Aims and objectives
In the post-genomic era microbial physiology and biochemistry are of paramount importance and this module will provide theoretical training in the processes involved in microbial growth and its control. The content will emphasise the immense diverse environments that microbes inhabit and how this unlimited source of biological activity can be exploited for biotechnological purposes. Basic foundation in microbial metabolism including examples of biochemical diversity and illustrations of industrial bioprocesses, microbial biotransformations and bioremediation will be included.

Content
The lectures cover the following topics:

• Introduction to the ubiquity of microbes.
• Nutrition of microorganisms.
• Definitions of how organisms are grouped based on physiological parameters.
• Growth of microorganisms in artificial culture.
• Inhibition of growth and death.
• Microbes in the environment.
• Diversity of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.
• Bacteria as individuals rather than a population.
• Screening for new metabolites and strain development.
• Industrial methods of fermentation and downstream product recovery.
• Industrial processes using microorganisms, with worked examples.
• Microbial biotransformations.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will

? be familiar with the growth of microorganisms in artificial culture, appreciate how their growth is inhibited and how their physiology will change depending on the environment they inhabit
? appreciate that bacteria are individuals and represent a heterogeneous population
? be aware of the immense metabolic versatility of bacteria and fungi, which allows them to be capable of growth almost anywhere
? be aware of the current research strategies in the industrial sector that exploit microbial bioprocesses to over-produce many medically and economically important compounds.