MIC3032

Medical microbiology and infectious diseases

Included on BSc(Biomedical) schedule of approved subjects only

Dr Shiela Unkles

12 points - 10 hours per week (four 1-hour lectures and 6 hours practical) - Second semester - Clayton - Prerequisite: MIC2032 - Prohibitions: GAS3121, GAS3122, MIC3022

Objectives On the completion of this subject students whould have acquired a detailed knowledge of the disease process, eg colonisation, site of infection, host response and immunity to infection; understand the concepts of control and treatment of infectious diseases of both humans and animals; have acquired the technical skills for identifying bacterial isolates from medical sources; have an understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenesis of infectious diseases at the molecular level and be familiar with the research principles used to study these mechanisms.

Synopsis In this subject, aspects of microbiology are presented which are relevant to infectious diseases today. The subject includes medical and veterinary microbiology and virology, antimicrobial chemotherapy and the mechanisms of microbial resistance to antibiotics, immunity to infection and vaccines. A particular focus is the study at the molecular level of the mechanisms which microorganisms use to cause infections and disease in their hosts, and how their virulence genes and factors are regulated in response to their environment. It includes an analysis of the current research methods and approaches used to elucidate molecular pathogenic mechanisms.

Assessment Examination (3 hours): 50% - Practical and laboratory work: 35% - Essay (2000 words): 10% - Project report: 5%

Recommended reading

Salyers A A and Whitt D D Bacterial pathogenesis: A molecular approach ASM Press, 1994
Mims C A and others Medical microbiology Mosby, 1993
Prescott L M and others Microbiology 3rd edn, W C Brown, 1996
Roitt I and others Immunology 3rd edn, Mosby, 1993
White D O and Fenner F J Clinical virology 4th edn, Academic Press, 1994
Fields B N and others Virology 3rd edn, Lippincott Raven, 1996

Back to the 1999 Science Handbook