The objective of the course is to train students to solve problems in applied microbiology using classical as well as molecular microbiology approaches. Any advanced study of micro-organisms depends on an understanding of molecular and classical microbiology in order to keep abreast of new developments. It is particularly important to recognise that research in the interaction of microorganisms with their environments ( whether these are medical , pharmaceutical or food ) is an especially rapidly developing field.

• Biosafety rules in a microbiology – virology laboratory.
• Biosafety level (BSL 1, BSL 2, BSL 3, BSL 4).
• Sterilisation.
• Environmental parameters: Nutrition, Growth media and Energy metabolism.
• Fermentation.
• Detection and typing of microorganisms: classical and molecular microbiology techniques.
• Immunological methods for the detection of microorganisms.
• Bioreactors.
• Examples of metabolites production: proteins, antibiotics etc.
• Cell culture techniques used in virology: media, cell lines.
• Cell lines protocols: subculture, frozen cells, resuscitation.
• Liquid and gaseous nitrogen storage containers.
• Establishment of a cell bank.
• Inoculation of viruses on cell lines – Identification.
• Cloning techniques.
• Artificial chromosomes ( BAC , YAC )
• DNA microarrays in bacteriology – virology.
• DNA microarrays host – microbe interaction.

Student performance is evaluated from the final written examination and from the successful completion of a personal assignement.

• BROCK Βιολογία των Μικροοργανισμών, Τόμος Ι, Μ. Μadigan, J. Martinko, J. Parker, Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, 2005.
• BROCK Βιολογία των Μικροοργανισμών, Τόμος ΙI, Μ. Μadigan,  J. Martinko, J. Parker, Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, 2007.
• Βιοτεχνολογία, Δ.Α. Κυριακίδη, Εκδόσεις Ζήτη, 2000.
• Molecular Microbiology, David H. Persing, ASM press, 2004.
• Manual of Ιndustrial Μicrobiology and Βiotechnology, Arnold L. Demain, ASM Press, 1999.
• Microarray Biochip Technology, Edited by Mark Schena, Eaton Publishing, 2000.
• Σημειώσεις Εφαρμοσμένης Μικροβιολογίας, Π. Μαρκουλάτος, Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας, 2007