MICR 3011/3911

Microbes in Infection

Course Information

These course outlines are a guide only. They are provided for the information of prospective students. Although every effort is made to ensure the most up to date information is provided, timetables often change each semester due to the availability of rooms and resources. Content (including lecture/practical topics, assessment and textbooks) is also regularly reviewed to ensure relevance and effective learning.

This Unit of Study is well suited to students who are interested in diseases caused by microorganisms and the mechanisms used by pathogens to invade, establish infection and cause the symptoms associated with the disease.

MICR3011 Microbes in Infection is designed to provide a deeper understanding of:

* Microorganisms and their role in human disease.
* The management of disease for good public health.
* The importance and management of new and emerging diseases.

To achieve this, this unit is divided into three themes:

1. Clinical Microbiology:
Bacterial and fungal infections that are problematic at particular sites, host defences, virulence mechanisms
2. Public health microbiology:
Transmission, epidemiology, international public health, parasitic infections and causes of outbreaks
3. Emerging and re-emerging diseases:
The impact of societal change with respect to triggering new diseases and causing the re-emergence of past problems.

The practical component is designed to enhance students’ practical skills and to complement the lecture series. Clinical tutorial sessions underpin and investigate the application of the material covered in the practical classes.

Mrs Helen Agus

Room: 533

Telephone: 9351 6043

FAX: 9351 4571

E-mail: h.agus@mmb.usyd.edu.au

For MICR3011
Entry requires at least 6 credit points of MBLG units and MICR (2022 or 2922 or 2002 or 2902). For BMedSc students: at least 42CP Intermediate core units including BMED2807 and BMED2808. For BScAgr students: PLNT (2001 or 2901) units and MICR (2022 or 2922 or 2002 or 2902).

For MICR3911
Entry requires at least 6 credit points of MBLG units and Distinction in MICR (2022 or 2922 or 2002 or 2902). For BMedSc students: at least 42CP Intermediate core units including BMED2807 and BMED2808 with a Distinction in at least one of these two. For BScAgr students: PLNT (2001 or 2901) units and MICR (2022 or 2922 or 2002 or 2902) including one Distinction.

1st Lecture: Tuesday 10:00am Quadrangle Building, Latin 1 S224
2nd Lecture: Wednesday 10:00am Quadrangle Building, Latin 1 S224

Advanced Lecture (MICR3911 only) – Tuesday 1:00pm (wk 2-5, 7, 9, 11, 12) Biochem/Microbiol 551

Practicals: 2:00pm – 5:00pm Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday in weeks 2, 3, 5, 7, 9-11, 13 in Biochem/Microbiol 300 Lab

Clinical tutorials: 2:00pm - 5:00pm Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday in weeks 4, 8, 12 in Biochem/Microbiol 300 Lab

Optional excursion to ICPMR Westmead Hospital: 2:00pm - 5:00pm Tuesday in Week 6

Murray PR et al. Medical Microbiology. 6th ed., Elsevier, 2009

Reference Texts:

Willey et al. Prescott, Harley & Klein's Microbiology 7th ed. (McGrawHill, 2008)

Mims, C. et al. Medical Microbiology 3rd edition (Mosby, 2004)

Clinical Microbiology: current views of infectious disease; skin; respiratory tract; GIT infections

Public health microbiology: transmission; epidemiology; diagnostics; water- & food-borne outbreaks

Emerging & re-emerging diseases: causes; opportunism; ‘old’ bacterial diseases posing new problems, case studies

Advanced sessions in MICR3911 only:
Selected topics in public health microbiology and new or re-emerging diseases.

Practical sessions involve hands-on experiments and case studies with direct application in diagnostic and research microbiology.

Case studies:
Research-based examination of patient case histories and testing of clinical material to isolate and identify the causative organism of skin, burn, wound, respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections; group discussions; problem solving exercises

Hospital visit to Westmead Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research.

One 2 hour exam, continuous assessment, practical work