to genbank and a poster presentation. Students in the course are part of the national genome research initiative funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Prerequisite: BIT(MB) 210
GEP Natural Sciences
Typically offered in Spring only
Rigorous introduction to basic principles of microbiology for students in biological and agricultural sciences and for all students planning to take further courses in microbiology.
Prerequisite: One Biology course (BIO 181, BIO 183, ZO 150 or ZO 160) and one Organic Chemistry course (CH 221 or CH 220)
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Laboratory experience in general microbiology. Aseptic technique, isolation and identification of bacteria, staining and microscopy. Enumeration of bacteria and viruses. Students who have completed either MB (BEC) 320 or MB 354 may not take this course for credit.
Corequisite: MB 251
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Inquiry-guided laboratory experience in general microbiology, for microbiology majors and honors students, and those desiring a more rigorous exposure to this topic. Aseptic technique, isolation and identification of bacteria, staining and microscopy, and Koch's postulates. Restricted to microbiology majors and honor's students. Others require departmental permission. Credit is not allowed for both MB 354 and either Mb 320 or MB 352.
Corequisite: MB 251
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Scientific questions, controls and variables, designing, preparing for and carrying out experiments, keeping a notebook, interpreting results, and presenting their findings: i.e. the pragmatic things a student must know in order to work efficiently in a research lab regardless of the discipline. Prior or current enrollment in MB 352 or MB 354 recommended.
Typically offered in Fall only
Microorganisms of importance in foods and their metabolic activities. Source of microbial contamination during food production, processing and storage. Microbial spoilage; foods as vectors of human pathogens. Physical and chemical destruction of microorganisms in foods and the kinetics involved. Conversions of raw foods by microorganisms into food products. Microbiological standards for regulatory and trade purposes. Credit will not be given for both FS/MB 405 and FS/MB 505.
Prerequisite: MB 351
Typically offered in Spring only
Laboratory experience to complement FS/MB 405. Skills in detecting and quantitating microorganisms and their toxins in foods. Application of colony and direct microscopic counts, most probable numbers, enzyme immunoassays, nucleic acid probes and computer modeling are used to understand the numbers and types of microorganisms or microbial end products in foods. Laboratory safety and oral and written reports are emphasized.
Typically offered in Spring only
Comprehensive study of microbial pathogenesis and mammalian host resistance. Diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of common human diseases of microbial origin.
Prerequisite: MB 251
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Laboratory experience to complement MB 411. Techniques of detection, growth and identification of bacteria and viruses relevant in clinical microbiology laboratories. Good laboratory practices (GLP) and safety stressed.
Prerequisite: MB 252 or MB 254; Corequisite: MB 311
Typically offered in Spring only
An integrative perspective on bacterial physiology and metabolism through an analysis of metabolic regulatory functions.
Typically offered in Fall only
This is a half-semester course. Basic microbial cell culture theory and practice: cell physiology, mass balances, and metabolic control as seen in a dynamic bioreactor process to be scalable, consistent, and robust. The lab portion of the course provides students with hands-on experience in culture techniques using bioreactors. Students who have completed MB(BEC) 520 may not take BEC (MB) 420 for credit.
Prerequisite: MB 352 OR Corequisite of BEC(MB) 320
Typically offered in Fall only
Focuses on basic principles of bacterial pathogenesis, including mechanisms utilized by these microbes to attach/adhere, internalize or invade, and disseminate through their animal hosts. Bacterial strategies to subvert hos defenses and persist within their animal hosts defense mechanisms, and virulence gene regulation will also be discussed. Students cannot get credit for both MB 435 and MB 535. Graduate status required for MB 535.
Prerequisite: MB 411, Graduate standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Introduction to principles of molecular immunology. Overview of immune system development and function, and discussions of ongoing scientific research regarding immune regulation.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Molecular, biochemical, and evolutionary diversity of the microbial world, including Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes. Evolutionary perspective on microbial relationships, molecular methods of study and classical and modern biotechnological methods utilizing this genetic diversity to explore the microbial world and use the resulting insight to meet the needs of our own species.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
This lab course is project-oriented. Students perform a series of classical enrichments and isolations, starting from environmental samples collected by the students themselves. Some of these isolations serve as the starting materials for a series of modern molecular biology experiments, in which students purify DNA, amplify ribosomal DNA by PCR, and have a portion of this gene sequenced. This sequence information is the starting point for the term project, a detailed molecular phylogenetic analysis of the isolated organisms. Students will be required to provide their own transportation during non-scheduled class time for local field sample collection.
Typically offered in Fall only
Introduction to industrial microbiology with focus on biotechnology including developments employing recombinant nucleic acid and monoclonal antibody techniques. Bioremediation, industrial enzymes, transgenic plants, biopesticides, medical diagnostics, recombinant vaccines production of important secondary metabolites, and other topics. Field trips to local biotechnology companies.
Typically offered in Spring only
Introduction to principles of molecular virology. Overview of classification and nomenclature, virus structure, interaction of viruses with cells, organisms (immunology, pathology), and populations (epidemiology). Detailed case studies from major groups of viruses; picornaviruses, togaviruses, orthomyxoviruses, retroviruses, polyomaviruses, and herpesviruses.
Typically offered in Spring only
Human behavior plays a big part in the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases. Humanity encroaches consistently into previously uninhabited parts of the planet increasing the risk of exposure to novel pathogens that have the potential to jump into the human host or livestock. In addition to exposure to new diseases the complexities of politics and global relations often create opportunities for the re-emergence of infections that were once thought to be under control. This course aims to provide students interested in the health sciences with a foundation to understand the principles governing emergence of diseases.
Prerequisite: MB 251
Typically offered in Spring only
Microbial symbioses affect all life on earth. A recent surge of research has identified the critical role of microbial symbionts in maintaining host health and well-being, for example by mediating the breakdown of food for host nutrition, priming the immune system and directly fighting off pathogenic bacteria, and triggering key physiological outcomes associated with behavior and development. This course explores core topics in the study of microbial symbioses, including partner recognition and communication, adaptations to host association, the role of symbiosis in genome evolution and ecology, and the effects of microbial symbiosis on host health. Lectures and discussions will draw heavily from the primary literature in the field of microbiome/symbiosis research, focusing on the most recent discoveries, key methodological advancements, and on diverse associations ranging from marine symbioses to the human microbiome.
Prerequisite: MB 351 General Microbiology
Typically offered in Fall only
Library research on current topics in all areas of microbiology. Presentation of research results orally and in the form of a major term paper.
Prerequisite: SMB majors or minors, Senior standing, and MB 351
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
A learning experience in agriculture and life sciences within an academic framework that utilizes facilities and resources which are external to the campus. Contact and arrangements with prospective employers must be initiated by student and approved by a faculty adviser, the prospective employer, the departmental teaching coordinator and the academic dean prior to the experience.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Biology of microbes that cause plant diseases. The ecology, genetics, physiology, taxonomy, and mechanisms of parasitism, pathogenicity and virulence of bacteria (and other prokaryotes), fungi (and oomycetes), nematodes, and viruses that cause plant diseases. Prepares graduate students for advanced courses in plant pathology, host-parasite interactions, and provides a knowledge base for students in other disciplines involved with plant pathogens or who seek to broaden their knowledge of microbes.
Typically offered in Fall only
Microorganisms of importance in foods and their metabolic activities. Source of microbial contamination during food production, processing and storage. Microbial spoilage; foods as vectors of human pathogens. Physical and chemical destruction of microorganisms in foods and the kinetics involved. Conversions of raw foods by microorganisms into food products. Microbiological standards for regulatory and trade purposes. Credit will not be given for both FS/MB 405 and FS/MB 505.
Prerequisite: MB 351
Typically offered in Spring only
Laboratory experience to complement FS/MB 405. Skills in detecting and quantitating microorganisms and their toxins in foods. Application of colony and direct microscopic counts, most probable numbers, enzyme immunoassays, nucleic acid probes and computer modeling are used to understand the numbers and types of microorganisms or microbial end products in foods. Laboratory safety and oral and written reports are emphasized.
Typically offered in Spring only
This is a half-semester course. Basic microbial cell culture theory and practice: cell physiology, mass balances, and metabolic control as seen in a dynamic bioreactor process to be scalable, consistent, and robust. The lab portion of the course provides students with hands-on experience in culture techniques using bioreactors. Students who have completed MB(BEC) 520 may not take BEC (MB) 420 for credit.
Prerequisite: MB 352 OR Corequisite of BEC(MB) 320
Typically offered in Fall only
Soil as a medium for microbial growth, the relation of microbes to important mineral transformations in soil, the importance of biological equilibrium and significance of soil microbes to environmental quality.
Focuses on basic principles of bacterial pathogenesis, including mechanisms utilized by these microbes to attach/adhere, internalize or invade, and disseminate through their animal hosts. Bacterial strategies to subvert hos defenses and persist within their animal hosts defense mechanisms, and virulence gene regulation will also be discussed. Students cannot get credit for both MB 435 and MB 535. Graduate status required for MB 535.
Prerequisite: MB 411, Graduate standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Overview of industrial microbiology focusing on current biotechnology methods (bacteria, yeast, fungi) employing rDNA, optimization of heterologous gene expression, microbial metabolic pathway engineering, metabolomics, protein engineering and recombinant antibodies. Genetic and pathway engineering strategies for developing new microbes to screen for new therapeutic compounds or overproduce: primary metabolites, antibiotics, biotherapeutic proteins, industrially useful enzymes, medical diagnostics, recombinant vaccines, biopolymers. Utilization of biofilms, methods to immobilize biocatalysts, and microbial kinetics are also covered. Field trip to local biotechnology company. Students cannot receive credit for both 455 and 555.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry course: MB351, BCH 351, and GN 311
Typically offered in Spring only
A survey of the fungal kingdom in context of phyla and classes. Systematics, ecology, biology and utilization. Illustrative material, cultural techniques in laboratories. Collection and paper required.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate odd years
Microbial symbioses affect all life on earth. A recent surge of research has identified the critical role of microbial symbionts in maintaining host health and well-being, for example by mediating the breakdown of food for host nutrition, priming the immune system and directly fighting off pathogenic bacteria, and triggering key physiological outcomes associated with behavior and development. This course explores core topics in the study of microbial symbioses, including partner recognition and communication, adaptations to host association, the role of symbiosis in genome evolution and ecology, and the effects of microbial symbiosis on host health. Lectures and discussions will draw heavily from the primary literature in the field of microbiome/symbiosis research, focusing on the most recent discoveries, key methodological advancements, and on diverse associations ranging from marine symbioses to the human microbiome.
Prerequisite: MB 351 General Microbiology
Typically offered in Fall only
Project-based course directly working with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Students work in teams on a company-specific project. Projects range from developing business or marketing plans for new products; writing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants or white papers; creating procedures, protocols, and/or process improvements for a company-specific process; and studying intellectual property issues. Written and oral communication skills as well as teamwork, flexibility, and ambiguity management are emphasized. Restricted to MBT students.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Microbiomes are increasingly recognized for their important roles in ecosystem services ranging from human health to soil biogeochemical cycling. Studying these complex communities relies on DNA sequencing, which often generates large, sparse datasets. Students will be introduced to conceptual and practical aspects of how to analyze microbiome data, and will apply both bioinformatics and statistical approaches. Topics include identifying microbial sequence variants, exploratory analysis of microbial community diversity and structure, applying hypothesis testing to complex microbiome data, and reproducible research.
Typically offered in Spring only
MB 589 is a graduate-level course required for the MMB Program in the final semester. In this course, students integrate skills and knowledge acquired through the MB 585 industry practicum experience to identify an unmet need and to evaluate the feasibility of a novel product or service generated through their own ideation process. They develop a comprehensive, customer-validated business model and create an investor pitch for both the solution and the company that will provide the solution.
Requisite: MMB Program with successful completion of three semesters of MB 585 and in good academic standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Informal group discussion of prepared topics assigned by instructor.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Weekly seminars on topics of current interest given by resident faculty members, graduate students and visiting lecturers.
Typically offered in Fall only
The study of special problems and selected topics of current interest in microbiology and related fields.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in microbiology.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Directed research of microbiology graduate students in departmental laboratories prior to selecting thesis research topic. Selection of a minimum of three laboratories for research experience lasting 3 to 5 weeks. Acquisition of research methods relevant to each laboratory. Microbiology graduate students only.
Typically offered in Fall only
Essential elements of structure, delivery, and data visualization in scientific research presentations. Hands-on training in scientific communication across microbiology research fields and evaluation of student seminars based on ongoing or proposed microbiology research projects. Coverage of cutting-edge microbiology research topics as determined by instructor. Microbiology graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing
Typically offered in Fall only
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Faculty mentoring in didactic and methodological aspects of teaching, including instructional technology as well as design and grading of assessment instruments. Provision of individual performance evaluations to encourage enhancement of teaching skills. Microbiology graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Microbiology Graduate student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain half-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students in non thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Thesis research.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their theses.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
An integrative perspective on bacterial physiology and metabolism through analysis of metabolic regulatory functions.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course will introduce students to nonparametric and model-based methods for making inferences on population processes (i.e., mutation, migration, drift, recombination, and selection). The goal is to provide a conceptual overview of these methods in lectures and hands-on training on how to analyze and interpret sample data sets in guided computer lab sessions. The course will leverage the tools and resources implemented in the DeCIFR toolkit (https://decifr.cifr.ncsu.edu/). DeCIFR is a comprehensive suite of biodiversity informatics pipelines and visualization tools to discover, evaluate, and describe taxa at multiple spatial and phylogenetic scales. Students will apply these tools to estimate population parameters in different organisms with a focus on eukaryotic microbes, viruses, and bacteria.
Typically offered in Fall only
Introduction to principles of virology including: classification and nomenclature, epidemiology, structure, genome replication, gene expression strategies and cellular infection cycle. Major groups of viruses including those with DNA genomes and positive-sense or negative-sense RNA genomes.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate odd years
Fermentation bioprocessing and characteristics, function and ecology of responsible microorganisms. Fermentative activities, growth responses and culture interactions related to metabolism, physiology and genetics of lactic acid bacteria and selected yeasts and molds. Current developments in starter culture technology and genetics; application to food and industrial fermentations.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate years
Introduction to mechanisms of immunity in man and animals. Emphasis on interactions between cells of the immune system in production of immune responses and the molecules in control of these interactions.
Typically offered in Spring only
Structure and function in microbial genetics, with emphasis on microbial genome organization, stable maintenance and evolution. DNA mutation and repair pathways, transcriptional and translational regulation, DNA replication and recombination and characterization of recombinant DNA molecules. Applications of genetic and genomic analysis methods to microbial processes, including strain construction, genome manipulation, and enhancement of gene expression.
Typically offered in Spring only
Introduction to taxonomy, morphology, reproduction and ecological importance of organisms which may be included in the algae. Attention to local freshwater flow and physiology of selected species in relation to algal blooms, water quality and nutrient loading in aquatic habitats.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate odd years
In depth study of the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of immunity, including antigen processing and presentation, T cell development, initiation of the immune response, effector mechanisms, and immunological memory. The course is designed for advanced graduate students who wish to focus on the current concepts in immunology.
Prerequisite: MB (IMM) 751
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate odd years
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Weekly seminars on topics of current interest given by resident faculty members, graduate students and visiting lecturers.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
The study of special problems and selected topics of current interest in microbiology and related fields.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in microbiology.
Typically offered in Summer only
Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Typically offered in Spring only
Directed research of microbiology graduate students in departmental laboratories prior to selecting thesis research topic. Selection of a minimum of three laboratories for research experience lasting 3 to 5 weeks. Acquisition of research methods relevant to each laboratory. Microbiology graduate students only.
Typically offered in Fall only
Essential elements of structure, delivery, and data visualization in scientific research presentations. Hands-on training in scientific communication across microbiology research fields and evaluation of student seminars based on ongoing or proposed microbiology research projects. Coverage of cutting-edge microbiology research topics as determined by instructor. Microbiology graduate students only.
R: Graduate Standing
Typically offered in Fall only
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Faculty mentoring in didactic and methodological aspects of teaching, including instructional technology as well as design and grading of assessment instruments. Provision of individual performance evaluations to encourage enhancement of teaching skills. Microbiology graduate students only.
Prerequisite: Microbiology Graduate student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students who have completed all credit hour, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer