Microbiology of Engineered Environmental Systems
(Environmental Microbiology)
ESGN 586
Fall
2007
Instructor: John
R. Spear, Ph.D.
Office Hours: by appointment
Office Location: Coolbaugh Hall, Room 252
Office Phone: (303) 273-3497
e-mail: jspear@mines.edu
Syllabus
Assignments
Midterm Solutions
Readings
Midterm Reading Review
Course notes
Previous Midterms
Course Description
This course will introduce students to basic environmental microbiology with consideration given to microbial physiological processes, the integrated functions of microbial communities, and the manipulation of both individuals and communities to achieve environmentally desirable results. The course will cover a broad range of natural microbial ecosystems, molecular methodologies to understand those systems, and how information about natural systems can be applied to engineered systems. Case studies will be presented of microbial metabolic and genetic engineering in aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment systems, constructed wetlands, bioremediation of metallic and organic contaminants, and integrated pest management. A portion of the course will also examine the geologic:microbiologic interface of the emerging field of Geobiology. Lectures will be supplemented by mini-labs.
Assignments (pdf)
Paper
Midterm Solutions (pdf)
Exam 1
Readings -- **READING REVIEW**
Readings Prior to Midterm:
Puzzling Decline in US Bees
Pace, Science 1997
Microbe Pace
Pace, Procaryote
Martin/Koonin Response
Spear, PNAS 2005
Readings after Midterm:
Spear AEM October 2007
Universal
Woese
Woese Paper 2000
Walker, Nature 2005
Gill, Gut, Science
Daugher's DNA
Dethlefsen, Nature
Pallen, Nature
Turnbaugh, Nature
Hughes-Martiny
Microbial Communication
Sahl, Henderson Mine
More Readings:
Spear, BB April 2003
O'Connell
Pitman, Current Biology
Vetsigian
Lozupone
Sogin
COURSE
NOTES (pdf)*
Lecture
2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
Lecture 6.5
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 14
Lecture 15
Sahl notes
Previous Midterms
Exam 1 2006 Exam; Solutions
Final 2006 Exam; Solutions
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