PSC3311 - Microbiology and immunology - 2019

To introduce 3rd year pharmaceutical science students to essential elements of microbiology and immunology. In the process, students will develop their abilities to integrate microbiological and immunological concepts and apply these to a limited number of applications contained within the unit and as a basis for later work in other subjects within the pharmaceutical sciences.

This will involve the study of:

• bacteria (general principles and microbial genetics)
• eukaryotic microbes
• virology
• epidemiology
• immunology
• microbiological diseases (diseases and host responses)

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate fundamental concepts in microbiology and associated immunology including basic technologies, classification of microorganisms, principles of microbial genetics, and immunological processes;
2. evaluate and differentiate basic microbiological laboratory techniques and how to apply these to the identification of different types of pathogenic microorganisms;
3. demonstrate an appreciation of factors involved in contamination control and control of infectious diseases;
4. illustrate the ecological role of microorganisms and analyse interactions between microorganisms and the host including interactions with humans and the principles of immunology and epidemiology.

Final exam (2 hour): 60%; mid-semester test: 10%; on-going laboratories and assignments: 30%.

• Twenty-six 1 hour lectures
• One 1-hour mid-semester test
• Four 3-hour laboratories/workshops
• Thirty-eight hours of directed independent study/active learning

See also Unit timetable information