This course will provide a comprehensive overview of microbiology and immunology, ranging from microbes in diverse environments to the cells and molecules that make up the immune system, and how these act in health and disease. Students will have an opportunity to explore the wider context in which microorganisms exist as microbial communities, followed by a focus on core molecular and cellular principles of both microbiology and immunology. Students will learn how infectious agents combat host immune defences and how aberrations in the immune response can lead to disease.

The course is split into five 2-week blocks and consists of daily 1hr lectures, five 3-hour labs, four 1-hour workshops and a 1-hour Virtual Reality experience.

None.

BIOL2039 Fundamental Topics in Biology 2

The course will be assessed by means of a 2-hour examination paper in the April/May diet (50%), one class test (10 %), a group oral presentation (20%) and a lab report assignment (20%). The written examinations will normally comprise MCQ and short-answer questions. 

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Re-assessment is not available for the group oral presentation. 

The aims of the course are:

■ To introduce the main principles of microbiology from the wider context in which microbes exist to the intrinsic processes that allow their survival;

■ To provide an overview of the immune system, how it responds to infection, how it can be manipulated, and how aberrations in it can lead to disease;

■ To develop appropriate skills in data interpretation and analysis;

■ To develop practical laboratory skills in microbiology and immunology; 

■ To develop key transferable skills and graduate attributes.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ Describe the main principles and core concepts of microbiology;

■ Describe the key cellular and molecular components of the immune system and how they interact to both prevent and cause disease;

■ Interpret information from relevant literature;

■ Analyse scientific data, including data collected in the laboratory;

■ Communicate scientific ideas effectively.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.