Seminar in Applied, Environmental and Industrial Microbiology (16:681:685)

This is a one-credit course focused on specific aspects of applied, environmental and industrial microbiology. The focus of the current course will be the microbiology of extremophilic organisms. The physiology, ecology and biotechnological applications of several groups of organisms will be examined, including thermophiles, psychrophiles, barophiles, halophiles, methanogens, and metal-resistant organisms. Example of topics that will be discussed in class are: how microorganisms can make a living using geothermal energy and inorganic carbon sources; what are the molecular adaptations that allow organisms to withstand elevated temperatures; what are the industrial and biotechnological application of extremophiles; how do thermophilic organisms contribute to our view of microbial evolution. Students will present and discuss selected papers relevant to extremophilic organisms.

Costantino Vetriani, Assistant Professor
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences and
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology
Rutgers University
71 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 932-6555x373 (Office)
Fax: (732) 932-6557
http://marine.rutgers.edu/deep-seamicrobiology/