| CODE | BIO3023 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Microbiology and Immunology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will be introduced by a coverage of the essential principles of the genetics with respect to microbial organisms. Genes, genomes, recombinant DNA technology and other essential topics will be covered so as to give the students a sound understanding of the genetic basis of microbial structure and function and in later years application of these fundamentals in biotechnological processes. This will be followed by extensive coverage of some of the most commonly used laboratory methodologies employed in this subject including electrophoresis, molecular markers, PCR, genome mapping and DNA sequencing. The principles underlying the immune response in vertebrates will then be covered to give an overview of the pathogen-immune response interaction. Other less well known but emerging microbial groups will then be covered such as mycoplasmas, chlamydiae, rickettsiae, etc Specific applied areas of microbiology will then be tackled such as microbiology of air, water and soil as well as microbes of importance in human medicine, agriculture, horticulture fisheries and aquaculture. The practical training sessions are meant to give the students thorough training in the safe handling and identification of microbes and in the more commonly used laboratory techniques such PCR and electrophoresis. Important note: This study-unit is partly based on practical experience. Therefore, the fieldwork, which is part of the course, is considered as essential for the understanding of the basic principles discussed during the formal lectures. As such, attendance for fieldwork and a satisfactory report on the fieldwork component, is obligatory. Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical/site visit reports is a minimum of 45%. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for the examination component of the study-unit assessment and be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practicals, including fieldwork, and have submitted all assignments and satisfied all study-unit requirements. Study-unit Aims: This study unit aims at addressing the modern approaches to microbiology and immunology mainly by taking the molecular and genetic recombination approaches. It thus builds on the microbiology covered in Year 1 BIO1080. It also introduces the concept of applied microbiology in key areas such as human medicine and animal veterinary sciences. This will lay the foundation for the Biotechnology credit units that will follow and enable a wider coverage of the latter than is presently possible with the time constraints. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a) have a sound understanding of the immunological processes at the cellular and molecular level as well as of microbial genetics and the principles of its application in biotechnology; b) apply such understanding to solve problems requiring a knowledge of applied microbiology. 2. Skills: By the end of the practical classes carried out as part of this study-unit, the student will have gained valuable experience basic laboratory safety and practices. The student will also be able to acquire skills such as in problem-solving and information technology skills through the practical classes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Thieman, W.J. and M.A. Palladino (2004). Introduction to Biotechnology. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 0-8053-4825-5. Glick, B.R. and J.J. Pasternak (1998). Molecular Biotechnology. ASM Press. ISBN 1-55581-136-1. Nicklin, J et al (1999). Notes in Microbiology. Bios Scientific Publishers. ISBN 1-85996-156-8. Cappuccino, J.G. and Sherman, N (2005). Microbiology: A Laboratory Manual. Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 0-321-27006-1. |
||||||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year and 2nd Year Study-Units or equivalent Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Marisa Cassar |
||||||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||||||