Molecular Microbiology

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

Through this module you will develop your knowledge of microbiology at a molecular level. Focusing primarily on bacterial and fungal species, we will cover topics including:

• molecular strategies for microbial survival, growth and adaptation
• the molecular basis of antimicrobial drug resistance
• the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens cause disease
• the impact of the human microbial flora on health and disease
• current molecular methods for the study of microorganisms in isolation, and within complex microbial communities

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to develop knowledge of microbiology at a molecular level. You will gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the growth and survival of microbial species in diverse environments, their ability to cause disease in relevant hosts, and their ability to resist antimicrobial agents. In addition, this module will consider molecular methods that can be applied to the study of microbes (including complex microbial communities), and how those methods impact on our understanding of human-microbial interactions during health and disease. Additionally, this module will further develop your practical skills in the safe-handling of microorganisms, and provide practical training in molecular microbiology methods.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe in some detail and discuss the molecular mechanisms that enable growth, survival and adaptation of microbial species in diverse environments
• 2. Explain the molecular basis of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance
• 3. Demonstrate, and comment on, procedures and molecular methodologies for the study of microorganisms within the laboratory

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Describe and evaluate approaches to our understanding of molecular biology with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles
• 5. Describe in some detail essential facts and theory across a subdiscipline of the biosciences
• 6. Identify critical questions from the literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work
• 7. With some guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation and enquiry within the biosciences

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Communicate ideas, principles and theories fluently by written means in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
• 9. Develop, with some guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with valid conclusions
• 10. Collect and interpret appropriate data, drawing on a range of sources, with limited guidance

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

The module will commence with an orientation session to provide full details of the module aims, content, assessment criteria and what is expected of the students. Thereafter, twenty 1 hour lectures will cover topics within molecular microbiology, including mechanisms of microbial growth, survival and adaptation, molecular basis of infection, and molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial drug resistance. Lectures will be supported by appropriate content on ELE (lecture slides, appropriate journal articles) and the recommended textbook. The module will conclude with an academic-led revision session.

In addition, five 3 hour laboratory practicals will strengthen practical skills in the safe-handling of microorganisms, and provide practical training in molecular microbiology methods.

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The laboratory/practical assessments are not deferrable because of their practical nature. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Prescott LM, Harley JP and Klein DA. 2008. Microbiology (7^th ed.). McGraw Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-110231-5

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4039 (ELE material for lecture slides, practical class schedules and specific reading material referred to within lectures)

Module has an active ELE page

Key words search

Infection, pathogen, molecular, microorganisms