BDS Microbiology Syllabus

Microbiology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Microbiology in BDS, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction to Microbiology

   3 topics

   • History of Microbiology
     • Early Discoveries
     • Golden Age of Microbiology
     • Modern Microbiology
   • Classification of Microorganisms
     • Bacteria
     • Viruses
     • Fungi
     • Protozoa
     • Algae
   • Microscopy
     • Light Microscopy
     • Electron Microscopy
     • Fluorescence Microscopy
2. 2

   Bacteriology

   4 topics

   • Bacterial Structure
     • Cell Wall
     • Cell Membrane
     • Cytoplasm
     • Flagella
     • Pili
     • Spores
   • Bacterial Physiology
     • Growth and Reproduction
     • Metabolism
     • Genetic Exchange
   • Pathogenic Bacteria
     • Gram-Positive Bacteria
     • Gram-Negative Bacteria
     • Mycobacteria
     • Spirochetes
   • Bacterial Infections
     • Respiratory Infections
     • Gastrointestinal Infections
     • Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
     • Systemic Infections
3. 3

   Virology

   4 topics

   • Virus Structure
     • Capsid
     • Envelope
     • Genome
   • Virus Replication
     • Attachment and Entry
     • Genome Replication
     • Assembly and Release
   • Pathogenic Viruses
     • DNA Viruses
     • RNA Viruses
     • Retroviruses
   • Viral Infections
     • Respiratory Infections
     • Gastrointestinal Infections
     • Neurological Infections
     • Systemic Infections
4. 4

   Mycology

   4 topics

   • Fungal Structure
     • Cell Wall
     • Cell Membrane
     • Hyphae
     • Spores
   • Fungal Physiology
     • Growth and Reproduction
     • Metabolism
   • Pathogenic Fungi
     • Yeasts
     • Molds
     • Dimorphic Fungi
   • Fungal Infections
     • Superficial Mycoses
     • Cutaneous Mycoses
     • Subcutaneous Mycoses
     • Systemic Mycoses
5. 5

   Parasitology

   4 topics

   • Protozoa
     • Amoebae
     • Flagellates
     • Ciliates
     • Sporozoa
   • Helminths
     • Nematodes
     • Trematodes
     • Cestodes
   • Ectoparasites
     • Lice
     • Mites
     • Fleas
     • Ticks
   • Parasitic Infections
     • Intestinal Infections
     • Blood and Tissue Infections
     • Vector-Borne Infections
6. 6

   Immunology

   4 topics

   • Innate Immunity
     • Physical Barriers
     • Cellular Defenses
     • Inflammation
   • Adaptive Immunity
     • Humoral Immunity
     • Cell-Mediated Immunity
     • Immunological Memory
   • Immune Response to Infections
     • Bacterial Infections
     • Viral Infections
     • Fungal Infections
     • Parasitic Infections
   • Immunopathology
     • Hypersensitivity Reactions
     • Autoimmune Diseases
     • Immunodeficiency Disorders
7. 7

   Microbial Genetics

   4 topics

   • Genetic Material
     • DNA Structure
     • RNA Structure
   • Gene Expression
     • Transcription
     • Translation
     • Regulation of Gene Expression
   • Genetic Variation
     • Mutations
     • Horizontal Gene Transfer
   • Genetic Engineering
     • Recombinant DNA Technology
     • CRISPR-Cas9
8. 8

   Antimicrobial Agents

   4 topics

   • Antibiotics
     • Mechanisms of Action
     • Spectrum of Activity
     • Resistance Mechanisms
   • Antiviral Agents
     • Mechanisms of Action
     • Resistance Mechanisms
   • Antifungal Agents
     • Mechanisms of Action
     • Resistance Mechanisms
   • Antiparasitic Agents
     • Mechanisms of Action
     • Resistance Mechanisms
9. 9

   Clinical Microbiology

   4 topics

   • Specimen Collection and Transport
     • Types of Specimens
     • Transport Media
   • Diagnostic Techniques
     • Microscopy
     • Culture Methods
     • Molecular Methods
     • Serological Methods
   • Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
     • Disk Diffusion Method
     • Broth Dilution Method
     • E-test
   • Infection Control
     • Sterilization and Disinfection
     • Hospital-Acquired Infections
     • Antibiotic Stewardship

Microbiology flashcards for BDS

24 of 51 cards from the Microbiology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Who is regarded as the "Father of Microbiology" and what did he first observe using his single-lens microscopes?

   Antonie van Leeuwenhoek; he first observed and described live microorganisms ("animalcules") such as bacteria and protozoa from pond water, plaque and other samples in the 1670s.

2. State the germ theory of disease and name the scientist most associated with proving it.

   The germ theory states that specific microorganisms are the cause of specific infectious diseases. Louis Pasteur provided key proof (disproving spontaneous generation), and Robert Koch established the causal link experimentally.

3. List Koch's postulates for establishing that a microbe causes a disease.

   1) The microbe is present in all cases of the disease and absent in healthy hosts. 2) It can be isolated and grown in pure culture. 3) The cultured microbe causes the disease when inoculated into a healthy susceptible host. 4) The same microbe is re-isolated from the newly diseased host.

4. In the three-domain classification system, into which domains are cellular organisms divided?

   Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

5. What is binomial nomenclature and how is a species name written (give the format)?

   A two-part Latin naming system: Genus (capitalized) + species (lowercase), italicized or underlined, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus; often abbreviated after first use as S. aureus.

6. Define resolving power (resolution) of a microscope and give the formula for the limit of resolution.

   Resolution is the smallest distance at which two points can be distinguished as separate. The limit of resolution is $d = \frac{0.61\,\lambda}{NA}$, where $\lambda$ is the wavelength of light and $NA$ is the numerical aperture.

7. Write the formula for the numerical aperture (NA) of a microscope objective.

   $NA = n \sin\theta$, where $n$ is the refractive index of the medium between specimen and lens and $\theta$ is half the angular aperture of the lens.

8. How is total magnification of a compound light microscope calculated?

   $M_{total} = M_{objective} \times M_{ocular}$ (objective lens magnification multiplied by eyepiece magnification), e.g. $100 \times 10 = 1000\times$.

9. Why does the oil-immersion objective use immersion oil, and what is the approximate refractive index of the oil?

   Immersion oil (refractive index $n \approx 1.515$, matching glass) replaces air, preventing light refraction/loss at the glass-air interface, thereby increasing the numerical aperture and resolution at high magnification (100x).

10. Compare the resolution of a light microscope versus an electron microscope.

    Light microscope: resolution limit ~$0.2\ \mu m$ (200 nm). Electron microscope: resolution down to ~$0.2\ nm$ because electrons have a far shorter wavelength than visible light, giving roughly 1000x better resolution.

11. Describe the steps of the Gram stain and the results for Gram-positive vs Gram-negative bacteria.

    Steps: crystal violet (primary), Gram's iodine (mordant), alcohol/acetone (decolorizer), safranin (counterstain). Gram-positive retain crystal violet and appear purple/violet; Gram-negative lose it and take up safranin, appearing pink/red.

12. What is the key structural difference between the cell walls of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria?

    Gram-positive have a thick peptidoglycan layer with teichoic acids and no outer membrane; Gram-negative have a thin peptidoglycan layer plus an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

13. What is the chemical composition of peptidoglycan (murein)?

    A polymer of alternating N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) sugars, cross-linked by short peptide chains (tetrapeptides) attached to NAM.

14. What is the biological significance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) / endotoxin in Gram-negative bacteria?

    LPS is the outer-membrane endotoxin; its lipid A component triggers fever, inflammation and can cause septic shock when released. It also contributes to the antigenic O-specific side chains.

15. Distinguish the bacterial capsule from the cell wall and state the capsule's main function.

    The capsule is an outer polysaccharide (sometimes polypeptide) layer external to the cell wall. It is a virulence factor that resists phagocytosis and aids adherence; it is not required for growth.

16. Compare bacterial flagella, pili (fimbriae), and sex pili by function.

    Flagella: locomotion/motility. Fimbriae (common pili): adherence/attachment to surfaces. Sex (F) pilus: conjugation, transferring DNA between bacteria.

17. What is a bacterial endospore and which two genera are the most important spore-formers?

    A dormant, highly resistant dehydrated structure formed by some bacteria to survive harsh conditions (heat, desiccation, chemicals). The key genera are Bacillus and Clostridium.

18. Classify bacterial cell shapes with an example arrangement for each.

    Cocci (spheres, e.g. clusters=staphylo, chains=strepto), bacilli (rods), spirilla/spirochetes (spiral/helical), vibrio (comma-shaped).

19. Classify bacteria by oxygen requirement into the main four groups.

    Obligate aerobes (need O2), obligate anaerobes (killed by O2), facultative anaerobes (grow with or without O2), and microaerophiles (need low O2); aerotolerant anaerobes tolerate but don't use O2.

20. Write the exponential growth equation for a bacterial population and define the terms.

    $N_t = N_0 \times 2^{n}$, where $N_t$ is the number of cells after $n$ generations, $N_0$ is the initial number, and $n$ is the number of divisions. Also $n = \frac{t}{g}$ where $g$ is the generation (doubling) time.

21. Name and describe the four phases of the bacterial growth curve.

    Lag phase (adaptation, no division), log/exponential phase (maximal division), stationary phase (division = death, nutrients limiting), and death/decline phase (cells die exponentially).

22. What is the difference between bacterial transformation, transduction, and conjugation?

    Transformation: uptake of free naked DNA from the environment. Transduction: DNA transfer via a bacteriophage. Conjugation: direct cell-to-cell DNA transfer through a sex pilus.

23. Differentiate exotoxins from endotoxins.

    Exotoxins: secreted proteins from (mainly) Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria, highly potent, often specific, heat-labile, toxoid-able. Endotoxins: LPS (lipid A) of Gram-negative outer membrane, released on lysis, heat-stable, cause fever/shock, less potent.

24. Which bacterium causes tuberculosis, and what special staining property does it have?

    Mycobacterium tuberculosis; it is acid-fast (stained by the Ziehl-Neelsen method) due to mycolic acids in its cell wall, resisting decolorization by acid-alcohol.

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