| Semester 2, 2020 External | |
| Short Description: | Med Microbiology & Immunology2 |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Health and Wellbeing |
| Student contribution band : | Band 2 |
| ASCED code : | 010911 - Microbiology |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Requisites
Pre-requisite: BIO1104
Rationale
Medical laboratory scientists working in medical microbiology laboratories interact with clinicians and other healthcare professionals to generate and interpret data from microbiological investigations of clinical specimens. These investigations assist clinicians in determining the presence and identity of an infectious disease that may be present as well as monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. Similarly, biomedical scientists in research settings can use their understanding of medical microbiology and immunology to develop novel strategies to control and treat infectious diseases. This course builds on the foundational knowledge delivered by BIO1104 Medical Microbiology and Immunology 1 by providing an in depth analysis of the host and pathogen interactions that can lead to infectious diseases. Students will have an opportunity to enhance their laboratory skills on the path to careers as medical laboratory scientists or biomedical science researchers in clinical pathology services or medical microbiology and immunology research laboratories.
Synopsis
This course builds on the fundamental theory and practical laboratory skills provided in BIO1104 Medical Microbiology and Immunology 1 with an increased focus on the development of assessment and interpretive strategies of microbiological data.. Areas of specific emphasis include the nature of the complex interaction of microbial virulence factors with host immunological responses that may result in an infectious disease outcome. Students will be provided an opportunity to develop practical skills in a setting that will also encourage critical thinking during the generation, analysis, interpretation and reporting of complex microbiological data.
This course contains a mandatory residential school for both external and on-campus students.
Objectives
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- apply skills and knowledge to undertake, interpret and report on microbiological data acquired in laboratory exercises;
- apply knowledge to determine and explain the nature and range of virulence factors present in microbial pathogens;
- evaluate and analyse the nature of host humoral and cell mediated immune responses to infectious challenges;
- employ critical thinking and investigative skills particularly in the use of literature search engines and data analysis programs;
- evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of infection control measures and safe work practices relevant to a microbiology laboratory environment.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The nature of infectious diseases including mechanisms of in terms of microbial pathogenesis, principles of human immunity and paradigms in virulence factors and pathogen/host immune response interactions. | 40.00 |
| 2. | Principles and practice of infectious disease investigations including conventional and molecular laboratory diagnostics, data analysis and interpretation, therapeutics and reporting. | 40.00 |
| 3. | Principles and practice of infection management, microbial resistance and infection control. | 20.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=BIO2106)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 40.00 |
| Online Lectures | 26.00 |
| Online Tutorials | 13.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 62.00 |
| Residential Schools | 24.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | 20 | 20 | 14 Aug 2020 | 2,3,4 | |
| Assignment 2 | 20 | 20 | 11 Sep 2020 | 2,3,4 | |
| Laboratory report | 20 | 20 | 08 Oct 2020 | 1,4,5 | |
| Take Home Exam | 40 | 40 | End S2 | 2,3,4 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
Both external and on-campus students must attend the mandatory residential school. It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures and laboratory tutorials scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
A mandatory residential school signifies that attendance is compulsory, in order to pass the Course. Students who miss the residential school due to Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances will be considered in accordance with the Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances Procedure (131150PL). If the request for consideration is approved the Student must attend the next offering of the residential school. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
Requirements after S2 2020:
To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for the assignment. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S2 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Proficiency) i.e. the Laboratory Report by achieving at least 50% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item, and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.
Requirements after S2 2020:
In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S2 2020 are:
The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date.
Requirements after S2 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
-
Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.
Other requirements
-
The dates and location of the mandatory residential school are available from the Residential School Timetable (. On-campus students can follow the Class Timetables ( as a guide or enrolled students can refer to their student portal and navigate to Student Centre>Self Service>Timetables>My Weekly Schedule.