Microbiology course catalog

All 45 recorded UW–Madison courses in this department, including courses not offered this term. Open a course for prerequisites, historical grades and instructors.

• BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612: Prokaryotic Molecular Biology

  3 credits

  Molecular basis of bacterial physiology and genetics with emphasis on molecular mechanisms; topics include nucleic acid-protein interactions, transcription, translation, replication, recombination, regulation of gene expression.

• BIOCHEM/MICROBIO 917: Regulation of Gene Expression (advanced Seminar)

  1 credits

  Analysis of recent literature in topics related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene regulation, including regulation of transcription, translation, and genome organization.

• BMOLCHEM/MICROBIO 668: Microbiology at Atomic Resolution

  Credits unavailable

  Three-dimensional protein structures form the basis for discussions of high resolution microbiology; how particular problems are solved with given protein architectures and chemistries and how themes of protein structure are modified and recycled.

• BOTANY/MICROBIO 335: The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans

  Credits unavailable

  Examination of the structure and function of microbial communities that live inside and on host organisms (plants, animals, and humans). Introduction to general concepts of the microbiome and microbiota, and their relationship to host nutrition, health, and disease.

• FOODSCI/MICROBIO 324: Food Microbiology Laboratory

  2 credits

  Lab exercises dealing with food preservation, spoilage, and food poisoning. Isolation, identification and quantification of specific microbes occurring in foods, and food fermentations by bacteria and yeast.

• FOODSCI/MICROBIO 325: Food Microbiology

  3 credits

  Principles of food preservation, epidemiology of foodborne illness, agents of foodborne illness, food fermentations and biotechnology.

• MICROBIO 100: The Microbial World

  Credits unavailable

  Primarily for non-science majors. Roles of microorganisms and viruses in nature, health, agriculture, pollution control and ecology. Principles of disease production, epidemiology and body defense mechanisms. Biotechnology and the genetic engineering revolution.

• MICROBIO 101: General Microbiology

  3 credits

  Survey of microorganisms and their activities; emphasis on structure, function, ecology, nutrition, physiology, genetics. Survey of applied microbiology--medical, agricultural, food and industrial microbiology. Intended to satisfy any curriculum which requires introductory level microbiology.

• MICROBIO 102: General Microbiology Laboratory

  2 credits

  Covers techniques and procedures used in general microbiology, including cultivation, enumeration, aseptic techniques, physiology and selected applications.

• MICROBIO 150: Microbiomes and Microbiology - First-year Seminar

  1 credits

  Introduction to major questions related to the study of the microbiome. Acquire foundational research skills necessary for success as a microbiology or life sciences major. Engage with faculty and their cutting-edge research related to Microbiology. Explore department and campus resources and career options available in the field of microbiology.

• MICROBIO 299: Independent Study

  1–3 credits

  Research work for students under direct guidance of a faculty member in an area encompassing Microbiology. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor.

• MICROBIO 303: Biology of Microorganisms

  3 credits

  Basic biology of microorganisms, including structure, function, physiology, genetics, ecology, diversity, and evolution.

• MICROBIO 304: Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory

  2 credits

  Introduction to modern laboratory techniques used to study the distribution and properties of microorganisms.

• MICROBIO 305: Critical Analyses in Microbiology

  1 credits

  Train students to become scientific problem-solvers, to critically analyze data, and to comprehend the principles of microbiological research via active discussion of a combination of scholarly papers and contemporary, hot topics in our field.

• MICROBIO 345: Introduction to Disease Biology

  Credits unavailable

  Introduces the rich biology of infectious disease and how it impacts the biology of humans and other organisms, through the lens of global health. Steps beyond a narrow focus on the biological dimensions of disease to also cover the social, political, and cultural factors that shape the spread and persistence of disease in natural populations. Includes a survey of the various types of pathogens and the science behind infection, transmission, evolution, and virulence.

• MICROBIO 357: General Bioinformatics for Microbiologists

  Credits unavailable

  Provides foundational introduction to bioinformatics for microbiologists. Emphasis on the basic understanding of bioinformatics tools, analysis, and databases and their applications (e.g. Sequence alignment, Phylogenetic trees, Genome analyses). Topics include: command line manipulation, sequence alignment, file formats, phylogenetic trees, standard genome and protein databases, interpretation of microbial and viral genomes, and basic scientific computer programming.

• MICROBIO 375: Special Topics

  1–4 credits

  Specialized subject matter of current interest to undergraduate students.

• MICROBIO 399: Coordinative Internship/cooperative Education

  1–8 credits

  An internship under guidance of a faculty or instructional academic staff member in the Bacteriology department and a internship site supervisor. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the faculty or instructional academic staff member and the internship site supervisor.

• MICROBIO 400: Study Abroad in Microbiology

  Credits unavailable

  A study abroad equivalency that does not equate to a UW-Madison course. Requires current enrollment in a UW-Madison sponsored study abroad program.

• MICROBIO 430: Microbial Pathogens

  Credits unavailable

  Analysis of the interactions between pathogenic microbes and their human hosts. The focus is on the biology of these interactions and the microbial virulence strategies for colonization, invasion, pathogenesis, and resistance to host defenses.

• MICROBIO 450: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms

  Credits unavailable

  Fundamental concepts relating to the phylogenetic diversity, ecology and evolution of microbes. Active learning methods applying these concepts will promote a deeper understanding of microbiology.

• MICROBIO 470: Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines

  3 credits

  Examines modern microbial genetics and molecular processes. Emphasis on the use of eubacterial and eukaryotic microbes to elucidate cellular function. Discussion of experimental approaches to study microbes and their use in biotechnology, bioremediation, and medicine.

• MICROBIO 520: Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells US About Life Out There

  Credits unavailable

  Connects the molecular underpinnings of life with corresponding planetary scale changes in geochemistry. Focuses on the dynamics between life and environment over planet Earth's history from a microbial and molecular perspective, including the origins of life, and emergence of essential metabolisms and their evolution across billions of years of planetary evolution. Discusses how innovations such as translation machinery and carbon and nitrogen fixation were impacted by significant changes in the environment. Examines how understanding the origins of life on Earth may allow for the recognition of life elsewhere in the universe by exploring, assessing, and discussing various signs of life and the processes that expands life to planetary scale.

• MICROBIO 525: Field Studies of Planetary Microbiology and Life in the Universe

  Credits unavailable

  Explores the origins, early evolution, and most common traces left by our planet's form of microbial life. Discovery and interpretation of microbial biosignatures in the context of a simulated surface lander mission through travel to field sites. Introduction to microbial biosignatures as inferred through satellite and drone imagery interpretation, portable XRF elemental analysis, UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometry, body and trace fossil analysis and interpretation, and metagenome sequencing. Explore evidence and methods of detection of life on other planets.

• MICROBIO 526: Physiology of Microorganisms

  3 credits

  Biochemistry of microbial processes.

• MICROBIO 527: Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology

  2 credits

  Provides a foundation in modern methods of research in the biomedical sciences. Coaching and practice in hypothesis-driven scientific questions, critical data analysis, and scientific writing.

• MICROBIO 551: Capstone Research Project in Microbiology

  Credits unavailable

  Hands-on experience conducting microbiology research in a lab. Addresses elements of microbiological research including experimental design, troubleshooting, communication of research findings, and research ethics.

• MICROBIO 626: Microbial and Cellular Metabolomics

  3 credits

  Provides an in-depth exploration of the use of mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approaches for the quantitative investigation of microbial and mammalian cellular metabolic processes. Using recent examples from primary literature, highlights the application of metabolomics, lipidomics, and metabolic flux analysis to diverse areas, including rational engineering of metabolic pathways, microbial biofuel production, discovery and characterization of new biochemical pathways, metabolic interactions within microbial communities, biochemical capabilities of the human gut microbiome, and mammalian cell metabolism.

• MICROBIO 657: Bioinformatics for Microbiologists

  Credits unavailable

  Provides a practical and fundamental introduction to sequence-based analysis focused on microbial systems. Emphasis on gaining a basic understanding of the principles of both classical and newer algorithms useful for bioinformatic analysis. Topics include: BLAST; RNA-seq analysis; transcriptional binding prediction; genome sequence assembly, analysis and annotation; and comparative genomics. Note that this course requires that each student have access to a laptop that runs a linux/unix Operating System such as a Mac or a ChromeBook. PC Laptops running a VM are also acceptable. No prior knowledge of computational biology is required.

• MICROBIO 681: Senior Honors Thesis

  2–3 credits

  Individual study for majors completing theses for Honors degrees as arranged with a faculty member.

• MICROBIO 682: Senior Honors Thesis

  2–4 credits

  Second semester of individual study for majors completing theses for Honors degrees as arranged with a faculty member.

• MICROBIO 691: Senior Thesis

  2 credits

  Individual study for majors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.

• MICROBIO 692: Senior Thesis

  2 credits

  Second semester of individual study for majors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.

• MICROBIO 699: Special Problems

  1–4 credits

  Individual advanced work in an area of Microbiology under the direct guidance of a faculty member.

• MICROBIO 710: Microbial Symbiosis

  Credits unavailable

  Covers the themes and diversity of plant and animal associations with microbes with an emphasis on beneficial relationships. Examples will be drawn from recent literature.

• MICROBIO 731: Seminar

  1 credits

  Reviews of microbiological subjects, and reports on research work.

• MICROBIO 810: Current Issues in Microbiology

  1 credits

  Explores the diversity of scientific topics comprising the field of contemporary microbiology.

• MICROBIO 811: Advanced Problems in Microbiology

  Credits unavailable

  Explores the diversity of scientific topics comprising the field of contemporary microbiology.

• MICROBIO 812: Bacteriology Career Seminar

  1 credits

  Practical skill development for career and professional success in the field of microbiology. Covers topics such as education, science practice, ethics, career pathways, professional development, and science communication.

• MICROBIO 875: Special Topics

  1–4 credits

  Specialized subject matter of current interest to graduate students.

• MICROBIO 899: Independent Study

  1–9 credits

  Independent study or research under the direction of a faculty member in the area of biological science.

• MICROBIO 990: Research

  1–9 credits

  Full lab and literature review of a problem in microbiology. Leads to preparation of thesis and publication.

• MICROBIO/ONCOLOGY 545: Topics in Biotechnology

  Credits unavailable

  Seminars on current topics in agricultural, medical, and industrial biotechnology such as: microbiological production of food, drink, biopharmaceuticals; production methods, genetic engineering (vectors, recombination cloning), continuous fermentation; bioconversion processes and production of chemicals from biomass; plant biotechnology; transgenic animals.

• MICROBIO/SOILSCI 425: Environmental Microbiology

  3 credits

  Microbial interactions in soils, water, extreme environments and biofilms. Modern methods for studying microbial ecology. role of microbes in nutrient cycles and biogeochemistry. Use of microbes for mitigating manmade environmental problems of industrial, agricultural, and domestic origin.

• MICROBIO/SOILSCI 523: Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry

  Credits unavailable

  Transformations of nutrients and contaminants in soils and groundwater by microorganisms: emphasis on enzymatic mechanisms and metabolic pathways. Approaches for analyzing microbial populations and activities including molecular techniques. Applications of microbial activities for bioremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater. Students should have completed one course in either Soil Science or Microbiology to feel comfortable with the course content.