Microbial ecology

The courses will cover the fundamentals and principles of microbial ecology (microbial biodiversity; cultivable/uncultivable microorganisms;   major microbial groups, key microbial functions and biogeochemical cycles, microbial metabolisms in the environment and environmental applications, ecology fundamentals applicable to microorganisms (microbial interactions, free-living, competition, collaboration, symbiosis , parasitism and their applications). The following will be covered in particular by way of illustration:

- viruses: the concept of emergence and reemergence

-Vibrio bacteria, virulence factors, host adaptation, and horizontal transfer

-streptococci, comparative genomics, genome reduction, specialization

 Applications of microbial ecology to biotechnology will concern: detection, inoculum production, bioproductions, bioremediation, and water treatment using concrete examples (development of multi-pathogen detection tools that take mutation into account, production of a flavor enhancer by a soil corynebacterium, applications of the study of microbial interactions to the selection of cheese flavors, quality index of wine-growing soil, etc.).

Lab work: water analysis, principles, standards, applications: total 6 hours

TD/personal work based on the results of the practical work: design of a water purification model in a real-life situation (cadastral data, topological survey, total fecal coliform load from practical work, student presentations on the different types of (micro)water treatment plants, etc.). The aim is to propose a conceptual solution adapted to the specific case.

- fundamentals of microbial ecology (understanding the interactions between microorganisms and their environments)

- Have a basic understanding of the practical applications of microbial ecology in environmental and health biotechnology and employment opportunities.

fundamental microbiology, mastery of basic microbiology techniques