Microbial bioactive metabolites

About

The activities are divided into three categories:

1. Lectures
2. Interactive discussion with participants
3. Practical exercises in the application of previously presented skills

The theoretical part is delivered through lectures. The discussion part is delivered through questions that encourage reflection of the theme chosen by a group of students or one student alone for the seminar work. Students should arrange making their presentation among themselves on specific subject chosen by their interest (through talk and writing emails via group emails in order to observe the communication in digital environment by using contemporary scientific database). The practice parts consist of assignments for the students to solve alone or in teams. Teacher-led online introduction and facilitation will be provided. The teams will be formed of the members that do not know each other in order to foster the communication between strangers. Supervision will be provided for all the exercises and the process of team work. All the learning materials, handouts, PPT presentation will be posted on ZOOM or TRELLO platform

Objectives

Developing competence in experimental work:

• Inoculation on culture media and cultivation procedure.
• Culture cultivation, conservation of pure cultures and procedures for maintenance of microbial strains in culture collections.
• Cultivation of isolated strains and cultures from stock collections on specific nutrient media for optimization of microbial growth in different experimental conditions during submerged cultivation by shifting from primary to secondary metabolism.
• Antibiotics production and antibiogram experiments.
• Identification (if possible) and structure elucidation of novel microbial metabolites and uncovering extended functions of microbial metabolites.
• To learn and practice basic principles of secondary metabolic products production of microbial origin (antibiotics, pigments, growth horomones, chelating compounds, antitumour agents, toxins)
• To develop skills for conducting simple biotechnological processes of production of biologically active compounds of microorganisms.
• How to research on microbial bioactive compounds, to enable students to understand contemporary tendencies of use of microorganisms in different biotechnology fields,
• To understand the microbial role and problems related to biologically active substances in the environment.
• To learn principles of isolation, identification, separation and purification of fermentation and products.

This course will provide clear and better understanding of metabolic pathways for bioactive metabolites production by using many schemes: illustrations, figures, and tables so students can easily grasp key concepts.

Content and methodology

Theory Students get acquainted with the contemporary concept of understanding microbial secondary metabolism and effect of ecological factors on microbial metabolism, as the basis for microbial bioactive compounds production; Bacterial, cyanobacterial and algal bioactive metabolites, their nomenclature and classification. Fungi and lichens and their bioactive metabolites; Microbial bioactive agents in medicine and pharmacy (antibiotics, antitumor agents, antiviral agents), as biopesticides, biofertilizers, biosynthetic plasticsetc. Microbial metabolites in treating insomnia, cholesterolemia, as coagulants and anticoagulants, as tonics, angiotensins, cardiacs and aphrodisiacs, as sexual attractants and in cosmetics, as immunomodulators (immunoactivators and immunosuppressors). Microbial biotransformations (production of hormones, organic acids, alcohol). Microorgansms as the sources of healthy and organic food (vitamins, minerals, essential aminoacids). Microbial toxins (bacterial, cyanobacterial, algal, and fungal toxins); Mycetismus. Emphasis will be placed on research of microbial bioactive compounds, what should enable students to understand contemporary tendencies of use of microorganisms in different biotechnology fields, as well as to understand the microbial role and problems related to biologically active substances in the environment.

Practice Developing competence in experimental work: inoculation on media and cultivation procedure. Developing skills in results recording Methods of culture cultivation, conservation and procedures for culture maintenance. Cultivation with the aim of optimization of microbial growth in different conditions of experimental conditions, shifting from primary to secondary microbial metabolism. Through the practice, students get acquainted with the cultural and physiological properties of isolated strains of microorganisms. Research in production of antibiotics and antibiogram experiments.

Language

English

Certificate

5 ECTS; Certificate will be given to all students in live after finishing course at the University of Novi Sad and will be sent by email to all participants to possess the electronic version.

Entry requirements

Possibly Microbiology or Algology (Phycology) or Mycology (Lichenology)

This activity is part of WP2