Week 13 : Recalcitrant molecules

This is our last class of Microbial Ecology for this sem. We learnt about recalcitrant molecules which means materials that difficult to degrade and therefore using microbes to help with the process of degrading the recalcitrant compounds. There are many terms that we need to know and remember such as bioremediation, biomagnification, biostimulation, phytoremediation, mycoremediation and many others. I think I need to make a flashcard by using Quizlet to make it easier to understand, remember and not to confuse.

Lastly, I would like to thank to Dr. Wan Zuhainis for all the knowledge, advice, support and new experience during this semester. See you again in the next semester. 

Thank you Dr. Wan!  :)

Week 12 : Nitrogen Fixation

On Monday, we learn about nitrogen fixation. As usual, before class we must do the flipped classroom materials prepared by group 6. In this topic, I can learn about nitrogen fixation, importance of nitrogen and type of nitrogen fixation microbes involve.

Nitrogen cycle.

This week also we have done an awesome event with the students from SMK Warisan Puteri, Seremban. This "Life Without Microbes" event went very well and we manage to handle the event successfully. In this event, we held an exhibition about "Life Without Microbes". Then, we have some activities in the DKU which involve the students. Besides, we also have been interviewed by the students from Biochemistry and Biocell courses that also came to our event. But I do not really agree with the way and time they interview us because at that time we are all busy with the activities and students. In my opinion, they should interviews when the exhibition is ongoing so that the activities do not interfere with the interview. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Wan Zuhainis for the spirit and support given. Thank you Dr. Wan!  :)

Week 11

Topic : Food Spoilage 

On Monday, I learnt about food spoilage that is not the same as foodborne disease. This topic is very interesting as I can know the type of food spoilage microbes, how the microbes can cause the food spoilage and also the factors the can promote their growth. Group 1 has done the flipped classroom about this topic. So, before entering the class we need to do some quizzes and of course, to answer the questions we need to look for the materials provided by group 1. Click here to view the video and mindmap.

Topic : Waste Pollution and Waste Water Management

This topic was covered on Thursday. Group 5 had prepared the flipped classroom materials and they also present the slide in the class. Their presentation is quite interesting and I like the video as it explained very clearly about the  waste water management and also easy to understand. We also have to do some quizzes based on this topic before the class. 

As soon as we enter the class on Friday, we were asked to do the crossword puzzle based on topic waste water management. Some of the question are quite challenging but I manage to answer all the questions well. After crossword puzzle, we do quiz on Socrative based on the topic food spoilage. I really like these activities because I can know how much that I really know or understand about the topics. However, internet connection problem still cannot be avoided while these activities is conducted.

All right, that's all for now. 

Week 10

Topic : Human Microbiome

This week we finish the topic human microbiome. We learnt about pathogenesis in pathogen where it have five mechanism; entry, specific adherence, invasion, colonization and growth, and host damage. Pathogenic organisms must have mechanisms in place to evade attack by the immune system.  The promotion of disease is characterized by the ability of pathogenic organism to enter a host, inflict damage and destruction into the host cell. Diphtheria is a disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by a toxin secreted by Corynebacterium diptheriae.

We also do some revision for each topic that included in test 2. I think this test is quite hard for me as we need to relate what we learnt from each topic with other topic and there are so many terms to remember.

That's all for this week. :)

Week 9

Topic : Human Microbiome

On Monday, we continued the topic human microbiome. From this class I have been able to differentiate between parasites, pathogen, pathogenicity, disease and infection. Pathogen is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host while pathogenicity is the ability of parasite to inflict damage on the host and on the resistance of the host to the parasite. However not all pathogen are parasites but parasites can be pathogenic to the host.

It is interesting to learn about microorganism in our body. The body contains 10 times more bacteria and other microorganisms than human cells. Some of the microbes are beneficial for us and some may be pathogenic.

Here I share some videos about human microbiome and lets meet your microbiome.

Week 8

Topic : Atmospheric Habitat & Human Microbiome

This week we learn about the topic atmospheric habitat. Before the class on Thursday, we need to do quiz that have been prepared by group 7 on topic atmospheric habitat. They also provide a video and mindmap about this topic. I like the video because each point is well explained and easy to understand. From what I learnt, atmosphere consist of  6 regions ; troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere and ionosphere. Troposphere is nearest to the earth and lower troposphere contain high number of microorganisms. There are 3 stages of dispersal of airborne particles ; liberation --> dispersion in air currents --> deposition. We also have done some quizzes related to this topic in the class. 

For topic human microbiome, my group (group 2) have done the flipped classroom. Through the midsem break, we were busy preparing our flipped classroom. We have prepared some online materials such as infographics, video, mindmap and quiz. As usual before the class, we need to view the materials and do the online quiz. I like this topic because I get to know the role of microbes in our body and the interaction. Besides, I can distinguish between normal flora and pathogenic microbes.

This week also we need to submit our thinglink. Click here to  view my thinglink about soil habitat.

That's all from me for this week :)

Week 7

Topic : Microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystem 

This week we continue with the topic soil population. Bacteria is the numerous microbes in the soil and they can be found on the surfaces of soil particles. Soil bacteria function as decomposers, mutualists, pathogens, and lithotrophs or chemoautotrophs. Besides bacteria, fungi also play important roles in soil as decomposers, mutualists and pathogens or parasites. Verticillium, Phytium and Rhizoctonia are the examples of fungi soil pathogens. Other than bacteria and fungi, there is minority of protozoa which is exposed outer surface of surface particle, only 15 cm from top soil. Soil protozoa function as mineralizing nutrients, regulating bacteria populations and food source.

Microbe plant interaction.

Mycorrhizae can be described as a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a plant. Due to the fact that this is a symbiotic relationship, both the fungus and the plant benefit from this interaction (mutualistic). Mycorrhizae provide enhanced nutrient uptake for plant. Mycorrhizal associations consists of endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae. 

Endomycorrhizae (left) and ectomycorrhizae (right).

In ectomycorrhizae, nutrients taken up by rhizomorphs pass through hypal sheath then into Hartig net filaments which have numerous contact with root cells.

The most common type of mycorrhizae is arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). This type of mycorrhizae provide plant host with protection from disease, drought, nematodes and other pests. It also transfer phosphorus to roots and provides ammonium to host. This natural attraction of phosphorus has lead to its ability to become widespread and very comon. Nutrient transport occurs through symbiotic structures inside plant root cells known as arbuscules. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM).

Topic : Hydrosphere

Before the class on topic hydrosphere, we have to look for the flipped classroom that prepared by group 3. They make a good effort to make the ways of presentation attractive but simple. They had prepared the thinglink for freshwater and marine environment, presentation in videos and also crossword puzzle. And of course before answering the crossword puzzle, I need to study and understand the topic on the link given.

Thinglink on marine environment.

 Crossword puzzle about hydrosphere.

Video presentation about hydrosphere.

Apart from learning about the hydrosphere, I can also find out and learn new application to make our presentation attractive and informative.  

On Friday, we were asked by Dr. Wan to answer a few question based on hydrosphere topic. We need to draw a digram that describe the nutrient cycle in the aquatic environment. I managed to draw the microbial loop diagram although not all correct. Second question is differentiate between oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes. For this question, I was able to state one differences only. :(

microbial loop.

differences between oligotrophic and eutrophic.

From this activity I can know how much that I really know and understand, and which part that I don't understand or maybe I don't really focus on that.

The lecture continued on the zones of lakes or pond based on light penetration and temperature. Littoral zone and limnetic zone get full light penetration while profundal zone which is near the benthic zone get very low penetration of sunlight. Zonation of lakes based on temperature consists of epilimnion, thermocline and hypolimnion. The lowest temperature and light penetration is hypolimnion.

Thats all for this week. :)