GATE BIOTECHNOLOGY- Microbiology

 MICROBIOLOGY:

Microbiology is one of the easiest scoring subjects in terms of entrance exam perspective when prepared the right way. Approximately 10 marks will be asked from this subject. A detailed review of topics to be considered while preparing the subject is given below. These topics give the outline of the subject to be covered.

1. Virus structure and classification:

• Structure of important Viruses: bacteriophage, animal virus, influenza virus, human immune deficiency virus;morphology-helical, icosahedral, and complex types; structure & shapes with examples; important scientists and year; virions components-enzymes, activators, cellular components; symmetry & assembly of subunits.
• Classification and nomenclature: factors of classification- morphology, physical, chemical, genome, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, genome organization, replication, biological properties; ICBN classification, David Baltimore classification based on the genome ( 6 classes with examples), structure, function & mechanism of infection; Animal, plant & archaeal virus examples, roles & mechanism of action.
• Applications: Medicine, life science, viral therapy, material science, nano therapy.

2. Microbial classification:

• Bacteria: common features- unicellular division; diversity- phylogenetics, metabolism, morphology, pathogenecity; nomenclature; classification criteria; classification based on gram staining; archaebacteria & classification.
• Algae: characteristic features; classification criteria- nature of cell wall components, pigmentation, lifecycle & reproduction, photosynthesis, reserve food, flagellation etc.; Fritsch's classification; uses and applications.
• Fungi: characteristic features; diversity; classification- 6 subclasses; symbiotic relationship with examples; applications.
• Protozoa: structure; characteristic features; classification basis; applications.

3. Methods in microbiology:

• Direct methods: Microscopic evaluations- resolution range, bright field, dark field, contrast, electron microscope with sample preparation; Staining- gram's, immunofluorescence; Rapid test- immunological methods, direct agglutination, latex agglutination; chromatography; molecular methods- direct blotting, PCR, etc.
• Indirect methods: detecting antibodies; bio-precipitation, agglutination, haemagglutination, bio-neutralization test, radioimmunoassays, immunoblotting, immunochromatography; t-cell response, sequencing.
• Culture preparation: growth medium, temperature, salinity, O2 requirements, sterilization; types of culture media; immunization methods; measurement of cell growth.

4. Microbial Growth & Nutrition:

• Microbial growth: Binary fission; bacterial growth curve- phases, metabolically inactive drugs, methods of measuring bacterial growth ( viable plate count, membrane filtration, microscopic count, electronic count, spectroscopy); growth kinetics; Monod's model; Factors affecting growth rate ( temperature, O2, pH, osmotic conditions); equation for growth rate.
• Nutritional requirements: Chemical energy requirements; classification of m.o based on nutritional requirements ( photoautotrophs, chemoautotrophs, photoheterotrophs, chemoheterotrophs); O2 requirements- aerobes, anaerobes, facultative anaerobes, etc.,; N requirements; H2O; other elements (H, S, K, P); Growth factors- purines, pyrimidines, amino acids, etc.,; Media selection- nutrient, selective, enrichment, differential, transport, microbial assay media & properties; limiting m.o growth; preserving bacterial culture- lyophilization, osmotic pressure; Sterilisation- heat, radiation, chemicals, sterilizers, disinfectants, etc.,; antimicrobial agents & mechanism of action.

5. Respiration and N- fixation:

• Respiration: aerobic, anaerobic  & fermentation ( stages, energy released, start and end products); different types of fermentation- lactic acid, alcohol production, cycles & steps involved.
• Nitrogen fixation: role of N2 in the biosphere, N2 cycle steps- atmospheric, biological, and industrial fixation, bacteria & enzyme involved, ATPs; Anaerobic ammonia oxidation.
• Microbial diseases & Host-pathogen interaction: causes of microbial diseases; Koch's postulates; the symbiotic relationship between host & organism- mutualism, commensalism, parasitism; defense mechanism of host- non-specific local responses, specific immune responses, non-specific implementary responses; defense mechanism of pathogens; pathogenesis; Microbes transmission modes; virulence; immune responses; genetic changes leading to pathogenicity & examples; classification of pathogen based on immune responses: Artificial immunity (Vaccines) examples; microbial diseases; database for pathogen-host interaction; History related microbiology

Completing these topics can help you easily get an idea of the subject and easily score 8-10 marks from the microbiology questions.