BIOL 385 - Beneficial Microbes: Their Role in Human Health and the Environment

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

Microbes are known for their disease causing potential, but the majority of bacteria have the potential to improve human health. This class will focus on the discovery, application, and development of microbial products and whole microorganisms for human use. Topics include nutraceutical as antimicrobial agents, production and applications of microbial products (such as antibiotics, enzymes, organic acids), recombinant DNA technology for producing vaccines, enzymes, and agricultural products, use of live microorganisms as bio-pesticides, in bioremediation, as probiotics and in gut microbiota manipulation. Funmilola A. Ayeni.

Prerequisite(s): Two units of 200-level Biology or one unit of 200-level Biology and permission of the instructor. NEUR 249/PSYC 249.

Recommended: BIOL 205 Introduction to Microbiology or BIOL 244 Genetics and Genomics.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS