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Overview

Course Prescription

An introduction to the nature and roles of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites as the causative agents of human diseases. Topics include: the defence mechanisms of the body, the immune system including autoimmunity and allergy, control of disease by antimicrobials, sterilisation, disinfection and infection control practice.

Course Overview

Microbiology

The bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pathogens of humans will be introduced with particular reference to how they cause infection. Clinical examples will be given in both lectures and laboratories. The main classes of antimicrobials and their use will be introduced. The laboratories are practically oriented with relevance to clinical cases.

Immunology

The basics of the immune system and how it is regulated, and responds to microbial challenge will be introduced. The way the immune system can be stimulated in the form of vaccination to prevent disease will be covered. There will be an introduction into inflammatory diseases and immunodeficiencies that are acquired or inherited.

Lecturers

All lectures will be presented by active researchers from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology (MMP):

Prof. Thomas Proft: 7 lectures in Microbiology/Infectious Diseases

Assoc. Prof. Mark Thomas: 7 lectures in Microbiology/Virology

Assoc. Prof. Simon Swift: 3 lectures in Microbiology/Infectious Diseases

Assoc. Prof. Nikki Moreland: 5 lectures in Immunology

Dr. Scott Graham: 5 lectures in Immunology

MedSci202 provides the basis for the third year courses MedSci314 (Immunology) and BioSci349 (Biomedical Microbiology).

Course Contacts

Professor Thomas Proft

Course Director

Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology

Email: t.proft@auckland.ac.nz

Phone: 923-86213Room: 502-301C


Dr. Ho Joon Lee

Course and Lab Coordinator

Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology

Email: hj.lee@auckland.ac.nz

Phone: 923-81988Room: 501-002

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, eight 2-hour labs, 25 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at labs to complete/receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings the day after the lecture, but attendance is strongly encouraged. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events.

Attendance on campus is required for the tests which will be in person and invigilated.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Recommended Texts

Microbiology

  • Murray et al.; Medical Microbiology 7th Ed, 2013 
  • Engelkirk P et al.: Burton's Microbiology for the Health Sciences, Wolters Kluwer Lippincott, 10th Ed, 2015 

Immunology

  • Male et al.: Immunology 8th Ed, 2013 
  • Murphy K.: Janeway's Immunobiology, 8th Ed. New York: Garland Publishing; 2012 
  • Tak W et al.: Primer to the Immune Response, AP Cell Press Elsevier 2nd Ed, 2014 

(Note: Recommended texts are available on desk loan in the Philson Library. You are not required to purchase them, but if you do, so we suggest purchasing whichever you find most readable).

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

Please note that this also includes your own previously submitted work. For example, you are not allowed to copy paste from a previously submitted essay to answer an exam question.

The use of AI chatbots like ChatGPT is not allowed for assessments.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

The lab assessment is based on six reports (5 microbiology and 1 immunology) completed either individually, in pairs or in groups. The course work consists of two tests (mid-semester test and end-semester test, each worth 15%) and comprise of approximately 50 MCQs.The final exam will be short answer questions covering the complete course including lab material.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678910

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Over recent years, this course received very positive student feedback with average SET scores consistently higher than the faculty and university scores. Specific comments from students:     "LAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBSSSSS. They teach us useful skills that we will actually use in future which make us feel like we are actually preparing for our careers. The lab instructors are great too. The time frame in which our test results were delivered back to us was also very good. Most lecturers are very engaging, have good content and teach at a reasonable pace." (2017)     "I really liked that the labs covered things we were learning in lectures and there were plenty of opportunities to practice techniques like streaking and Gram staining, as well as trying out different diagnostics. All the lecturers were great, this was my favourite course so far." (2018)     "The labs and lab assignments helped reinforce the lecture content. The lecture content was really interesting and helped me to stay engaged." (2019)     "The lecturers were really good! I felt that each were passionate about what they were teaching and thoroughly enjoyed each section." (2020)

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.