SLE334 - Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Jillian Healy
Prerequisite:

SLE234

Corequisite:

SLE010

Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

2 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour lecture per week, 6 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester.

Content

SLE334 allows students to explore aspects of microbiology and immunology relevant to understanding infectious disease. Students will be introduced to medical microbiology and immunology using anthrax as a model disease. Students will learn about biology of bacteria, viral and parasitic pathogens of global importance. The practical experience has been designed to replicate some of the investigative strategies and decision making processes used by medical microbiologists to identify potential pathogenic micro-organisms from various clinical specimens. Many of the techniques students will apply are those commonly used by practicing microbiologists in their routine work. Learning and assessment tasks will enhance the students understanding of infectious diseases, the immune response to infectious disease, diagnosis, the development of candidate vaccines and the identification of pharmacological targets for antimicrobial therapeutics.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1 Describe the stages of infection process utilised by bacteria, viruses and parasites, and explain the role of the immune system and vaccination for protection from infectious disease. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO2

Identify biological, social, economic and ecological issues underpinning the emergence of new and once controlled infectious diseases.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO7: Teamwork

ULO3

Evaluate the efforts of state/territory and Commonwealth governments and international agencies of the United Nations and World Health Organisation in the management of infectious disease outbreaks and prevention strategies.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO4

Apply research and critical thinking skills to demonstrate competence in aseptic techniques and in the laboratory identification of pathogenic bacteria.

GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO5

Reflect on practical performance to identify areas of strength and weakness.

GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1
Quizzes

Online quizzes 20% (5 x 4%) Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11

Assessment 2
Team based Infectious disease case study

Portfolio comprised of written and video elements 25% Week 10

Assessment 3
Practical preparation

5 x pre prac quizzes
Completed lab notebook equivalent of 750 words

10%

Quizzes:
Weeks 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10
Lab notebook: Week 10

Assessment 4
Practical performance self reflection

2 x written reflections 15% Weeks 8, 11
End-of-Unit Assessment In class practical test 30% End-of-Unit Assessment period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Hurdle requirement

To be eligible to obtain a pass in this unit, students must achieve at least 50% in the practical experience (laboratory) component.

Learning Resource

Prescribed text(s): Dockrell and Goering, 2018, Mims’ Medical Microbiology and Immunology , 6th Edition, Elsevier Science.

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE334 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

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