Program Overview

BMSC207 - Microbiology and Immunology

Year

2022

Credit Points

10

Campus Offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

• BIOL123 Cells and Tissues - the Fabric of Life
• BIOL125 Human Biology 1

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

This unit is designed to introduce students to microorganisms of relevance to medicine, with an emphasis on their structure and function and role in relation to health and disease. Students will investigate the diversity of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoans, helminths, and fungi), their cellular biology, growth and nutrition, metabolism, and basic genetics.

The immune response to some of these pathogenic microorganisms that cause systemic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, sexually transmissible, and hospital-acquired infections will be explored. This will include an overview of the innate, humoral, and cellular immune systems and their functions in response to infection. The unit will also include an overview of the development and design of appropriate interventions, including antibiotics, vaccines, and other antimicrobial therapies. Basic epidemiology important for an understanding of prevention and control of infection in hospital and laboratory will also be covered.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to demonstrate they have achieved the learning outcomes detailed below.

• LO1: Describe the diversity of microorganisms, including their structure, function, growth, and metabolism.
• LO2: Explain the methods used to control and prevent infections in clinical and community settings.
• LO3: Demonstrate competent practical skills in advanced immunological and microbiological techniques.
• LO4: Describe the functions of the innate and adaptive immune system and explain how these immune responses fight specific infections.
• LO5: Discuss the mechanisms used to manipulate the immune system resulting from an inadequate immune response to infections.

Graduate Attributes

• GA3: Apply ethical perspectives in informed decision-making.
• GA4: Think critically and reflectively.
• GA5: Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession.
• GA6: Solve problems in a variety of settings, taking local and international perspectives into account.
• GA7: Work both autonomously and collaboratively.
• GA8: Locate, organize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information.
• GA9: Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media.
• GA10: Utilize information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Topics will include:

1. The Foundations of Microbiology
   • Microorganisms and Microbiology
   • Microbial Cell Structure and Function
   • Major Groups of Microorganisms
   • Molecular Microbiology
2. Genomics, Genetics, and Virology
   • Microbial Genomics
   • Metabolic Regulation
   • Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea
   • Viruses and Virology
   • Genomics and Phylogeny of Viruses
3. Metabolic and Microbial Diversity
   • Metabolic Diversity of Bacteria and Archaea
   • Phylogenetic Diversity of Bacteria
   • Functional and Ecological Diversity of Bacteria
   • Diversity of Archaea
   • Diversity of Microbial Eukarya
4. Microbial Interactions with Humans
   • Beneficial Human–Microbial Interactions
   • Microflora of the Skin
   • Microflora of the Oral Cavity
   • Microflora of the Gastrointestinal Tract
   • Microflora of Mucosal Tissues
5. Introduction to Immunity: Review
   • Cells and Organs of the Immune System
   • Innate Immunity
   • Adaptive Immunity
6. Basic Immune Mechanisms and Molecular Immunology
   • Innate Response Mechanisms
   • Adaptive Response Properties to specific pathogens
   • Innate Immunity and Pattern Recognition
   • Adaptive Immunity and the Immunoglobulin Superfamily
7. Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders
   • Epidemiology
   • Global Outbreaks of Infection
   • Vaccines and Antimicrobials
   • Immune Therapy
8. Microbiology Lab Skills
   • Safely Culture and Handle Bacterial Cultures in the Laboratory
   • Basic Understanding of Differences in Media used to Cultivate Bacteria
   • Nutrition, Culture, and Metabolism of Microorganisms

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit will be presented via large and small group teaching. Large group teaching provides the content framework, using case studies to explore how the theoretical content applies to real-world situations. Practical small group teaching sessions will train students in routine laboratory techniques relevant to working safely with microorganisms and immunological assays. These sessions will involve cooperative learning and collaborative learning, both of which promote the construction of personal meaning and mutual understanding to laboratory work. Tutorials will be used to consolidate learning and highlight relevant biomedical applications through the use of case studies and problem-based learning. Active participation and questioning content is encouraged in all class formats.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

This unit is generally taken as a 2nd year unit. Many students find the complexity and detail of the content confronting initially, hence this assessment strategy is designed to assist students reach their learning objectives through varying formats. A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes. Students are provided with early feedback so that they can seek assistance if required; no one assessment is so large as to preclude the possibility of passing if they fail it, and a variety of tasks are provided to suit different learning styles.

• Mid-semester tests: Online tests (5) require students to demonstrate knowledge of foundation concepts and provide feedback on progress.
  • Weighting: 6% each (30% total)
  • Learning Outcomes: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
  • Graduate Attributes: GA5, GA6, GA8, GA9
• Workshop Assessment: Part A: Presentation (1500 words). Students will choose from a selection of topics relating to COVID-19. This assessment task requires students to analyze actual or potential problems and identify solutions. Students will need to use the theories of applied microbiology and immunology to develop solutions to practical situations.
  • Weighting: 20% for Part A, 5% for Part B (completion of workshop material)
  • Learning Outcomes: LO2, LO3
  • Graduate Attributes: GA5, GA7, GA8, GA9, GA10
• End semester exam: (2 hours) — this online written assessment requires students to apply knowledge, understanding, and application important in the study of microbiology and immunology.
  • Weighting: 45%
  • Learning Outcomes: LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
  • Graduate Attributes: GA3, GA4, GA5, GA8, GA9

Representative Texts and References

• Madigan M, Martinko J, Bender K, Buckley D, and Stahl D. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Global Edition 14th Ed. UK: Pearson; 2015.
• Engleberg NC, Di Rita V, and Dermody TS. Scheachter's Mechanisms of Microbial Disease 5th Ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2013.
• Goering RV, Dockrell H, Zuckerman M, Roitt IM, and Chiodini RL. 'MIMS' Medical Microbiology 5th Ed. Elsevier; 2013.
• Levinson WE. Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology 13th Ed. Lange; 2014.
• Murphy K. Janeway's Immunobiology 8th Ed. Garland Science, Taylor Francis Grp; 2012.
• Delves PJ, Martin SJ, Burton DR, and Roitt IM. Roitt's Essential Immunology 12th Ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2011.