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Unit of study_
MICR3911: Microbes in Infection (Advanced)
2021 unit information
This unit is available to students who have performed well in Intermediate Microbiology. This unit is designed to further develop an interest in, and understanding of, medical microbiology from the introduction in Intermediate Microbiology. Through an examination of microbial structure, virulence, body defences and pathogenesis, the process of acquisition and establishment of disease is covered. The unit is divided into three themes: 1. Clinical Microbiology: host defences, infections, virulence mechanisms; 2. Public health microbiology: epidemiology, international public health, transmission, water and food borne outbreaks; 3. Emerging and re-emerging diseases: the impact of societal change with respect to triggering new diseases and causing the re-emergence of past problems, which are illustrated using case studies. The unique aspect of this advanced unit that differentiates it from the mainstream unit is six tutorial style sessions that replace six mainstream lectures in the theme 'Emerging and re-emerging diseases'. These dedicated research-led interactive advanced sessions support self-directed learning and involve discussion around specific topics that will vary from year to year. Nominated research papers and reviews in the topic area will be explored with supported discussion of the relevance to and impact of the work on current thinking around emergence of microbial disease. The focus will be on microbial change that lies critically at the centre of understanding the reasons for the emergence of new diseases and challenges in an era of significant scientific ability to diagnose and treat infection. The practical component is identical to the mainstream unit and is designed to enhance students' practical skills and to complement the lectures. In these practical sessions experience will be gained handling live, potentially pathogenic microbes. Clinical tutorial sessions underpin and investigate the application of the material covered in the practical classes.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
| Code | MICR3911 |
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| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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[6cp from (BIOL1XX7 or MBLGXXXX or GEGE2X01 or GENE2002) and a mark of 70 or above in (MEDS2004 or MICR2X22 or MIMI2X02)] OR [BMED2401 and a mark of 70 or above in BMED2404] |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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MICR3011 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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MICR2X21 or MICR2024 or MICR2X31 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. have a detailed knowledge of bacterial virulence mechanisms and their role in invasion, establishment and progression of infection in the human host
- LO2. explain the relationship between these mechanisms and the development of symptoms associated with the disease at particular sites of the body
- LO3. have developed a practical dexterity in and detailed knowledge and understanding of laboratory diagnostic processes to be able to formulate and execute diagnostic plans for the identification and successful treatment of bacterial infections
- LO4. interpret medical microbiology laboratory results and bioinformatic analysis effectively
- LO5. explain the various contexts and infrastructure of public health microbiology, specifically, the main mechanisms required to achieve and maintain good public health
- LO6. explain the ways in which important microbial pathogens pose a challenge for public health
- LO7. explain, using specific illustrative examples, how microbial disease might emerge or re-emerge to impact on human health
- LO8. critically evaluate the research literature dealing with pathogenic processes of microbial infection in the human body.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
