Web Microbiology at ACM

Chapter 12, Episode 18 This episode concludes antimicrobial therapy by exploring antibiotic resistance and treatments for non-bacterial pathogens. It explains how bacteria develop resistance through mutation and gene transfer, and why this is a growing public health concern highlighted in the CDC Threat Report. The episode then reviews key drug classes used to treat fungal, protozoan, helminthic,...

Chapter 12, Episode 17 This episode continues the overview of antibacterial drug classes. It covers drugs that target the cell membrane, then moves into drugs that target DNA and RNA, including, highlighting their bactericidal action and important side effects. The episode also introduces sulfonamides, which inhibit folic acid synthesis and are often used in combination therapies like Bactrim. Fin...

Chapter 12, Episode 16 This episode begins the discussion of specific antimicrobial drug classes, organized by mechanism of action. It starts with the historical development of Salvarsan and penicillin, then focuses on beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems, which inhibit cell wall synthesis and are bactericidal. It also introduces resistance mechanisms lik...

Chapter 18, Episode 10 We finish Chapter 18 by exploring PCR, DNA sequencing, and other molecular technologies, and how they have transformed microbial identification and are shaping the future of diagnostic microbiology. 

Chapter 18, Episode 9 Discover how immunologic tests such as ELISA and rapid antigen tests detect pathogens and antibodies, providing faster diagnostic information for patient care.

Chapter 18, Episode 8 Explore how real clinical microbiology labs process patient specimens, use selective media and identification panels, and determine effective antibiotic treatments.

Chapter 18, Episode 7 A walkthrough of the Unknown ID Dry Lab, including how to use dichotomous keys, interpret test results, and identify unknown bacteria using the same reasoning process used in clinical laboratories.  

Chapter 18, Episode 6 Learn how clinical microbiologists identify disease-causing bacteria by phenotype, using observations, staining, and biochemical tests to narrow down suspects. This is just like playing a game of "Guess Who?"

Chapter 12, Episode 15 This episode introduces the principles of antimicrobial therapy, focusing on the goal of selective toxicity. It reviews key concepts like bactericidal vs. bacteriostatic drugs, broad vs. narrow spectrum, and the major targets of antimicrobial drugs (cell wall, protein synthesis, nucleic acids, membranes, and metabolism). It also explains how clinicians choose appropriate tre...

Chapter 11, Episode 14 Additional chemical control methods include alcohols, oxidizing agents, surfactants, quats, heavy metals, aldehydes, gaseous sterilants, and essential oils, each with distinct mechanisms and applications. Alcohols and phenolic-type compounds disrupt membranes and proteins, oxidizing agents damage cells through reactive oxygen species, and surfactants remove microbes through...

Chapter 11, Episode 13 Chemical control methods work by targeting key cellular structures such as the cell wall, membrane, proteins, or nucleic acids, resulting in either microbial death or growth inhibition. The effectiveness of a chemical agent depends on factors like concentration, contact time, and presence of organic material. Common agents introduced include halogens, phenolic compounds, and...

Chapter 11, Episode 12 Microbial death is defined as the loss of the ability to reproduce, and effectiveness of control methods depends on factors like concentration, time, microbial load, and environmental conditions. Physical control methods include heat, cold, desiccation, osmotic pressure, radiation, and filtration. Heat is the most effective, especially moist heat like autoclaving, while cold...

Chapter 11, Episode 11 Microbial control focuses on reducing microbes to safe levels rather than eliminating them entirely in most situations. Key terms include sterilization (complete removal), disinfection (reducing microbes on surfaces), antisepsis (reducing microbes on living tissue), and decontamination (mechanical removal). Whether microbes cause infection depends on microbial load and host...

Chapter 10, Episode 10 In this episode, anabolism is explored as the process of building macromolecules using energy and intermediates from catabolism. Amphibolic pathways and biosynthetic processes are discussed, followed by an introduction to photosynthesis, including light-dependent reactions, the Calvin cycle, and the connection between metabolism and global energy and nutrient cycles.

Chapter 10, Episode 9 In this episode, fermentation is introduced as a pathway that allows glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen by regenerating NAD⁺. Major fermentation types and their end products are discussed, along with their roles in food production, human physiology, and bacterial identification through lab tests.

Chapter 10, Episode 8 In this episode, the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation are explained, including how electron carriers create a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis. The role of oxygen as the final electron acceptor and the reason ATP yield is an estimate are discussed, along with anaerobic respiration and nitrate reduction.

Chapter 10, Episode 7 In this episode, glycolysis is introduced as the first step in glucose breakdown, producing pyruvate, ATP, and NADH. The possible fates of pyruvate are discussed, followed by an overview of the Krebs cycle and its role in generating electron carriers and small amounts of ATP.

Chapter 10, Episode 6 In this episode, energy flow in the cell is explored through exergonic and endergonic reactions and how they are coupled. Redox reactions are introduced as the movement of electrons, with NAD⁺ and FAD acting as electron carriers. The three methods of ATP production, substrate-level, oxidative, and photophosphorylation, are also introduced.

Chapter 10, Episode 5 In this episode, metabolism is introduced as the sum of all chemical reactions in the cell, including catabolism and anabolism. The role of ATP as the cell’s energy currency is explained, along with how enzymes function as catalysts and how they are regulated through gene control, feedback inhibition, and competitive and noncompetitive inhibition.

Chapter 7, Episode 4 We wrap up chapter 7 by discussing how antiviral drugs target specific steps in viral replication and why treatment can be challenging. Then we explore prions, infectious proteins that break the traditional rules of biology and cause devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

Chapter 7, Episode 3 This episode walks step-by-step through viral replication. From attachment to release, we examine how viruses enter cells, redirect cellular machinery, and produce new virions, including the unique strategies of RNA viruses and retroviruses.

Chapter 7, Episode 2 We revisit the lytic and lysogenic cycles of bacteriophages and apply those concepts to human viral infections. Learn the difference between latent and chronic infections, how viruses can damage cells, and how some viruses even contribute to cancer.

Chapter 7, Episode 1 Are viruses alive? In this episode, we explore what viruses are made of, how they’re structured, and why they must hijack host cells to survive. We break down capsids, envelopes, bacteriophages, and viral genetics to build the foundation for understanding how viruses work.

Chapter 8, Episode 16 This episode focuses on how DNA manipulation is applied in real-world settings through biotechnology. Key topics include recombinant DNA technology, GMOs like Bt corn, gene therapy, CAR-T cancer treatment, and CRISPR gene editing. You’ll see how these tools are used to produce important products like insulin, improve agriculture, and treat disease, while also considering thei...

Chapter 8, Episode 15 In this episode, we explore how scientists analyze and visualize DNA after it has been amplified or cut. Topics include gel electrophoresis, DNA profiling, sequencing, SNPs, and microarrays. You’ll learn how these techniques allow researchers to compare DNA samples, identify individuals, detect genetic variation, and study gene activity, with real-world applications in forens...