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Year:

MICR350 Clinical Microbiology and Virology

Updated: 17 November 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 96 cps or permission of Head of School or candidature in a postgraduate award in the School of Science and Technology or the School of Environmental and Rural Science.
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes

assumed knowledge in first year Biology or Chemistry

Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Linda Agnew (lagnew2@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit covers clinical uses of antibiotics and their mode of action, especially the penicillins, tetracyclines, quinolones, aminoglycosides and cephalosporins. The wide-spread problems of antibiotic resistance are surveyed. The unit will introduce basic principles of virology, and then examine viral diseases which affect humans. These will include polio, herpes, smallpox, influenza, haemorrhagic fevers, hepatitis and AIDS. Basic mechanisms of cellular and molecular immunology are also covered.

Recommended Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Microbiology and Infection Control for Health Professionals
ISBN: 9781442501850
Lee, G. and Bishop, P., Pearson Australia 4th ed. 2009
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , Off Campus
Jawetz, Melnick and Adelberg's Medical Microbiology
ISBN: 9780071624961
Brook, G.F., Carroll, K.C., Butel, J.S. and Morse, S.A., Lange/McGraw-Hill 25th ed. 2010
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , Off Campus
Brock: The Biology of Microorganisms
ISBN: 9780321735515
Madigan, M.T., Martinko, J.M., Stahl, D. and Clark, D.P., Pearson Benjamin Cummings 13th ed. 2011
Note: The 12th edition of this text (ISBN 9780321536150) is also acceptable
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 10% Off Campus approx 1000
Assessment Notes
Case study. It is mandatory to complete this assessment in order to pass the unit.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2, 3 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Assignment 2 20% Off Campus approx 2000
Assessment Notes
Practical write up. It is mandatory to complete this assessment in order to pass the unit.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2, 4, 5 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Online tests 20% Off Campus approx 1000
Assessment Notes
2 on-line tests at 10% each. It is mandatory to complete this assessment in order to pass the unit.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Final Examination 2 hrs 50% Off Campus
Assessment Notes
It is mandatory to pass this assessment in order to pass the unit.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 GA: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. differentiate between infections due to viruses, prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes;
  2. define the mode of action of the major antibiotics currently in use for human therapy;
  3. understand the reasons for the development of widespread antibiotic-resistant microbes;
  4. describe methods for the growth and assay of viruses;
  5. discuss basic mechanisms of cellular and molecular immunology;
  6. explain the basic principles of vaccination and give examples;
  7. discuss in depth the epidemiology, symptons and treatment of specific viruses associated with human disease.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students will be taught in lectures, tutorials and in laboratory classes, assessment of knowledge in assignments, practical write-up and final examination.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Instruction and Practice of verbal and written skills through a tutorial, and assessment of written communication skills in assignment (essay), practical write-up and final examination.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Microbiology is essentially a global issue with examples of wide-spread (global) antibiotic resistant microbes and epidemics/pandemics. Taught in lectures and tutorials , and assessment in assignments and final examination.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students taught in lectures and tutorials with emphasis on quality of information, particularly from the Internet (includes peer-review journal articles). Assessment of knowledge in assignment, practical write-up and final examination
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Microbiology impinges on all aspects of health, particularly human-microbe interactions and the immune system. Health is a life-long issue. The assignments and final exam assesses knowledge of aspects of microbial diseases and health throughout life.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
Taught in lectures, tutorials and laboratory experiments, the assignments in particular assess problem solving skills.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Human-microbe interactions and spread of microbial infections is a personal, as well as, a social issue. Understanding human-microbe interactions is a key learning outcome of this unit and aspects of this understanding are assessed in the assignments and final exam.
True True
8 Team Work
Students are required to work in small groups during laboratory classes and are encouraged to work collaboratively and exchange information required for their write-up.
True True
   

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