Assalamualaikum w.b.t. and a very good day to those reading this
The first part of this reflective journal will be covered on the learning outcomes and what have I learned throughout this course. The most unforgettable (but also quite hard to remember all of them) part during learning Microbial Ecology is knowing all the microbial habitat. To be specific, it was during Dr. Amalia that there were so many new things I learnt, such as the aquatic habitat and atmosphere habitat. Before this, it was not elaborated in depth, but throughout this course, it was elaborated and I somehow know a lot more thing better. I will take atmosphere habitat for example. Before this I only think that atmosphere is a method of transmission of microorganisms. However, after learning the topic of Atmosphere Habitat, I now know how to prevent the presence of airborne microorganisms.
As for the experience in doing the Microbes and Us project, it was fun knowing in depth about a certain microbe of choice. We picked Toxoplasma gondii as our microbe of choice. Initially, it was because all of the members of our group seem to be fond of cats, so we all agreed immediately. As for me, I never know about the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii on cats. Some of our group members have read about it and suggest that we study about this microbe further. I read about it and was also interested with the topic since I never consider about the possibility that microbes can actually ‘control’ our minds in which the article explains that the minds of infected rats become attracted to cats, that’s why they are consumed by the cats. Although there are times where we also have problems to understand the microbe such as its life cycle, every members tried hard to understand and explain to the members that didn’t quite catch it.
Besides that, I think I am getting better at finding journals. Haha. And also reading one!
Some of our lecturers throughout this semester frequently remind us that we have to familiarize ourselves with reading journals. Thus, this project somehow has managed to make me more ‘comfortable’ when reading journals. The thought that I have to find the answers to certain questions is what driven me to read as many journal I can to find the best journal that can answer our questions and that we can refer to. However, I also came across journals that are still hard to understand, and I guess it is just a part of learning.
As usual, after every project that involved a particular microbe that can cause infection will make me more cautious around the possible method of transmission, as the effects are sometimes worrying (usually diseases). Thus, I’m seeing cats with a new ‘point of view’ now.
For the fourth question on how do I relate Microbial Ecology to other microbiology courses that I have covered throughout the two years as a Microbiology students are I can relate on the characteristics of the microbes and its pathogenicity(if it is a pathogenic bacteria) and its natural habitat or ecology. The characteristics were further discussed in Bacteriology course and I can understand more clearly (although there are more things to be remember now) on how and why they are pathogenic.
Besides that, the characteristics sometime show the ecology of the microbes. For example, photosynthetic bacteria are usually found on the surface of water while the bottom of the ponds, lakes or even sea are where the anaerobic bacteria lives or thermophiles that can be either bacteria or archaea live in very hot temperature such as the hydrothermal vents.
Therefore, it is important to know the natural habitat and requirement of each type of microbes such as its favourable temperature, nutrition and even by-products, so that we can isolate the microbe of interest and grow it (in-vitro) according to its natural habitat. If we manage to provide a suitable environment for the microbes to live, we can get the by-products produced by the microbes that might be of used to the industry or health purpose.
I think it is important nowadays to culture microorganisms and to find more species or strains that can benefit us.
