Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms. This includes eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes, which are bacteria and archaea. Viruses, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied. In short; microbiology refers to the study of life and organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microbiology is a broad term which includes virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology and other branches. Microbiology is researched actively, and the field is advancing continually. We have probably only studied about one percent of all of the microbe species on Earth. Although microbes were first observed over three hundred years ago, the field of microbiology can be said to be in its infancy relative to older biological disciplines such as zoology and botany.

In the complex life cycle of a digenetic trematode, the cercaria larva is shed from a snail intermediate host and represents a short-lived, aquatic transfer stage to the next host. Due to its temporary free-living existence, the cercarial stage is ideal for a number of investigative projects. Two general experiments will be conducted with the unusually large cercaria of Proterometra macrostoma. Students assess the effect of: (1) different light wavelengths on the vertical swimming burst distance of this type of cercaria and (2) pH and pepsin on the emergence of the P. macrostoma distome (pre-adult) from its cercarial tail. The latter study represents an in vitro simulation of what naturally occurs in the stomach of the centrarchid fish definitive host.

Symbiosis is defined as one organism living on, in, or with another organism. Three primary categories are mutualism (both organisms benefit), commensalism (commensal benefits and host not affected), and parasitism (parasite benefits and host harmed). Hands-on dissection of host animals provides examples of live symbiotes in all three types of symbiosis: mutualism: termite flagellates and rumen ciliates; commensalism: Leptomonas flagellates in Drosophila; parasitism: fish hosts (monogeneans on gills, larval digeneans and acanthocephalans in liver) and frogs (trematodes in lungs and bladder; ciliates, flagellates and opalinids in large intestine/cloaca). Possible changes in a relationship from commensalism to parasitism are discussed relative to a demonstration of tapeworm life cycle stages in rat and beetle hosts.

Gregarines are members of the Phylum Apicomplexa that parasitize invertebrates. All of the Apicomplexans are parasitic and include some of medical and veterinary importance (e.g., malaria). Gergarines may be safely studied in highly parasizited hosts such as earthworms and mealworms that are readily available from bait shops and pet stores. Various life cycle stages are easily visible under the dissecting microscope in student laboratories.

A series of exercises were developed in the cell biology laboratory using a host-parasite system: the tobacco hornworm and an inoffensive parasitoid wasp. Exercises are fully investigative and no initial schedule is given to the students who, after becoming acquainted with the system, raise questions and decide as a group what they wish to study next (Cell morphology? Cytoskeleton? Protein synthesis?). This workshop involved introduction to the system of study, phase contrast microscopy, and digital image capturing as examples of how the system can be used. Some of the numerous biological concepts that may be taught using this system are outlined herein. The development of this system was funded by a CCLI-NSF grant (DUE 99-51371).

This workshop demonstrates on-line use of the national electronic bulletin board, complete with electronic mail started in 1987 by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Once on-line, 14 special interest areas are available, such as AP- Biology, magazine and book reviews, ABT Journal, NABT membership services, question and answer forum, software reviews, and swap/sale of used equipment. Also available for downloading onto your computer are extensive files of labs, graphics, and handouts. Discussions of this and other databases will emphasize the power of these new professional communication tools. Note: This workshop is not included in the published proceedings volume because it was not submitted by the author.