INTRODUCTION
Microbiology which is housed in Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences is interrelated with Biological Sciences dealing with the study of the activities of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and microscopic forms of helminths (worms). These activities are as they relate to industrial process, Human and Animal Health, Environment and Agriculture. Microbiology is also related to other Biology and Physical Sciences as well as Engineering.
MISSION
To be a premier academic unit providing demand- driven training, and research activities especially in modern and emerging techniques.
To catalyze development of vitality in the field of Microbiology, providing quality teaching, carrying out innovative and demand-driven research, as well as offer professional and consultancy services.
PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy of the Department is to produce graduates that are well grounded in the science of Microbiology. Aspects of Molecular biology and entrepreneurship studies are also emphasized. The students will specialize in microbiology.
Training in Microbiology aspects of the curriculum gives students the opportunity to work as a
• Microbiologist in the food pharmaceutical, biotech industries, and medical and research laboratories.
• Academic and research careers in universities and higher institutions.
• Secondary level teaching.
• Environmental management.
• Aid agencies, as advisers and technical experts and as inspectors and managers.
• Writing and publishing of environmental magazines and educational literature.
• Film making and careers in the media.
• Microbiologists may also serve professionally in the Federal, State and Local government tiers of government.
• Direct entry into Medicine and a degree programme in Medical Laboratory Sciences which gives them the license to set up their own diagnostic laboratories.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this programme are to:
a) Provide the student with knowledge of Microbiology with a view to equiping him/her with skills required for professional service in both Research / Development and production sectors of the economy.
b) Provide broad based Education to the student based on the National Universities Commission (NUC) minimum Academic standard.
c) Develop entrepreneurship skills to ensure self-reliance among graduates of the Department.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The Department admits students by entrance examination (Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination) for a four – year program. The prospective students must satisfy both the university and Departmental admission requirements.
Admission through JAMB
Candidates seeking admission into the Bachelor of Sciences ( Hons.) degree programme in Microbiology should obtain the minimum score in the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME) as specified by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board ( JAMB) and posses five credit level passes in SSSCE / NECO in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics in not more than two sittings.
Admission through Direct entry
The direct entry admission is offered to candidates who possess at least two (2) advanced / Principal Level passes (graded A-E) in Biology and any of the following
subjects; Botany, Chemistry, Zoology and Physics obtained in not more than two sittings or any other equivalent qualification acceptable to senate may be admitted into 200 level for the three-year degree programme.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING
An Industrial Training scheme of three months duration is undertaken during the second semesters of the year two and year three. The scheme is designed to give the students opportunity to put into practice the theoretical knowledge they have acquired from the classroom. It is envisaged that the scheme will help the students in job selection after graduation.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for B.Sc degree in Microbiology a student must successfully complete the following:
• Common University courses.
• Faculty courses
• Departmental courses.
• Six months industrial training.
• Satisfactory completion of an original project work and defense before an external examiner.
COURSE OUTLINE (B. Sc) (MICROBIOLOGY)
YEAR 1
First Semester
COURSE DESCRIPTION
MCB 121: Introductory Microbiology (2 credits)
History of the Science of Microbiology. Sterilization and disinfection; Structure, ecology and reproduction of representative of microbial genera. Cultivation of micro-organisms. Isolation of micro-organisms; isolation of bacteria, viruses. The role of micro-organisms in natural and special environments such as soil, water, milk, food industry and in disease.
MCB 221: General Microbiology Pre Req BIO 105, MCB 121. (2credits)
Nutrition and biochemical activities of micro-organisms. Antigens and antibodies. Identification and economic importance of selected microbial groups. Microbial variation and heredity. Principles of microbial taxonomy. Phylogenic and artificial classification. Detailed classification of bacteria and blue-green algae.
MCB 231: Basic Techniques in Microbiology Pre Req MCB 121, 221. (2 Credits)
Culturing of micro-organisms; preparation of media for microbial growth. Isolation of pure culture; streaking, pour plates etc; subculturing procedures. Staining techniques for differentiation of micro-organisms. Enumeration of micro-organisms, direct and indirect procedures. Identification of micro-organisms to include colonial and cellular morphology and biochemical procedures.
MCB 399: Industrial Training. (6 credits)
A six month industrial attachment in medical or industrial establishments is undertaken during second semester of the third year.
MCB 307: Immunology (2 credits)
Introduction. Historical background. Innate and acquired immunity. Antigens, antibodies, cellular immunity. Immunological tolerance and suppression. Surgical grafting. Complement System. Hypersensitivity. Immunological anomalies.
Diagnostic immunology, Vaccines, effector systems of parasite killing and nature of resistance in plants.
MCB 232: Medical Parasitology. Pre Req: Bio 101,102 (2 credits)
A survey of animal/ plant parasites including the structures, life cycle, parasitic adaptations, host, specificity and susceptibility. Geographical distribution, prevention and control. Physiology and immunology of parasites. Economic importance of some selected parasites.
MCB 222: General Microbiology II. Pre Req: MCB 121,221 (2 credits)
Taxonomy of eukaryotic micro-organisms. Fungi. Physiology and cell structure, classification, ecology and economic importance of fungi. Algae: Structure and physiology. Classification, ecology and economic importance. Protozoa: Form, life cycle and nutrition. Classification of protozoa, physiology, ecology and classification of slime moulds.
MCB 309: Food Microbiology (2 credits)
Pre-requisite: MCB 221/231
The distribution, role and significance of micro-organisms in food; intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of foods that affect microbial growth, food spoilage and food borne diseases. Micro-organism. Indices of food sanitary growth and food microbiology standards. Diseases of animals transmittable to man via food products.
MCB 322: Bacterial Diversity (2 credits)
The morphology, life cycle and biochemical characteristics of bacteria. Systematic study of bacteria and other prokaryotes, their nature, characteristics, identification and isolation.
MCB 324: Microbial Ecology (2 credits)
Microbes and ecological theory. Physiological, morphological and genetic adaptations of micro-organisms to their environment. Microbial interactions;
micro-organisms in natural ecosystems. The life of micro-organisms in air, springs
rivers, lakes and seas. Cycling of elements in water and sediments.
MCB 325: Soil Microbiology (2 credits)
The characteristics of soil environment; microbial flora and fauna of soil; microbial activities in soil; Nitrogen cycle, mineral transformation by micro-organisms. Ecological relation among soil pathogens. Effect of pesticides on soil micro-organisms. Biodegradation and biofuels generation. Microbiology of the rhizosphere.
MCB 326: Introductory Virology (2 credits)
General characteristics of plant, animal and bacterial viruses; viral replication, spread and cytopathic effects. Virus classification, purification and assay. Regulation of lytic development and maintenance of the lysogenic state in bacteriophages lambda, P2 and 14 single stranded DNA and RNA phageviroids as pathogens.
MCB 328: Biodeterioration (2 credits)
Principles of microbial deterioration of materials. Materials subject to microbial deterioration: Foods, Jet fuels, paper, paints, textiles and leather, metals etc. Factors favouring deterioration of materials. Major microbial groups involved in deterioration. Impact of processing and new technologies on biodeterioration Control.
MCB 401: Essays in Microbiology (2 credits)
Detailed literature search followed by presentation at a departmental Seminar of a scientific topic, which must be of microbiological or biotechnological interest.
MCB 301: Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology (2credits)
Pre Reg. MCB 121, 221, 222, and BIO 202.
Brief review of classical genetics. The genetics of fungi, bacteria and viruses. Bacterial transformation, conjugations and transduction. Extra-chromosomal DNA (plasmids and episomes). Chromosome and gene mapping. Evidence of DNA as a genetic material. Regulatory mechanisms of micro-organisms. Genetic code. Elements of genetic engineering.
MCB 371: Pathogenic mycology (2 credits)
Pre Req.: MCB 221, 222
General characteristics of pathogenic fungi especially in their relationships to diseases. Principles of infection, pathogenesis and immunity, emphasis on mycological techniques for laboratory diagnosis. Principles of disease control will be emphasized.
MCB 403: Pharmaceutical Microbiology (2 credits)
Concept of growth and death in micro-organisms. The chemistry of synthetic chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics. Production and synthesis of antibiotics and antiseptics. Relationships of antimicrobial agents to different microbial groups: Gram positives, Gram negatives, spore-formers etc. The mode of action and assay antibiotics and antiseptics. Sensitivity and resistance as related to microbial physiology. Microbiological quality control in the Pharmaceutical industry.
MCB 404: Advanced Food Microbiology (2 credits)
Advanced ecology, taxonomy, biochemistry analytical technology of bacteria, yeasts, fungi and viruses associated with food spoilage, food-borne diseases and fermentations. Emphasis on new developments in Food Microbiology; economic consequences of micro-organisms in food; exploitation of micro-organisms in novel processes for the production of food ingredients.
MCB 405: Principles of Epidemiology & Public Health Microbiology (2 credits)
Statistical applications to epidemiology. Nature of epidemiological investigations. Spectrum of infections. Herd immunity. Latency of infections. Multifactorial systems in epidemics. Zoonoses. Antigenic drifts. Biological products for immunization. Schedules for international control of infectious diseases.
MCB 407: Pathogenic Microbiology (2 credits)
Study of some microbial pathogens of plants and animals with emphasis on those prevalent in Nigeria. The geographical distribution, isolation, identification, morphology, life cycle, source of infection, transmission and the host. Ecology, clinical manifestations of specific bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens of a man.
MCB 412: Microbial Genetics (2 credits)
Principles of genetic analysis. Plasmids and transposable genetic elements, mutagenesis and DNA repairs, bacteriophages genetics and genetics of Nitrogen fixation. Mechanism and nature of mutation, induction, isolation and characterization of mutants. Genetic recombination in prokaryotes including transformation, transduction, phage conversion and conjugation. Recent techniques in microbial genetics. Chemical coding and expression of genetic information. Fungal genetics. Principles and application of genetic engineering.
MCB 423: Industrial Microbiology (2 credits)
Fermentation systems; design and use of fermenters. Micro-organisms of industrial importance. Classification of microbial products by use. Relationship between primary and secondary metabolism; characteristics, source and strain improvement of industrial micro-organisms. Microbial growth and product formation in industrial processes; media for industrial fermentations. Foaming, Major products of Industrial Microbiology: enzyme production and immobilization; production of vitamins, amino acids, antibiotics, organic acids, beer, and wine.
MCB 424: Microbial Physiology & Metabolism (2 credits)
Dynamics of growth. Nutrition and energy metabolism of micro-organisms. Effects of physical and chemical factors on growth. Biochemistry of various microbial processes such as transport, regulation and respiration. Biosynthesis of microbial products. Buffer preparation and standardization. Basic separation techniques in microbiology, dialysis, salting out, gel filtration, electrophoresis etc. Assay techniques for various metabolites including microbial enzymes, acids etc.
MCB 425: Environmental Microbiology (2 credits)
Impact assessment of microbial contamination of soil, water and air in relation to the deterioration of the environment. Soil, air and water pollution. Waste disposal and management. Methods of water and sewage treatment with emphasis on specific micro-organisms involved. Disease transmission by water. Biological and chemical Oxygen.
MCB 430: Microbiological Quality Assurance (2 credits)
A theoretical and practical consideration of the management of microbiological quality assurance. HACCP, cleaning and sanitation. Microbiological specifications and regulations. Local and international approaches to obtaining safe food. Management and quality assurance in the microbiology laboratory.
MCB 431: Petroleum Microbiology (3 credits)
Biogenesis of fossil fuels with emphasis on the role of micro-organisms. Petroleum prospecting and secondary recovery. Microbial corrosion of pipes and equipment. Methanogenesis and methanotrophy. Effects of oil spill on microbial activities in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Biodeterriotation and biotransformation of hydrocarbons.
MCB 482: Virology & Tissue Culture (2 credits)
Structure, properties and classification of viruses. Principles of isolation, cultivation and maintenance of plant animal cells in vivo. Application of cell culture technique in virology. Viruses as agents of diseases in animals.
MCB 491: Research Project (4 credits)
A research project and dissertation to be undertaken on any topic of microbiological and/or biotechnological interest.