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Medical Microbiology: Bacteriology (MIIM30011)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinators
Dr Hayley Newton
Assoc Prof Odilia Wijburg
Administive Coordinator:
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject describes how bacteria have evolved specialized structures and proteins that allow them to adapt and survive in a range of environments. In particular this subject will examine the contribution of processes such as protein secretion and gene regulation to bacterial survival during infection of humans (i.e. pathogenesis). From an understanding of the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions, students will be able to understand the diverse mechanisms bacteria use to cause disease, and how infectious diseases are spread. A range of medically important bacteria will be discussed, with an emphasis on their ecology, pathogenesis and the pathobiology of the disease. The subject will also describe techniques and strategies such as mutant construction and molecular cloning that are used to dissect microbial function, and cover applied aspects of medical microbiology, such as the diagnosis of infections, the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents, as well as resistance to these agents. Students should be able to apply this knowledge to the determination of strategies for prevention, control and recognition of disease, including the design of vaccines and other therapeutics.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- describe the fundamental concepts of bacterial pathogenesis including the transfer of proteins across the bacterial cell wall, the regulation of protein expression and strategies for survival;
- explain the ways in which microbes interact with their hosts, the environment and each other;
- illustrate and interpret how molecular adaptations contribute to bacterial pathogenesis;
- evaluate and interpret scientific literature and research findings to explain the pathogenesis of medically important bacteria;
- interpret current knowledge of how bacteria cause disease and formulate scientifically sound strategies to address issues in the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- the capacity to integrate knowledge across disciplines
- the ability to comprehend a question, evaluate the relevant information and communicate an answer
- the ability to interpret scientific literature and interpret data from electronic databases
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
B. Science students
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MIIM20001 | Principles of Microbiology & Immunology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MIIM20002 | Microbes, Infections and Responses | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
B. Biomedicine students
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
BIOM20001 | Molecular and Cellular Biomedicine | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
MIIM20002 | Microbes, Infections and Responses | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
526-313 Medical Microbiology: Cellular Pathogens (pre 2010)
526-330 Molecular and Medical Microbiology (pre 2010)
MIIM30011 Molecular and Medical Microbiology (pre 2011)
Recommended background knowledge
The prerequisite subjects should have provided a solid background in Microbiology and Immunology. An understanding of the molecules, genes and biology of the cell would be useful.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
10 on-line quizzes (1 per week)
| Throughout the teaching period | 5% |
2 x written examination held around week 5 and 10 (2 x 20%)
| From Week 5 to Week 10 | 40% |
A written examination
| During the examination period | 55% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Hayley Newton Coordinator Odilia Wijburg Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x one hour lectures per week (total contact hours: 36) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Subject Coordinators
Dr Hayley Newton
Assoc Prof Odilia Wijburg
Administive Coordinator:
BiomedSci-AcademicServices@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
Wilson, Salyers, Whitt, and Winkler, Bacterial Pathogenesis: a Molecular Approach, (3rd Edition), ASM Press USA.
- Subject notes
This subject is available to students enrolled in the:
NG B. Sc.
NG B. Biomed - Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Genetics Major Immunology Major Genetics Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Genetics Major Immunology Major Genetics Informal specialisation Biomedical Biotechnology specialisation Informal specialisation Biomedical Biotechnology Breadth Track Microbiology and immunology - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024