Environmental Microbiology

Course unit title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Environmental Microbiology

Biology N 004

Life Sciences Centre

Institute of Biosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

3

Self-studies

7

Seminars

0

Aims of the  course

The course is designed to introduce the impact of microorganisms on global metabolic cycles, alternative energy sources, bioremediation and biodegradation; to present traditional and new molecular approaches in microbiology that are strategically applied to address problems in environmental microbiology. The course is intended to provide an understanding of the environmental challenges and the decisions that need to be made to strike a balance between environmental conservation and human well-being.

Main topics

1. The place of microorganisms in the living world: spatial and functional structures of microorganism populations.
2. Transformations of microorganisms and their impact on different environments and the diversity of species present in them.
3. Microorganisms from unusual ecosystems, extremophiles.
4. Interrelationships between microorganisms, interactions with microorganisms. Symbiosis. Syntrophy.
5. Biogeochemical cycles.
6. Cyanobacteria, their importance for global nitrogen, carbon, oxygen cycles.
7. Alternative energy sources.
8. Bioremediation.
9. Biodegradation.
10. Wastewater microbiology.
11. Biofilms.
12. Distribution and activities of microorganisms in natural systems, their importance for ecosystem functioning and environmental quality.
13. Microbiology of soil and water bodies.
14. Unculturable microorganisms and their importance for ecosystems.

Main literature

1. Michael T. Madigan, Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, W. Matthew Sattley and David A. Stahl. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 15th ed., 2018; ISBN:987-1-292235-10-3
2. Microbial Ecology: Current Advances from Genomics, Metagenomics and Other Omics. Edited by Diana Marco. Norfolk (United Kingdom): Caister Academic Press. 2019. ISBN: 978-1-912530-02-1
3. Journals: Environmental Microbiology; Nature Reviews Microbiology, Nature Microbiology,  FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Current Opinion in Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology, FEMS Microbiology Ecology ir kt.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

The oral examination

For the report, the PhD student prepares a 30-40 minute presentation detailing the topic analysed; the latest research in the field; and the problems and strategies to address the issues raised. The presentation should be based on publications from the last 5 years.

Assessment:

10: Excellent knowledge and skills. The presentation is comprehensive and detailed; the presenter is able to discuss the topic and analyse the issues well.

9: Very good knowledge and skills. The presentation is comprehensive and detailed; the speaker is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

8: Good knowledge and skills. The presentation contains minor errors; the presenter is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

7: Moderate knowledge and skills. The presentation contains substantial errors; the presenter is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

6: Satisfactory knowledge and skills. The presentation is full of fundamental errors; the speaker is not always able to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues.

5: Weak knowledge and skills that still meet the minimum requirements. The presentation is full of errors; the speaker's ability to discuss the topic presented and analyse the issues is weak.

0-4: The minimum requirements are not met.

Alisa Gricajeva

Audrius Gegeckas

Renata Gudiukaitė

dr.

dr.

dr.

Approved by the Council of Doctoral School of Life Sciences Center No (4.10)600000-KT-… on the 14th of October 2023

Chairperson dr. Daiva Baltriukienė