MSc Medical Microbiology

Students will be introduced to conventional and advanced laboratory methods for the
reliable culture and identification of viruses, bacteria and fungi, as well as learning skills in
the acquisition and interpretation of laboratory data.
 

In this unit students will explore:

• Routine microbial culture techniques.
• Assays that differentiate between microbial species based upon structure and classification.
• Methods to assess microbial growth and replication
• Biochemical tools for microbial identification (e.g. tube and plate based enzymatic assays)
• Infection dependent effects on host tissue (e.g. in vitro host-pathogen co-culture,
  inflammatory biomarkers, immunofluorescent microscopy)

The unit aims to:

• develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the structure, classification and replication of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
• encourage students to perfect the practical skills necessary for the laboratory analysis of bacteria and viruses.
• develop the students' understanding and knowledge of the principles behind methods used to test for the presence of pathogens.
• develop understanding and knowledge of the immune system and host response to infection.

Other: 

Laboratory risk assessment (48 hours): 40%

• Feedback on assignments will be given in accordance with Unviersity guidelines
• Informal feedback on a one-to-one basis in practical sessions
• Verbal feedback in seminar/tutorial sessions
• Formal feedback at the end of the unit from students