Bachelor of Biomedicine (BBiomed)
Third Year Student Information
To Complete the Major: Microbiology, Infection and Immunology, Four Subjects Are Required From The Third Year
- MIIM30002 Principles of Immunology
- MIIM30011 Medical Microbiology: Bacteriology
- MIIM30013 Techniques in Microbiology and Immunology
Plus one of:
The subject Projects in Microbiology and Immunology will also be available to students. It can be taken in addition to the four subjects of the Microbiology, Infection and Immunology major as part of the subject BIOM30003 Biomedical Science Research Project (Microbiology and Immunology).
To Complete the Major: Defence and Disease, Four Subjects Are Required From The Third Year
Plus one of either:
- MIIM30013 Techniques in Microbiology and Immunology
- PATH30002 Techniques for Investigation of Disease
Plus one of:
- MIIM30014 Medical Microbiology: Virology
- MIIM30003 Medical and Applied Immunology
- PATH30003 Consequences of Human Disease
- PATH30004 Advanced Investigation of Human Disease
Please note that these subjects require at least the following pre-requisites:
MIIM30002 Principles of Immunology
(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease major)
Semester 1
Coordinator:
Professor Andrew Brooks and Dr Sammy Bedoui
This subject will describe the development, function and regulation of cells of the immune system; immunoglobulins; cytokines; immunological mechanisms operating in immunity to infectious disease; autoimmunity; hypersensitivity; and transplantation and tumour immunology.
Lecture schedule (pdf)
MIIM30011 Medical Microbiology: Bacteriology
(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology major)
Semester 1
Coordinators:
Dr Odilia Wijburg, Professor Roy Robins-Browne and Professor Elizabeth Hartland
This subject describes how bacterial pathogens cause disease and how bacterial infectious diseases are transmitted, diagnosed and treated. It describes the structure and function of specialized microbial factors that allow bacteria 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 (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. The subject includes a discussion of antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistance. 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 virulence. 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.
Lecture schedule (pdf)
MIIM30013 Techniques in Microbiology and Immunology
(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and alternate core subject for Defence and Disease majors)
Semester 1 and Semester 2
Coordinator:
Dr Karena Waller and Dr Odilia Wijburg
This subject provides an overview of:
(i) methods used to characterise the diversity of microbes, and particularly those used for pathogenic microbes;
(ii) methods for dissection of the complex human and animal defences against microbial infection; and
(iii) strategies used in constructing and presenting scientific reports, both oral and written.
Laboratory techniques covered include molecular methods and functional assays used for the identification of bacteria and viruses, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA cloning and sequencing, bioinformatics, gene expression following DNA transfection, antigen detection using Western blots and immunofluorescent labelling of adherent bacteria to tissue culture cells. Immunological techniques covered include the preparation, characterisation, separation of lymphocyte populations, detection of antigens in tissues by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry and the analysis of immune responses by enzyme immunoassays. Non-Laboratory sessions will be used for the introduction of practical topics, data analysis, critical discussion of scientific research publications and discussion of strategies used in constructing and presenting scientific reports, both oral and written.
Upon completion of the subject students will have:
- Used molecular techniques (eg PCR, DNA electrophoresis, Western blot) to identify important characteristics of microbes,
- Used common bioinformatics methods to analyse DNA and protein sequence data,
- Developed skills in the in-vitro manipulation and quantification of immune cells from various tissues.
- Experience in the detection and analysis of cell associated molecules by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry, and
- An understanding of the serological diagnosis of disease,
- Developed skills in constructing and presenting scientific reports, both oral and written.
- Participated in group work activities, both within and outside of the Laboratory.
Lecture schedule (pdf)
MIIM30003 Medical and Applied Immunology
(Elective subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease majors)
Semester 2
Coordinator:
Professor Steve Turner and Dr Sammy Bedoui
This subject describes the cellular and molecular interactions in natural and adaptive immunity to bacteria, viruses and parasites, the mechanisms of evasion of these responses, and how this knowledge relates to vaccine design. The aetiology and pathogenesis of immunodeficiency and immunopathology and the problems these conditions pose in infectious disease is also described as are the molecular and cellular interactions in transplantation and tumour immunity, and the potential of immunotherapy and vaccines against cancer.
MIIM30014 Medical Microbiology: Virology
(Elective subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease majors)
Semester 2
Coordinators:
Professor Lorena Brown, Associate Professor Damian Purcell and Dr Karena Waller
This subject describes how viruses and other parasites interact with their hosts to cause infection. The subject will describe the strategies that different groups of viruses employ to replicate in their host cells, and the different outcomes possible for both the virus and the host cell. It will also describe how viruses may be transmitted and detected, and the ways that viruses can cause disease (pathogenesis). The various interactions of the virus and the host’s immune system will also be discussed. These topics will be further illustrated by discussing the features of a range of medically important viruses.
The subject will also describe other parasites of humans e.g. fungi, protozoan parasites and helminth parasites. It will describe the dynamic interactions that occur between these parasites, their human hosts and the environment and how the outcome of these interactions may vary when changes in any one of these occur. These topics will be further illustrated by discussing the features of a range of medically important parasites.
Lecture schedule (pdf)
BIOM30003 Biomedical Science Research Project (Microbiology and Immunology)
Semester 2
Coordinators:
Mrs Helen Cain and Dr Odilia Wijburg
The opportunity to undertake a research project in microbiology/immunology is available to students undertaking a major in microbiology, infection and immunology. Selected students will be placed, either singly or in pairs, in research laboratories. The student/s will undertake a small research project under the supervision of research staff for around 5 hours per week. Students who apply to undertake a research project are selected based on both academic merit (usually a score of around 75% or more in relevant 2nd year subjects), and the availability of a suitable project and supervisor (based on an interview process with the lab heads offering projects).
The subject allows students to carry out experimental work in an area of microbiology or immunology selected from topics which may include medical and general bacteriology, virology, biotechnology, response to infectious diseases, vaccine development, transplantation and cancer immunology under the supervision of researchers in the field. It aims to allow students to experience the nature of scientific research including team work, experimental design, recording, analysing and evaluating laboratory data, and communication of results. Whilst this subject is not part of the major in microbiology, infection and immunology, it is an excellent additional subject to complement the major.
Lecture schedule coming soon