1. Earth, Planet of the Microbes.

2. Microbes and the History of Life on Earth.

3. Cultivation and Identification of Microorganisms.

4. Structural Features of Prokaryotes.

5. Bacterial Genetics I: DNA Synthesis and Genetic Engineering.

6. Bacterial Genetics II: Transcription, Translation, and Regulation.

7. Bacterial Genetics III: Horizontal Gene Transfer.

8. Bacterial Energetics.

9. Introduction to Eukaryotic Microbes.

10. Introduction to Viruses of Eukaryotic Cells.

Part II: The Delicate Balance between Microbes and Humans:.

11. Normal Microbiota of the Human Body.

12. Nonspecific Defenses of the Human Body.

13. Specific Defenses (Immune System) of the Human Body.

14. Vaccines.

Part III: Microbes and Humans Out of Balance: Infectious Diseases:.

15. Introduction to Infectious Diseases.

16. Respiratory Tract Infections.

17. GI Tract Infections.

18. Urogenital Tract Infections.

19. Arthropod-transmitted Infections and Zoonoses.

20. Nosocomial and Iatrogenic Infections.

Part IV: Microbes in the Environment and Industry:.

21. Analyzing Microbial Communities in the.

Environment.

22.Phototrophs.

23. Life in a Gradient.

24. Invertebrate-microbe interactions.

25. Plant-microbe Interactions.

26. Biotechnology