Marine Microbiology

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Objectives

1 - Learning and development of knowledge about the important role of microorganisms in marine environments with particular emphasis on the fundamental concepts underlying the diversity and functioning of microbial communities in relation to the marine environment where they are found and their interaction with surrounding macroorganisms; 

2 - Development of technical and scientific skills based on teaching activities in their theoretical and practical aspects during which students will reach a level of proficiency that will allow them to consult and interpret, assimilate, scientific articles in the field of marine microbiology, as well as experimental learning that will enable them to develop a small study/scientific project within the scope of an undergraduate thesis in the area of marine microbiology, in addition to the ability to seek new information related to the UC and communicate it effectively in oral presentations among students or in the style of "oral communication" at scientific meetings.

Program

1) The importance of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, viruses, and microbial eukaryotes) in the marine environment;
2) Microorganisms and their phylogeny; classification of bacteria; definition of prokaryotic cell and its genome. Characteristics of the prokaryotic cell, mode of replication; transcription and genetic expression;
3) Phylogenetic and metabolic diversity; ecology of marine microorganisms; microbial consortia, their diversity and functional analysis; phototrophy and chemotrophy; heterotrophic microorganisms; interactions with other organisms; chemosynthetic and photosynthetic endosymbionts; concept of holobiont;
4) Marine fungi: the role of saprophytic fungi in the recycling of organic matter and the degradation of polysaccharides produced by phytoplankton. Symbioses established between marine fungi and other forms of marine life, including seaweeds. The fundamental role of fungi in the dynamics of marine ecosystems;
5) Biotechnological applications of marine microorganisms. Description of the biotechnological potential of marine bacteria and marine Archaea for the biotechnological exploration of enzymes; Introduction to "omic" technologies for studying the functional and metabolic diversity of marine microorganisms in their natural environment; genomics and metagenomics, metabarcoding, and shotgun sequencing. Proteomics of marine bacteria. 

Teaching Methodologies

The teaching of this course unit will be based on in-person classes assuming a conceptual and explanatory nature and exploratory activities of laboratory nature. The classes will reflect a combination of explanatory and participatory methodologies using dynamic visual presentations, which will include videos and online research, as well as dynamic interactions between teacher and student, complemented by moments of interpretation/discussion of responses during the classes. The most relevant information (scientific articles and book chapters) will be made available on the "e-learning Moodle" platform. 

Laboratory activities will be carried out in group work (maximum of 3 students) and presented to the other colleagues to stimulate critical discussion. Small challenges (quiz games) will be introduced to help them deduce key concepts related to the theoretical content presented in each class, in a stimulating environment, promoting debates and critical thinking. 

Bibliography

Marine Microbiology. Editor Se-Kwon Kim, 2013. Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Print ISBN:9783527333271 |Online ISBN:9783527665259 |DOI:10.1002/9783527665259

Marine Microbiology: Ecology & Applications; by Colin B. Munn; 3rd edition; 2020; Taylor & Francis Group; ISBN 9780429061042

Text Book on Marine Microbiology. P. F. Steffi &Rajeswari Anburaj. 2020 Publisher: Ryan publishers. Editor: P.F.Steffi. ISBN: 978-81-947191-1-3, 978-81-947191-9-9 file:///C:/Users/raul.s.bettencourt/Downloads/MarineMicrobiologyBook.pdf 

Practical Handbook of Microbiology. Edited By Lorrence H Green, Emanuel Goldman Published May 31, 2023 by CRC Press. ISBN 9780367567644 

Marine microbial symbioses: Host-microbe interaction, holobiont’s adaptation to niches and global climate change. Editors, Sen-Lin Tang, Zhiyong Li. 2024 . Frontiers Media SA. ISBN: 9782832549025, 2832549020 

Noora Barzkar, Stanislav Sukhikh, Olga Babich. 2024.Study of marine microorganism metabolites: new resources for bioactive natural products. Frontiers in Microbiology. Section Aquatic Microbiology, 2024. Volume 14 - 2023 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1285902

Code

01062481

ECTS Credits

6

Classes

  • Práticas e Laboratórios - 30 hours
  • Teóricas - 30 hours

Evaluation Methodology

  • Attendance and Participation: 15%
  • Frequency: 45%
  • Group Monograph: 40%