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Microbiology
BIO250 | 3 Credits
Learn about microbiology as it applies to the healthcare field. You’ll learn about pathogenic microorganisms and their role in human disease, human immunology, symptoms and treatment of microbial infection, and more.
Professor: Jenilyn Mulkey
About This Course
What You’ll Learn
Learn about pathogenic microorganisms and their role in human disease, human immunology, symptoms and treatment of microbial infection, and preventative measures against microbial infection.
- Describe the historical foundations of microbiology, including key discoveries and milestones in the field.
- Describe the fundamental roles of essential macromolecules in cellular structure, metabolism, and genetic information storage, emphasizing their significance in microbial biochemistry.
- Discuss prokaryotic form and function, focusing on the classification and characteristics of bacteria and archaea.
- Describe the structure of eukaryotic cells, encompassing the organization and function of cellular components.
- Describe the structure, classification, and replication methods of viruses, and explore their isolation and culturing techniques.
- Explain the concept of microbial nutrition and growth, including the factors influencing microbial growth and the media used for bacterial cultivation.
- Discuss microbial metabolism, encompassing energy, matter, and enzyme dynamics crucial for cellular processes.
- Explain the metabolic pathways and their significance in energy generation and cellular function.
- Describe microbial genetics by exploring the fundamental mechanisms underlying genetic inheritance and applying genetic engineering tools and techniques in manipulating microbial genomes.
- Discuss strategies for the control of microbial growth by evaluating mechanisms of physical and chemical methods in microbial control.
- Explain the principles, interactions, and effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment.
- Explain microbe-human interactions in health and disease, focusing on microbial mechanisms of pathogenicity and epidemiological principles in studying disease within populations.
- Explain microbial host defense mechanisms, encompassing the first, second, and third lines of defense, and explore specific immunity and vaccination strategies.
- Describe disorders in immunity by evaluating hypersensitivities and applying laboratory techniques to assess the immune response.
- Discuss infectious diseases affecting the skin, including their etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations.
- Describe infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and Genitourinary, including their causative agents, transmission routes, and clinical manifestations.
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WANT US TO CHECK?Course Details
The online Microbiology course teaches you microbiology as it applies to the healthcare field. The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of recognition, treatment and prevention of microbial pathogenesis.
ACE-Recommended
ACE Code:
OOSL-0047
Flexible Schedule
28-day Average Course Completion
Transferred 6,800 times
$7,500,000 Saved on Tuition
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take Microbiology.
Course Text
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost.
- Nina Parker at al. Microbiology, OpenStax 2024. ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-23-4.
Course Checkpoints
Checkpoint 1: Microbiology - An Invisible World
- The Birth of Microbiology
- What Our Ancestors Knew
- Prokaryotic Microorganisms
- Eukaryotic Microorganisms
- The Science of Taxonomy
- Naming, Classifying, and Identifying Microorganisms
Checkpoint 2: Microbial Biochemistry
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
Checkpoint 3: Prokaryotes
- Prokaryote Habitats and Functions
- Classification of Staining Patterns
- Overview of a Prokaryotic Cell
- Plasma Membrane
- Cell Wall
- Filamentous Appendages
- Common Cell Morphologies and Arrangements
- Plasmids, Ribosomes, and Inclusions
- Endospores
- Unique Features of Archaea
Checkpoint 4: Eukaryotes - Form and Function
- Overview of a Eukaryotic Cell
- Nucleus
- Ribosome and Peroxisome
- Endomembrane System
- Cytoskeleton
- Mitochondria and Chloroplast
- Plasma Membrane and Cell Wall
- Flagella and Cilia
- Characteristics of Protist
- Taxonomy of Protists
- Amoebozoa and Excavata
- Chromalveolata
- Major Groups of Helminths
- Characteristics of Fungi
- Fungal Diversity
Checkpoint 5: Acellular Pathogen
- Form and Function of Viruses
- Classification and Taxonomy of Viruses
- Viral Structures
- Viroids, Virusoids, and Prion
- Modes of Viral Replication: Lytic and Lysogenic Life Cycle
- Transduction
- Life Cycle of Viruses with Animal and Plant Hosts
- Persistent Infections and Viral Growth Curve
- Isolation and Cultivation of Viruses
- Detection of a Virus
Checkpoint 6: Microbial Nutrition and Growth
- Binary Fission
- The Growth Curve
- Direct Cell Count
- Plate Count
- Serial Dilution
- Indirect Cell Count
- Biofilm
- Oxygen Requirements of Microorganisms
- The Effects of pH on Microbial Growth
- Temperature and Microbial Growth
- Other Environmental Conditions that Affect Growth
- Nutritional Requirements
Checkpoint 7: Microbial Metabolism
- Classification by Carbon and Energy Source
- Oxidation and Reduction in Metabolism
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Enzyme Inhibitors
- Glycolysis
- Transition Reaction, Coenzyme A, and the Krebs Cycle
- Cellular Respiration
- Fermentation
- Lipid and Protein Catabolism
- Photosynthetic Structures in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes
- Oxygenic and Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
Checkpoint 8: Microbial Genetics
- Foundations of Genetics
- DNA as the Molecule Responsible for Heredity
- Structure and Function of DNA
- Structure and Function of RNA
- Structure and Function of Cellular Genomes
- The Functions of Genetic Material
- RNA Transcription
- Protein Synthesis (Translation)
- Mutations
- DNA Recombination Events
- Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics
- Recombinant DNA Technology and Pharmaceutical Production
- Molecular Cloning: Part 1
- Molecular Cloning: Part 2
- Creating a Genomic Library
- Introducing Recombinant Molecules into Eukaryotic Hosts
Checkpoint 9: Physical and Chemical Control of Microbes
- Laboratory Biological Safety Levels
- Methods of Microbial Control
- Measuring Microbial Control
- Heat
- Pasteurization
- Refrigeration and Freezing
- Other Methods of Chemical Microbial Control
- Phenolics
- Heavy Metals
- Halogens
- Alcohols
- Surfactants
Checkpoint 10: Antimicrobial Treatment
- Fundamentals of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Inhibitors of Cell Wall Biosynthesis
- Inhibitors of Protein Biosynthesis
- Inhibitors of Membrane Function and Nucleic Acid Synthesis
- Inhibitors of Metabolic Pathways and ATP Synthase
- Mechanisms for Drug Resistance
- Antifungal Drugs
- Antiprotozoan Drugs
- Antihelminthic Drugs
- Antiviral Drugs
- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests
Checkpoint 11: Microbe-Human Interactions: Health and Disease
- Characteristics of Infectious Disease Part I
- Characteristics of Infectious Disease Part II
- How Pathogens Cause Disease
- Pathogenicity and Virulence
- Stages of Pathogenesis and its Transmission
- Analyzing Disease and Public Health Organizations
- Types of Epidemiological Studies
- Modes of Disease Transmission
- Global Public Health
Checkpoint 12: Microbial Host Defense Mechanisms
- Physical Defenses
- Mechanical Defense and Microbiome
- Chemical Defenses
- Cellular Defenses
- Inflammation and Fever
- Overview of Specific Adaptive Immunity
- Major Histocompatibility Complexes and Antigen-Presenting Cells
- T Cell Production and Maturation
- Activation and Differentiation of T Cells
- B Lymphocytes and Humoral Immunity
- Classifications of Adaptive Immunity
- Classes of Vaccines
Checkpoint 13: Disorders in Immunity
- Type I Allergic Reactions: Atopy and Anaphylaxis
- Type II Hypersensitivities: Reactions that Lyse Foreign Cells
- Type III Hypersensitivities: Cell-Mediated (Delayed) Reactions
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypersensitivities
- An Inappropriate Response Against Self-Autoimmunity
- Immunodeficiency Diseases: Hyposensitivity of the Immune System
- Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibody Production
- Detecting Antigen-Antibody Complexes
- Agglutination Assays
- EIAs and ELISAs
- Fluorescent Antibody Techniques
Checkpoint 14: Infectious Diseases - Skin and Respiratory System
- Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Skin
- Skin Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
- Viral Infections of the Skin
- Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
- Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
- Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
Checkpoint 15: Infectious Diseases - Gastrointestinal Tract and Genitourinary System
- Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Digestive System
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Food Poisoning and Shigellosis
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Salmonellosis and Typhoid Fever
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: E.coli Infections and Cholera
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Campylobacter jejuni Gastroenteritis and Peptic Ulcers
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Clostridium perfringens Gastroenteritis
- Bacterial Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Foodborne Illness due to Bacillus cereus and Yersinia
- Anatomy and Normal Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
- Bacterial Infections of the Urinary System
- Bacterial Infections of the Reproductive System
- Viral Infections of the Reproductive System
- Fungal and Protozoan Infections of the Reproductive System
Assignments & Grading
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Assignments for this course include:
- 4 Benchmarks
- 1 Midterm Benchmark
- 1 Cumulative Benchmark
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Course Professor
Jenilyn Mulkey
MS, MLS (ASCP)cm
Jenilyn M. is a science instructor with Masters degrees in Biological Sciences and Curriculum and Instruction. After years behind a microscope as a medical laboratory scientist, she made the switch to education, teaching high school before moving into higher education where she currently teaches full-time as a Senior Lecturer of Biology.
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4.6
Just do it!
Let me start by saying that I have gone to 4 different colleges during my 20s, one of them being a pretty good university here in Hawaii. I have never taken a more informative class than the Microbiology class I took at StraighterLine.
Ash, Microbiology Student
My experience with StraighterLine was wonderful!
I was able to take Microbiology at my own pace. The lecture videos were helpful and informative, and it was easy to transfer the credits to my school, too. I definitely will return for more class credits.
Majida, Microbiology Student
Love Learning Again
I forgot how much I love learning until I found StraighterLine! The lesson outlines are very helpful and my understanding of the course material has been vastly expanded. I look forward to taking more courses with StraighterLine.
Andre, StraighterLine Student
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Building the Foundations for Your Healthcare Career
From understanding how infections spread to learning how antibiotics work, Microbiology gives you the insight you need to make informed decisions in patient care. Whether you're preparing for a role as a nurse, medical assistant, or physical therapist, this course helps you connect science to real clinical situations.
Why it matters:
- With 1.8 million new jobs expected between 2022 and 2032, healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries.
- Understanding microbiology helps you grasp how infections spread, how the body defends itself, and why proper sanitation and medication matter—important knowledge for the classroom and clinical care.
In-demand careers in this field include:
Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, and Paramedic/EMT.
How this course sets you up for success:
Microbiology is just the starting point, whether it's laboratory work or patient interaction, you’re looking forward to. Get started on your path to a fulfilling healthcare career today.
Course included in Unlimited Plans
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