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B.Sc Microbiology is a Four year Bachelor course of Tribhuvan University. Every year around 700 students get B.Sc degree majoring in microbiology from 25 colleges of TU of which 8 are constituents and rests are TU affiliated colleges.
Microbiology is the study of microbes (organisms too small to be seen by the naked eye) and the way they interact with humans, animals, plants and the environment. Microbiology is not a single subject, and it has applications in different fields. In general, microbiologists study microscopic organisms, which are organisms too small to see with the naked eye. There are many types of microscopic organisms so microbiologists tend to specialize in one certain field within microbiology creating many types of microbiologists. Microbiologists study these microorganisms learning about their ecology, their survival, how they affect us and how we can utilize them.
Some of the major areas under microbiology are,
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental microbiology, which studies the interactions of microbes with the environment and each other, has many important practical applications; for example, microbes are used to treat sewage and remediate hazardous waste. Environmental microbiologists might spend time outdoors conducting field studies, as well as in the lab performing controlled experiments.
Food, Agricultural or Industrial Microbiology
Microbiology careers in food production, agriculture and industry abound, as microscopic organisms play a major role in all three of these areas. For instance, microbiologists in the food industry might help a company with its efforts to prevent contamination by microorganisms.
Medical Microbiology, Virology or Immunology
Medical microbiologists find a place in the health care field in the areas of diagnostic, virology (the study of viruses) and immunology (the study of the mechanisms in the human body that prevent infection). They can work in laboratories conducting research in related disease areas.
Salient Features
Why B.Sc Microbiology?
If you wish to continue your higher studies in this branch of applied science, which deals with the study of microorganisms, Tribhuvan University (TU) currently offers courses at various levels. Earlier, Pokhara University was also offering B.Sc Medical Microbiology, which is not discontinued.
Microbiology deals with the study of microscopic organisms — bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites, fungi, et cetera — that are both useful and harmful, explained Professor Dr Dwij Raj Bhatta, Central Department of Microbiology, TU. However, the course has been divided into various branches — Medical Microbiology, Environment and Public Health Microbiology, Food Microbiology, and Agriculture Microbiology. At TU and its affiliated colleges, students must study all four divisions at the Bachelor's level, while they can specialize in only one subject at the Master's level.
"The students have to study General Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbial Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Microbiology, and more at their Bachelor's level," shared Shova Shrestha, Head of the microbiology Department at TC.
Eligibility
The candidate must have completed 10+2 or equivalent examinations (with Biological Stream) with Minimum 'C' grade in all subjects to be eligible for admission in Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Microbiology program of Tribhuvan University.
Job Prospects
Further study
But not all courses have been introduced at the Master's level in Nepal yet—while most TU-affiliated colleges offer a Master's in Medical Microbiology, "one can study a Master's in Environment and Public Health Microbiology only at the Central Department," says Prof Dr Anjana Singh, Head of the Central Department of Microbiology. "Most constituent and private colleges only have Medical Microbiology at the Master's level because of its popularity among the students," she added.
She added that the students must study General Microbiology in the first semester of the two-year Master's level. They can choose a subject to specialize in only in the second semester.
Career Prospects
The bachelor of Science in Microbiology (B.Sc Microbiology) is designed to provide graduates with core skill and knowledge require to Hospital Laboratories, Pharmaceutical manufactures, Food and Dairy Industries, Public Health Project, Health departments, Biotechnical industries, higher studies and research etc
Ankita Belbase, BSc Microbiology, is an Ist-year student at Trichandra Multiple Campus. She plans to work in the health sector after completing her studies. "Without being a doctor, I will be able to teach the doctors as a graduate of Microbiology," Belbase said.
However, the scope of microbiology is more than that. With the growing population and changing environment, microbiology graduates can work as quality controllers in food industries, researchers in labs, vaccine developers, and drug developers, and they can also work to identify the cause and prevention of epidemics, as per Prof Dr Bhatta.
Meanwhile, Chandra Mani Kafle, an MSc Microbiology IInd Semester student at Central Department of Microbiology TU, is fascinated by the opportunity the course provides to work at the community level. "One can work in community-based service after studying Microbiology, where one gets to investigate outbreaks of any epidemic," he opined.
Interestingly, according to Prof Dr Singh, around 65 percent of microbiology graduates opt to study this subject in other countries.
Rishika Pokharel, who recently passed a BSc in Medical Microbiology from Nobel College, is one of them. "The job prospects and quality of education are both good in other countries. So, I am looking forward to pursuing my Master's level outside the country," she said.
Challenges
Despite the many career prospects in the sector, Prof Dr Singh says the authorities concerned are negligent about the need for microbiologists in our society.
She explained that the contamination of dairy products was " caused by negligence in quality control on a timely basis. And it is because there are insufficient microbiologists in the bodies concerned."
There are also some obstacles during the teaching-learning process. Dinesh Prasad Joshi, an MSc IInd Semester student at the Central Department of Microbiology, pointed out that the lack of proper exposure of students to lab and research work and the shortage of adequate lab equipment are some challenges in government colleges.
Meanwhile, the number of students is increasing, but the equipment is less, which has forced the students to work in groups rather than doing practicals individually. And it has affected the teaching-learning process, shared Sarita Manandhar, the teaching assistant at TC.
However, the students and academicians all hope that one day the government will recognise the necessity of Microbiology for development of human kind.
Curricular Structure
B.Sc Microbiology is a four years undergraduate course as per Tribhuvan University. Students can choose the subject combination of their desire with Microbiology as their major subject. Currently, Students have the following options:
- Microbiology + Botany + Chemistry
- Microbiology +Chemistry + Zoology
B.Sc. First-Year General Microbiology (101)
Course Content
- History and development of microbiology
- Classification and nomenclature of microorganisms
- Scope and applications of microbiology
- Morphology of bacteria
- growth and physiology of bacteria
- Isolation, enumeration and culture of bacteria
- Metabolism
- Microbial Genetics
- MIcroscopy and different techniques of handling of microorganisms
- Techniques in control of microorganisms
- Host-parasite interaction
- Introduction to virology
- Introduction to parasitology
- Introduction to mycology
B.Sc. Second-year MIcrobiology-II (MB 201)
Course Contents
- Living cell and understanding of its biochemical functions
- Macromolecules and biomolecules of living cells
- microbial metabolisms
- Microbial genetics
- Concept of biotechnology
- Fermentation process
- Agricultural microbial biotechnology
- Biotechnology in dairy industry
- Methods in genetic engineering
- Enzyme Technology
B.Sc. Third Year MIcrobiology
A) Molecular Cell Biology (MB 301)
Course Contents
- An overview of cells
- Cell structure and function
- Nucleus
- Membrane structure and transport
- Structure and organisation of actin filaments
- The microtubule cytoskeleton
- Intracellular transport
- Cell signalling
- The cell cycle
B) Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Quality Management (MB 303) (Elective)
Course Contents
- Introduction of pharmaceutical microbiology
- Anti Microbialagents
- Quality evaluation of pharmaceutical products
- Microbial spoilage and preservative of pharmaceutical products
- Quality assurance and quality management
- Food safety and consumer protection
C) Bioinformatics (MB 304) (Elective)
Course Contents
- History, scope and importance of bioinformatics
- Internet, World Wide Web and NCBI in bioinformatics
- Databases, tools and their uses
- Sequence alignment
- Predictive methods using DNA and protein sequences
- Homology, Phylogeny, evolutionary trees and pharma informatics
B.Sc. Four-year Microbiology
Environment and Public Health Microbiology (MB 401)
Course Contents
- Soil and its constituents
- Micro-organisms in soil and their roles
- Microbial Ecology
- Rhizospheric and phyllospheric microorganisms
- Microbial interactions
- Microbiology of extreme environments
- Biogeochemical cycles and role of microorganisms
- Microbial degradation
- Bioremediation
- Aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds and application
- Plant pathogens
- Microorganisms in various foods
- Factors affecting microbial growth in food
- Techniques for determination of microorganisms in food
- Food handling and spoilage
- Food Preservations
- Food quality evaluation
- Role of Microorganisms in food poisoning
Agriculture and Food Microbiology Practical (Major) (402)
Course Contents
- Microorganisms present in the soil
- Buried slide technique for microbial flora of the soil
- Azotobacter
- Rhizobium
- cellulase produced by organisms
- Microorganisms from biofertilizers
- Observation of various organisms present in the soil
- Differentiation of various organisms from soil samples
- Cyanobacteria
- Phosphorus solubilisers
- Count of micro-organisms in different foods
- Dairy products: Milk, cheese and ice-cream
- Tests for milk quality
- Presence of MIcroorganisms in meat and meat products
- Microorganisms present in fruits
Medical and Public Health Microbiology (Major) (403)
Course Contents
- Health and disease and epidemiological measurements
- Methods of transmission of diseases
- Management of diseases
- Drinking water microbiology
- Waste Management
- Microbial air pollution
- Historical background of medical microbiology
- Normal flora of the human body
- Immunity process
- Safety measures in clinical labratory
- Methods of specimen collection, transportation, processing and culture of clinical samples for detection of pathogens
- Common pathogenic bacteria
- Common pathogenic viruses
- Medically important fungi
- Common pathogenic parasites
Medical and Public Health Microbiology Practical (Major) (MB 404)
Course Contents
- To perform a bacteriological examination of drinking water
- To assess air pollution
- To collect and transport various clinical specimens
- To perform different staining techniques
- To prepare different culture media and monitor their quality
- To prepare Biochemical media and reagents for identification of bacteria
- To differentiate different types of bacteria from biochemical tests
- To perform an enzymatic test of the bacteria
- To perform antibiotic susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates
- To demonstrate serological tests
- To learn various sample collection techniques for the diagnosis of mycotic infections
- To prepare fungal culture media
- To detect the fungi by microscopic methods
- To examine the samples for intestinal and tissue parasites
Methods in Microbiology (Applied Microbiology) (MB 405)
Course Contents
- Safety measures in microbiology laboratory
- Methods of specimen collection, transportation and processing of clinical samples for bacteria detection
- Sample collection and laboratory diagnosis of mycotic infections
- Method of collections of samples and processing for detection of parasites
- Immunological and serological tests
- Method of Collection of water samples and microbiological analysis
- Field level tests for disease diagnosis
- Molecular tests in microbiology laboratories
- Microbiological quality tests of foods
- Microbiology laboratory in agriculture
Bioinstrumentation (2076) New Course (MB 407)
Course Content
- Buffers
- General principle and approaches of biochemical investigations
- Working principle, instrumentation and application of Phase contract, electron microscopy fluorescence microscopy
- Working principle, instrumentation and applications of techniques
- Working principle, instrumentation and uses of chromatographic techniques
- Principle, instrumentation and applications of Lambert Beer's law, X-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy, spectrofluorimetry
- Principle, instrumentation and application of molecular techniques