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Advanced Microbiology

Module description

Microorganisms are ubiquitous, covering all the surfaces of our body and occurring in every natural habitat. They have an enormous impact on our lives – both positive and negative. Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. On the other hand, microorganisms that inhabit the human body play a key role in maintaining human health, including shaping the immune system and providing essential vitamins and metabolic pathways. In addition, we can harness the power of microorganisms for numerous industrial applications, including the production of biofuels and drugs.

This module, which builds on the content delivered within BIO1337 Microbiology, will develop your knowledge of these major themes within microbiology, but with a particular focus on the microbial processes that facilitate infection by bacterial and fungal pathogens. The module will cover topics including:

• Modes of infection of the body by fungal and bacterial pathogens
• Molecular mechanisms that underpin microbial virulence and survival within the human host
• Antimicrobial resistance in fungi and bacteria, and strategies to circumvent it
• The role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease
• Synthetic biology and the industrial application of microorganisms

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to develop an advanced understanding of major topics in the field of microbiology and infectious diseases. It will address the major processes that underpin the interaction between microbes and the human host – both in the context of infection, and in the context of the human microbiome. In doing so, we will also explore a range of microbial processes at a molecular level and discuss how such knowledge can assist with the identification of novel strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of disease. In addition, this module will develop knowledge of how we use microorganisms to our advantage in research, clinical or industrial contexts.

The module also aims to develop your practical skills in a range of molecular and microbiological methods, your data analysis skills, and your ability to read, interpret and communicate primary scientific literature. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate understanding of microbial processes, with a particular focus on those that facilitate infection by bacterial and fungal pathogens
• 2. Demonstrate competency in a range of molecular and microbiological methods, and show understanding of how those methods are applied in microbiological research

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Collect and/or interpret quantitative data, including the application of relevant statistical methods
• 4. Demonstrate competency in the reading and interpretation of primary scientific literature

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate the ability to link and evaluate ideas from different sources to reach evidence-based and independent conclusions
• 6. Employ different communication styles to communicate effectively to the target audience

Syllabus plan

The module will commence with an orientation session that will provide full details of the module aims, content and assessment criteria, whilst also outlining what is expected of students. Thereafter, the module content is organised into distinct topics, providing a logical progression towards the understanding of the microbiology thematic areas highlighted above. Throughout the module, lecture content will be supplemented with additional reading resources, including the recommended textbook and relevant scientific articles. In parallel with lecture content, laboratory practicals will provide hands-on training in a range of molecular and microbiological methods. Data obtained over the course of these practicals will provide the foundation for formative assessments that aim to develop your data analysis and interpretation skills, and your ability to effectively communicate research outcomes.

Alongside the lectures and practicals will be a series of ‘consolidation and skills development’ sessions that will give the opportunity to consolidate lecture and practical content, and develop your competencies in data analysis and research paper interpretation to support both the formative and summative assessments.

Accessibility statement:

As part of this module, you will undertake laboratory sessions in the large teaching laboratory involving up to 200 students. The practical work will be undertaken in pairs, and sessions will frequently involve fine laboratory work, use of Bunsen burners and handling of live microbes. The practical sessions are of 3-hour duration, but breaks are possible, and students are able to leave the laboratory for short periods. Please contact the module convenor if you require any particular support within practical sessions. In addition, students will be required to undertake group work as part of the formative assessment for this module.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Indicative basic reading list (both Available as an E-resource through the University Library):

• Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 16^th Edition (2021). Pearson.
• Oxford Textbook of Medical Mycology, 1^st Edition (2018). Oxford University Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page will provide all module-related material to support lectures and practicals, including specific suggested reading articles to support individual lectures

Key words search

Infection,microbial organisms, pathogens, microorganisms, infection rates, microbiology, fungi, bacteria, microbial ecology