Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Third Year Subjects

Continuing BSc Students

Melbourne Model BSc Students

 

Continuing BSc Students

To complete a Microbiology major, students should choose 526 321 (Molecular Microbiology Techniques) and three other subjects from 526 301 (Microbial Cells and Genomes), 526 313 (Medical Microbiology: Cellular Pathogens), 526 314 (Medical Microbiology: Viruses) and 526 327 (Projects: Microbiology).

Both 526 321 (Molecular Microbiology Techniques) and 526 327 (Projects: Microbiology) are quota-restricted subjects.

To complete an Immunology major, students should choose 526 304 (Principles of Immunology), 526 324 (Immunological Techniques), 526 305 (Medical and Applied Immunology) and 526 326 (Projects: Immunology).

Both 526 324 (Immunological Techniques) and 526 326 (Projects: Immunology) are quota-restricted subjects.

Note that if students are not selected for quota-restricted subjects they have chosen, and this prevents them from completing a major, they can apply for a variation to major. In this case, another subject approved by the major coordinators will be accepted in place of the subject in question.

Code (Link to Handbook) Subject Title (Link to Homepage)
Science Students
526-301 Microbial Cells and Genomes
526-304 Principles of Immunology
526-305 Medical and Applied Immunology
526-313 Medical Microbiology: Cellular Pathogens
526-314 Medical Microbiology: Viruses
526-321 Molecular Microbiology Techniques
526-324 Immunological Techniques
526-326 Projects: Immunology
526-327 Projects: Microbiology
top of page

 

Melbourne Model BSc and B.Biomed Students

To Complete the Major: Microbiology, Infection and Immunology, Four Subjects Are Required From The Third Year

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 600311, Science Research Project (see below).

To complete the major: Defence and Disease (Biomedicine students only), Four Subjects Are Required From The Third Year

Plus one of either:

Plus one of:

526304: Principles of Immunology

(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease majors)

Semester 1

Coordinators:

Prof. Frank Carbone, Sandra Uren

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.

526330: Molecular and Medical Microbiology

(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology major)

Semester 1

Coordinators;

Prof. Roy Robins-Browne, Dr. Liz. Hartland, Helen Cain

This subject describes how bacteria have evolved specialized structures and proteins that allow them 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. 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 function. 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.

top of page

526332: Techniques in Microbiology and Immunology

(Core subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and alternate core subject for Defence and Disease majors)

Semester 1 or 2

Coordinators:

Dr. David Tribe, Sandra Uren

This subject provides an overview of

  1. methods used to characterise the diversity of microbes, and particularly those used for pathogenic microbes, and
  2. methods for dissection of the complex human and animal defences against microbial infection.

Techniques covered include molecular methods and functional assays used for the identification of bacteria and viruses, together with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA cloning and sequencing, gene expression following DNA transfection, and antigen detection using Western blots. Tissue culture cells will be infected and assayed for bacterial adherence, the preparation, characterisation, separation and assay of lymphocyte populations, detection of antigens in tissues by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry and assay of immune responses by enzyme immunoassays. Upon completion of the subject students will have used molecular techniques (eg PCR, DNA sequencing, Western blot probing to identify important characteristics of microbes, used common bioinformatics methods to analyse DNA and protein sequence data, as well as developed skills in the in-vitro manipulation and quantification of immune cells from various tissues. They will have experience in the detection and analysis of cell associated molecules by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and an understanding of the serological diagnosis of disease.

526305: Medical and Applied Immunology

(Elective subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease majors)

Semester 2

Coordinators:

Assoc. Prof. Andrew Brooks, Assoc. Prof. Steve Turner

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.

top of page

526333: Viruses and Other Parasites

(Elective subject for Microbiology, Infection and Immunology and Defence and Disease majors)

Semester 2

Coordinators:

Prof. Lorena Brown, Assoc. Prof. Damian Purcell

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 helminthe 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.

526331: Projects in Microbiology and Immunology

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SUBJECT WILL BE RUN AS PART OF THE SUBJECT 600311, SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT.
(The subject number is the only change to this subject, the content is identical to that described below.)

Semester 2

Coordinators:

Prof. Frank Carbone, Dr. Liz. Hartland, Helen Cain

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.

Please note that these subjects require at least the following pre-requisites:

Bachelor of Science students:
526201, Principles of Microbiology and Immunology
526221, Experimental Microbiology

Bachelor of Biomedicine students:
526205, Microbes, Infections and Response

 

top of page