Microbiology

Coordinator: Professor John Davies (Department of Microbiology)

The discipline

Microbiology is an absorbing science that is at the core of exciting new developments that have occurred in modern molecular biology. It involves the analysis and genetic manipulation of bacteria, parasites and viruses.

Recent developments such as mad-cow disease, HIV infection, legionnaire’s disease and the rise of antibiotic resistance emphasise the importance of understanding infectious diseases for human health. Microbiology is concerned with the study of these emerging diseases and micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, their structure and way of life, how they interact with people and other living organisms in both harmful and beneficial ways and how they can be exploited to our advantage. All these aspects are featured in units commencing at level two. These involve the study of the diversity of the microbial world, food microbiology and an analysis of how microbes grow and survive. At the practical level, students will learn about how micro-organisms interact with their environment, and about how they interact with the human body to cause disease. Several major diseases such as malaria, influenza and tuberculosis will be studied in depth.

At level three, studies progress to the molecular biology of bacteria and viruses, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, and medical microbiology. In the current era of recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering, bacterial plasmids and viruses provide the essential vehicles for genetic manipulation and expression in recipient cells, emphasising the core role of microbiology in the biomedical sciences. Practical classes in microbiology are designed to provide laboratory skills in safe handling of micro-organisms, experimental procedures illustrating their properties and functions, laboratory diagnosis, and genetic manipulation and expression. There is a strong emphasis on training in the techniques of recombinant DNA technology.

A sequence that integrates the study of microbiology with molecular biology is also offered.

Units offered

Level two

MIC2011 Microbiology: the microbial world
MIC2022 Microbiology: host and environmental interactions

Level three

MIC3011 Molecular microbiology
MIC3022 Molecular virology and viral pathogenesis
MIC3032 Pathogenesis of bacterial infectious diseases
MIC3041 Medical microbiology
MIC3990 Action in microbiology research project

Sequence requirements

Microbiology

Minor sequence in microbiology (24 points):

BIO1011 (Biology I) and BIO1022 (Biology II), and
MIC2011 and MIC2022, or MIC3011 and MIC3022

Major sequence in microbiology (48 points):

BIO1011 and BIO1022, and
MIC2011 and MIC2022, and
Four of MIC3011, MIC3022, MIC3032, MIC3041or MIC3990

Microbiology and molecular biology

Major sequence in microbiology and molecular biology (48 points):

BIO1011 and BIO1022, and
MOL2011 and MOL2022, and
Four of MIC3011, MIC3022, MIC3032, MIC3041 or MIC3990

Double major sequence in microbiology and molecular biology (72 points):

BIO1011 and BIO1022, and
MIC2011, MIC2022, MOL2011 and MOL2022, and
Four of MIC3011, MIC3022, MIC3032, MIC3041 or MIC3990, and
Two of BCH3031, BCH3062, GEN3041, GEN3052 or IMM3031

The BCH and MOL units and related sequences are described in the ‘Biochemistry’ and ‘Molecular biology’ entries in this section of the handbook.

Recommendations

Level two

Students enrolling in MIC2011 and MIC2022 are strongly advised to enrol in the molecular biology units MOL2011 and MOL2022. Useful companion units are available from biochemistry, immunology, genetics and pharmacology. Students should also note that MIC2011 and MIC2022 are prerequisites for MIC3032 and MIC3041. Microbiology units are recommended for students planning future studies in medical or paramedical fields. They are also recommended for those students who are uncertain about the direction of their future career, as they offer a basic grounding that is considerably adaptable.

Level three

The final year of microbiology offers a broad range of specialist units that in combination provide well-structured training in most modern aspects of microbiology. Four of the five level-three MIC units are required for accreditation in the workforce as a professional microbiologist.

Honours

Students with an appropriate level of performance in level-three MIC or related units may be eligible to undertake a year of research training under the direct supervision of the leader of one of the research groups in the department. For further details, see www.med.monash.edu.au/microbiology/.

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