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Microbiology · Modules 1 to 14

See It: Microbiology

See microbiology happen. Each module has an animated walkthrough and a hands-on Lab with simulators, a virtual bench, unknowns or patient cases, and sorting games. Everything runs in your browser on a computer, tablet or phone. No login, nothing graded.

How to use this: open the walkthrough first and go at your own pace with the arrow keys or Next. Then open the Lab: move the sliders, run the virtual bench, and work the unknowns and cases. Use the tools bar at the top of each page to pause the animations, slow them down, have the text read aloud, or get a written description of each picture.

Module 1 Microscopy, staining and the microbial world

What microbes are, how microscopes reveal them, and how stains tell them apart.

Start here · Animated walkthroughMicroscopy, staining and the microbial world WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 1 LabVirtual microscope, Gram stain bench, 8 unknown slides, and sort-and-match rounds.

Module 2 Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure

Inside and outside the bacterial cell, the cell wall that drugs target, and eukaryotic microbes.

Start here · Animated walkthroughProkaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 2 LabOsmosis bench, chemotaxis tracker, 8 lab unknowns, and sort-and-build rounds.

Module 3 Viruses, viroids and prions

How viruses are built, how they hijack cells, and the strange cases of viroids and prions.

Start here · Animated walkthroughViruses, viroids and prions WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 3 LabPhage flask simulator, plaque assay bench, 8 virus unknowns, and sort-and-order rounds.

Module 4 Microbial metabolism

How microbes make and spend energy, and how labs use metabolism to identify them.

Start here · Animated walkthroughMicrobial metabolism WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 4 LabCell energy simulator, enzyme simulator, 7 biochemical unknowns, and sorting rounds.

Module 5 Microbial growth

How bacteria multiply, how we count them, and what oxygen, heat, pH and media do.

Start here · Animated walkthroughMicrobial growth WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 5 LabGrowth curve simulator, plate count bench, tube and plate readers, and sorting rounds.

Module 6 Microbial genetics and biotechnology

How bacteria copy, read, switch, change and share genes, and how we use them.

Start here · Animated walkthroughMicrobial genetics and biotechnology WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 6 LabLac operon simulator, PCR and resistance-spread bench, lab notebook, and sort-and-order rounds.

Module 7 Controlling microbial growth

Sterilizing, disinfecting and keeping things clean, and why some microbes are so hard to kill.

Start here · Animated walkthroughControlling microbial growth WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 7 LabDeath curve simulator, autoclave bench, what-went-wrong scenarios, and sorting rounds.

Module 8 Antimicrobial drugs and resistance

How antibiotics and other drugs hit microbes, how we test them, and how resistance spreads.

Start here · Animated walkthroughAntimicrobial drugs and resistance WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 8 LabKirby-Bauer and MIC bench, resistance simulator, 8 which-drug cases, and sorting rounds.

Module 9 Disease, virulence and epidemiology

How microbes cause disease, and how diseases spread through communities.

Start here · Animated walkthroughDisease, virulence and epidemiology WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 9 LabOutbreak (SIR) simulator, John Snow map investigation, 7 chain-of-infection cases, and sorting rounds.

Module 10 Innate immunity

The body's fast, built-in defenses: barriers, white cells, phagocytes, complement, inflammation and fever.

Start here · Animated walkthroughInnate immunity WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 10 LabInfection simulator, fever thermostat, blood smear lab, and sort-and-order rounds.

Module 11 Adaptive immunity, vaccines and diagnostics

T cells, B cells and antibodies, how vaccines train them, and the lab tests built from antibodies.

Start here · Animated walkthroughAdaptive immunity, vaccines and diagnostics WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 11 LabImmune response simulator, ELISA plate bench, 8 test-reader cases, and sort-and-order rounds.

Module 12 Skin, eye and respiratory infections

Infections of the skin, eyes and airways, from staph and strep to TB, flu and COVID-19.

Start here · Animated walkthroughSkin, eye and respiratory infections WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 12 LabFlu drift and shift simulator, TB granuloma simulator, 8 patient cases, and sorting rounds.

Module 13 Urogenital and nervous system infections

Urinary tract and sexually transmitted infections, meningitis, and the microbes that attack nerves.

Start here · Animated walkthroughUrogenital and nervous system infections WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 13 LabCSF bench, toxin synapse simulator, urine culture bench, 8 patient cases, and sorting rounds.

Module 14 Digestive, blood and lymphatic infections

Food poisoning and gut infections, hepatitis, and infections carried in blood and by vectors.

Start here · Animated walkthroughDigestive, blood and lymphatic infections WalkthroughWatch each process happen step by step, with a quick check and a plain-language explanation on every step. Simulators + virtual labModule 14 LabCholera and malaria simulators, outbreak food investigation, 8 patient cases, and sort-and-order rounds.