This course is for students majoring in microbiology and who wish to enlarge their knowledge and skills in microbiology beyond those obtained in Fundamentals of Microbiology & Immunology or equivalent courses at other institutions. The biology, diversity and function of bacteria. Modern approaches to bacterial diversity through the use of bioinformatics. Comparative aspects of microbial growth. Bacterial nutrition and biosynthetic pathways. Microbial survival and global responses to environmental stimuli. Theory and practice of sterilization. Action of antimicrobial agents. Introduction to microbial ecology, medical and industrial microbiology.