Medical Microbiology 3A and 3B Course Information 2023-2024
Welcome to Year 3 of your programme. Courses at this level should be rewarding and enjoyable, but they require a clear commitment from you and your active participation and attendance.
We recommend that you read this Course Information Document at the start of Year 3.
In addition, there is important information about regulations, assessment and progression (including DD to Honours progression) in the Life Sciences Handbook: Regulations & Advice; again, you should read this document at the start of the year and you must refer to it as necessary.
Please keep this Course Information Document for future reference after you graduate; you may need to provide course details for further study or other training.
While the information contained in the document is correct at the time of printing, it may be necessary to make changes. Check your online timetable, Moodle and your email messages regularly.
Dr Leighann Sherry, Leighann.Sherry@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy: Dr Gill Douce, Gillian.Douce@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy: Prof Mike Barrett, Michael.Barrett@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy: Dr Ed Hutchinson, Edward.Hutchinson@glasgow.ac.uk
Dr Nicola Veitch, Nicola.Veitch@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy: Prof Richard McCulloch, Richard.McCulloch@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching staff names can be found on your online timetable and contact details can be found on the University website Staff A-Z
Professor Paul Langford, Imperial College London, p.langford@imperial.ac.uk
The Life Sciences Office is located in Room 354 of the Sir James Black Building. Opening hours for enquiries are: Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Course Code
BIOL4092
Course Title
Medical Microbiology 3A
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
The course describes the process of infection by the major human pathogens — viruses, fungi, bacteria, protozoans and helminths; the molecular mechanisms utilised by these organisms to aid their survival; and how these organisms are able to invade and interact with various host tissues.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, this course is only open to students admitted to Year 3 of a programme for which this is a compulsory course. The course may also be available to visiting students, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and Course Coordinator.
Associated Programmes
This is a compulsory course for BSc Honours in Microbiology and MSci in Microbiology.
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 1
Timetable
Normally, 6 hours of lectures per week (usually Mon/Tue/Wed), laboratory work (usually Thu all day and Fri mornings), field course (3 days in week 3), tutorials as organised.
Course Aims
To provide students with a broad-based knowledge and understanding of Medical Microbiology which is appropriate for further study at the final year Honours level, or for employment as a BSc Designated degree graduate in a wide range of employment.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Describe and explain key features of microorganisms that contribute to disease pathogenesis;
· Explain cellular mechanisms employed by microbes for interacting with the host;
· Demonstrate broad-based knowledge in the field of molecular biology;
· Apply microbiological laboratory techniques to investigate relevant problems;
· Identify and critically analyse scientific data and draw valid conclusions from them;
· Demonstrate the use of computer search engines and databases to locate original scientific literature and data for interpretation.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
The minimum requirement for the award of credits is the completion of at least 75% by weight of the summative assessment for the course.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 3-hour examination (worth 70%) and in-course assessment (worth 30%).
The in-course assessment comprises 5 assessments accumulating a total of 30%: 1 tutorial essay (5%), an open book class test on the Molecular Methods course block (5%), 2 lab reports (7.5% each) and a class test of SAQs (5%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for all summative assessments in this course
Not applicable for Honours courses
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Verbal and written feedback is provided for the essay.
Written feedback is given on a formatively-assessed lab report during the Millport field course. Written feedback is provided for both submitted lab reports.
Generic verbal feedback on the class test (SAQ) and the molecular methods test will be provided.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
180 minutes
Course Code
BIOL4093
Course Title
Medical Microbiology 3B
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
The course describes the role of the host immune response to several human pathogens; the evasion mechanisms employed by these organisms to aid their survival; and how infections are diagnosed and controlled by vaccination and chemotherapy.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, this course is only open to students admitted to Year 3 of a programme for which this is a compulsory course. The course may also be available to visiting students, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.
Associated Programmes
This is a compulsory course for BSc Honours in Microbiology and MSci in Microbiology.
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 2
Timetable
Normally, 6 hours of lectures per week (usually Mon/Tue/Wed), laboratory work (usually Thursday all day and Friday mornings), tutorials as organised.
Course Aims
To provide students with a broad-based knowledge and understanding of Medical Microbiology which is appropriate for further study at the final year Honours level, or for employment as a BSc Designated degree graduate in a wide range of employment.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Describe and explain the key features of the host immune response and its role in microbial infection;
· Explain the modifications and mechanisms employed by microorganisms to evade the immune response;
· Define antimicrobial strategies used to help control infectious diseases;
· Interpret, analyse and discuss microbiology in both written and oral formats;
· Investigate experimental problems by use of a wide range of laboratory techniques;
· Identify and critically review scientific literature and draw valid conclusions from them.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
The minimum requirement for the award of credits is the completion of at least 75% by weight of the summative assessment for the course.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 3-hour examination (worth 70%) and in-course assessment (worth 30%).
The in-course assessment comprises 6 assessments accumulating 30% overall: 2 tutorial essays (5% each), 1 lab report (7.5%), poster presentation (7.5%) based on an extended piece of laboratory work, and a class test of SAQs (5%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for all summative assessments in this course
Not applicable for Honours courses
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Written feedback will be provided for both essays.
Written feedback is provided for the submitted lab report.
Generic feedback will be given for the SAQ class test.
Individual written feedback will be provided with respect to the visual content and oral presentation of poster.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
180 minutes
Course Code
BIOL3010
Course Title
Infection Biology 3A
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
The course describes the process of infection by the major human pathogens — viruses, fungi, bacteria, protozoans and helminths; the molecular mechanisms utilised by these organisms to aid their survival; and how these organisms are able to invade and interact with various host tissues.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, this course is only open to students admitted to Year 3 of a programme for which this is a compulsory course. The course may also be available to visiting students, at the discretion of the School's Chief Adviser.
Associated Programmes
This is a compulsory course for BSc Infection Biology
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 1
Timetable
Normally, 6 hours of lectures per week (usually Mon/Tue/Wed), laboratory work (usually Thu all day and Fri mornings), field course (3 days in week 3), tutorials as organised.
Course Aims
To provide students with a broad-based knowledge and understanding of Infection Biology, which is appropriate for employment as a BSc Designated degree graduate in a wide range of employment.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Describe and explain key features of microorganisms that contribute to disease pathogenesis;
· Explain cellular mechanisms employed by microbes for interacting with the host;
· Demonstrate broad-based knowledge in the field of molecular biology;
· Interpret, analyse and discuss microbiology in both written and oral formats;
· Apply microbiological laboratory techniques to investigate relevant problems;
· Identify and critically analyse scientific data and draw valid conclusions from them;
· Demonstrate the use of computer search engines and databases to locate original scientific literature and data for interpretation.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
The minimum requirement for the award of credits is the completion of at least 75% by weight of the summative assessment for the course.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 3-hour examination (worth 70%) and in-course assessment (worth 30%).
The in-course assessment comprises 5 assessments accumulating a total of 30%: 1 tutorial essay (5%), an open book class test on the Molecular Methods course block (5%), 2 lab reports (7.5% each) and a class test of SAQs (5%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for all summative assessments in this course
No
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Verbal and written feedback is provided for the essay.
Written feedback is given on a formatively-assessed lab report written during the field course. Written feedback is provided for both submitted lab reports.
Generic verbal feedback on the class test (SAQ) and the molecular methods test will be provided.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
180 minutes
Course Code
BIOL3011
Course Title
Infection Biology 3B
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
The course describes the role of the host immune response to several human pathogens; the evasion mechanisms employed by these organisms to aid their survival; and how infections are diagnosed and controlled by vaccination and chemotherapy.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, this course is only open to students admitted to Year 3 of a programme for which this is a compulsory course. The course may also be available to visiting students, at the discretion of the Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.
Associated Programmes
This is a compulsory course for BSc Infection Biology.
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 2
Timetable
Normally, 6 hours of lectures per week (usually Mon/Tue/Wed), laboratory work (usually Thursday all day and Friday mornings), tutorials as organised.
Course Aims
To provide students with a broad-based knowledge and understanding of Infection Biology, which is appropriate for employment as a BSc Designated degree graduate in a wide range of employment.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Describe and explain key features of the host immune response and its role in microbial infection;
· Explain the modifications and mechanisms employed by microorganisms to evade the immune response;
· Define antimicrobial strategies used to help control infectious diseases;
· Interpret, analyse and discuss microbiology in both written and oral formats;
· Investigate experimental problems by use of a wide range of laboratory techniques;
· Identify and critically review scientific literature and draw valid conclusions from them.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
The minimum requirement for the award of credits is the completion of at least 75% by weight of the summative assessment for the course.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 3-hour examination (worth 70%) and in-course assessment (worth 30%).
The in-course assessment comprises 6 assessments accumulating 30% overall: 2 tutorial essays (5% each), 1 lab report (7.5%), poster presentation (7.5%) based on an extended piece of laboratory work, and a class test of SAQs (5%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for all summative assessments in this course
No
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Written feedback will be provided for both essays.
Written feedback is provided for the submitted lab report.
Generic feedback will be given for the SAQ class test.
Individual written feedback will be provided with respect to the visual content and oral presentation of poster.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
180 minutes
Please check your online timetable for the most up to date version of your classes.
Summaries of the lectures and other programme information can be found on the programme Moodle site.
The labs are designed to reinforce the knowledge gained from lectures and to develop your practical skills. These skills will be vital during your final year research project. You should keep a day-to-day record of your results in a lab book. You will write three lab reports for assessment during the year including the field course report in Semester 1.
You are required to be present for the whole of each laboratory. The majority of the labs are scheduled for at 10 am and will begin at 10:05 am. Therefore, every effort must be made to ensure you are in the lab on time, as latecomers may not be permitted to the lab. If there is a genuine reason as to why you may be late, you should make the lab leader aware of this in advance.
You will be assigned to a tutorial group with the same tutor each semester and receive tutorials covering any of the core subjects, Bacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology and Virology. Your tutorials are listed in your timetable. These small-group sessions are spread evenly throughout the year (3 each semester) and will involve preparatory work and discussions for essays, data handling exam questions and critical analysis of the literature. Tutorials are not extra lectures, nor should they be used simply to explain points, which were unclear in the lectures (if any points are not clear then see the lecturer). Rather, the tutorials provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills in writing essays, solving problems and discussing matters of scientific interest. The tutorials are a compulsory part of the programme and content discussed during these sessions contributes to the assessment mark. If you are unable to attend you should inform the tutor, in advance if possible.
A number of research seminars are given by visiting speakers during the year. You will receive notice of these by email. These provide very useful amplification of coursework and you are strongly urged to attend selected seminars. Extra credit will be given for the use of information derived from seminars in examination answers.
You will be awarded a separate grade for each of the two component courses which make up the Year 3 programme. Your result for each course is based on the items of assessment detailed below.
Note that the grades you obtain for Year 3 will be used for writing references, for example for PhD places and also as a guide to your ability if special circumstances affect your Year 4 result. It will also be one of the factors considered when allocating final-year projects and Honours options. Hence you should aim to get the best grade possible for both courses at the end of Year 3.
The Level 3 programme has two 3-hour examination (format still to be decided) papers in April/May (dates TBC).
Class tests, lab reports, essays and presentations all contribute to the assessed coursework component. The course work component contributes 30% of your final grade in each course.
The two class tests, one at the end of each semester, will consist of 6 short answer questions, based on the lecture material and all laboratory practical's. You are expected to answer 4 of these questions. Further information on these assessments, including location, will be provided at the beginning of your course.
The Molecular Methods Test will follow the short course that runs in Semester 1. It is an open book, short answer paper.
Lab reports (including the field course report) and tutorial work will contribute to the assessed coursework component.
We will check your work for plagiarism and, when asked, you must provide an electronic copy of a particular assessment.
Two lab reports in semester 1, (one of which is the Field Course Report) and one lab report in semester 2 are assessed. Each is worth 7.5% of the continuous assessment component of each course.
The dates for handing in reports are in the lab manual and on the course Moodle Site, and will normally be three weeks after the lab. For further details, see Details of Coursework to be handed in.
The lab reports will be submitted via the course Moodle page; any late submissions (unless for certified medical reasons) will be penalised for late submission, according to the regulations in the Student Handbook (on Life Sciences Moodle site).
One of the three investigations undertaken on the field course is written up in the format of a scientific paper, and forms one of the assessed lab reports.
The essays are prepared in advance and normally written under exam conditions during the allotted time slot. This is to give you practice of writing 45 min essay answers, under exam conditions.
The posters will be marked on content and on your presentation and response to questions about the content.
In semester 1 and 2, students will meet with their tutor on three occasions, to discuss what is expected in their essays, to discuss reading/understanding of scientific literature and to select the second essay topic from their diaries (semester 1), and in semester 2, to discuss and to present research papers and look at interpretation and analysis of scientific data.
|
Date / Deadline for hand-in |
Items counting towards assessed coursework mark |
Assessment worth |
Staff |
Feedback Provided |
|
|
Semester 1 |
|||||
|
Week 3 |
Tues 03/10/23 9:30am |
Tutorial Essay (1) |
5% |
Tutors |
24/10/23 |
|
Week 6 – Moodle submission |
Wed 25/10/23 9:00am |
Field Course Report |
7.5% |
Dr R Burchmore |
15/11/23 |
|
Week 9 |
Tues 14/11/23 9:30am |
Molecular Methods Test |
5% |
Prof R McCulloch |
05/12/23 |
|
Week 11 |
Mon 04/12/23 10am |
SAQ paper |
5% |
Dr L Sherry |
Jan 2024 |
|
Week 13 – Moodle submission |
Mon 11/12/23 9:00am |
Biofilm Lab Report |
7.5% |
Dr L Sherry |
Jan 2024 |
|
Semester 2 |
|||||
|
Week 2 |
Mon 15/01/24 10am |
Tutorial Essay (2) |
5% |
Tutors |
05/02/24 |
|
Week 6 |
Mon 12/02/24 11am |
Tutorial Essay (3) |
5% |
Tutors |
04/03/24 |
|
Week 8 – Moodle submission |
Wed 28/02/24 9:00am |
Toxin Lab Report |
7.5% |
Dr T |
20/03/24 |
|
Week 11 |
Tue 19/03/24 10am |
SAQ paper |
5% |
Dr L Sherry |
Apr 2024 |
|
Week 11 |
Fri 22/03/24* 9am-5pm |
Poster presentation on Long Investigation |
7.5% |
Tutors |
31/03/24 |
*Posters will need to be submitted via Moodle on Monday 18th March, the date above reflects the presentation day.
The course Reading List is held online at the library – you can find a link to it on the course Moodle site.
During the hours not scheduled for class activities, you should make abundant use of both the University Library and the Student Reading Rooms. Students are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant books and journals in these locations. There is also a small collection of books specifically tailored to the programme in the Joseph Black Building Undergraduate Library which are available for short loan. These are located in the bookcase along the corridor leading to the Molecular and Microbiology Teaching labs.
Get into the habit of reading scientific articles in journals. The Trends in Microbiology and Trends in Parasitology are particularly valuable and you should make an attempt to consult them regularly. Students can subscribe to some journals e.g. the Trends in series and receive a very generous discount. Application forms are usually available within back issues, and verification of your student status is easily obtained from the Programme Coordinator. These will, in the long term, be of more benefit than textbooks.
The major route for delivering information to students is via Moodle, please use the class forum to direct in course related questions - your peers may know the answer! Moodle and emails should be checked frequently for new information on the course, examinations and timetables.
This is situated on the right hand side of the access corridor leading to the Molecular and Microbiology Teaching Lab (A232a). The library is divided into two sections: Parasitology/Bacteriology/Virology and Molecular & Cellular Biology/Genetics. Rules for both sections are the same and are posted on the front of the library. These books are for your benefit, so please make good use of them. Any suggestions for books you would like to see added to the collection are most welcome.
You are strongly advised to acquire skills in computing and Information Technology (IT), in general. Some experience of using computers for specific tasks will be given during the course. The University provides introductory IT courses. You should aim to learn the basic skills required for word processing, use of spreadsheets and databases, production of graphics, use of statistical programmes and electronic communications. We recommend that you use a computer to prepare dissertations, project reports and CVs. This gives a professional appearance to the documents and re-enforces your IT experience.
There is no dedicated student room in the lab area but students may use the tutorial rooms (A2‑30, A2‑31, A2-33a and A2-33b) adjacent to the lab for studying if they are not already booked for teaching. Bookings for the week are posted on the door of each room for information only. Students cannot book these rooms. Please keep the rooms tidy, and do not rearrange the furniture. You are not permitted to eat or drink in these rooms. Please speak to technical staff before accessing these rooms.
Most students on the Microbiology course progress to the Year 4 course. However, if you decide to graduate at the end of the Year 3 year, it is suggested that you consult the Careers Service as early as possible in the year. Relevant career/job/studentship information received will be emailed to the class from the Moodle site’s Staff Announcements.
The Infection and Immunity Society is run by students and organises a number of events throughout the year. They advertise events on the noticeboard, on the Society’s Moodle site, and by e-mail. You are encouraged to join and take an active role in the society. Also inviting class members to join is the Glasgow University Medical Infection and Immunology Society which organises a student-led conference in Semester 1.
The five component courses which make up the final year of your programme are:
1 x project or dissertation course (40 credits)
1 x the core course for your programme (20 credits)
3 x Honours options (3 x 20-credits)
|
Semester |
Day |
Course block |
Suffix on Course Name |
|
1 |
Monday |
Core block |
"…4X core" |
|
1 |
Tuesday |
|
|
|
1 |
Wednesday |
|
|
|
1 |
Thursday |
|
|
|
1 |
Friday |
S1 option block |
"…4Y option" |
|
2 |
Monday |
S2-A option block |
"…4A option" |
|
2 |
Tuesday |
S2-B option block |
"…4B option" |
|
2 |
Wednesday |
S2-E option block |
"…4E option" |
|
2 |
Thursday |
S2-C option block |
"…4C option" |
|
2 |
Friday |
S2-D option block |
"…4D option" |
You should devote THREE days per week to the research phase of the project, normally all day Tuesday, Wednesday AM and all day Thursday during 10 weeks of Semester 1. The remaining half day can be undertaken Monday and/or Friday and/or Wednesday PM, depending on your own taught course timetable and the nature of your project.
You take three Honours options in total: one in Semester 1 and two in Semester 2.
The Semester 1 options are usually taught on Fridays, and you choose one option from the 4Y list.
Semester 2 options are arranged in five blocks, one for each day of the week (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E options). You choose two options from these five blocks, but no more than one for any block.
Once enrolment opens in August, you choose the options that you wish to study in final year. Please note that the list of offered Honours options changes slightly each year as options are introduced, withdrawn or moved to a different block; therefore, options you see in your MyCampus My Requirements report may not be available for you to choose when you reach final year.
You do not have a free choice when choosing options. The following factors determine which options you can take.
Each programme specifies which options are compulsory and recommended for that programme. You must choose options which satisfy the stated Requirements for your programme.
In addition, each option specifies restrictions on admission (“Requirements of Entry” or “Enrolment Requirements”) to ensure that only students with the necessary academic background can enrol on that option. A few options allow any Life Sciences final-year student to enrol while other options only accept enrolment from students registered for a particular programme or set of programmes (for example Behavioural Ecology 4B option specifies the following: “Normally, only available to final-year Life Sciences students in the Animal Biology group programmes”).
A few options require you to apply in advance during Year 3. You cannot take one of these options if you have not been approved in advance. Currently, these are:
Tropical Marine Biology (with Field Course) 4Y option
Marine Mammal Biology (with Field Course) 4Y option
Ecology & Conservation of African Ecosystems (with Field Course) 4Y option
Investigating Biological Function 4B option
Most options limit the number of students that may enrol. For many options, the limit is around 30 students but some options have a lower or higher limit on class size. Enrolment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
An option may be cancelled if too few students wish to do it or if there are other circumstances which mean an option cannot run.
You undertake a piece of independent work in final year, either a project or a dissertation. University regulations stipulate that you MUST obtain at least D3 in the “independent work” course for an Honours degree to be awarded.
During Year 3, you choose which type of final-year project you would like to do. There are four types of project within the Life Sciences portfolio:
Investigative (both laboratory-based “wet” projects and traditional “dry” projects)
Dissertation
Outreach (both School and Public Engagement)
Internship *
* Although the Internship type of project is available in theory to students on any programme, this will depend on internships being offered which are suitable to the programme. Until now, internships have only been available to students in Physiology & Sports Science.
The type of project you are allocated determines which project course you enrol on in MyCampus.
It may not be possible to allocate projects in line with your aspirations but staff seek to maximise each student’s preference. Your grades from Year 3 may be taken into account when project allocations are being made.
If you are a student in the Animal Biology Group (Marine & Freshwater Biology or Zoology), you are encouraged to think up possible projects yourself. However, you must find a member of staff willing to act as your supervisor.
Please refer to the current session’s Project Course Information Document for more information.
The structure of the final-year curriculum is more complex than Year 3. Therefore, it is very important that you use the guidance in MyCampus My Requirements to enrol on appropriate courses. Read the information carefully and ensure than none of the sections on My Requirements are labelled “Not Satisfied”.
This allows appropriately-qualified Microbiology Honours students to graduate with an endorsement on their parchment and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) for:
…with Specialisation in Bacteriology
…with Specialisation in Parasitology
…with Specialisation in Virology
To qualify for an endorsement, a student must take 2 options in the area of specialisation, in addition to the ‘core’ course and the common year 3. Neither the area of the Final-Year project nor the area of the Work Placement Year project will be taken into consideration.
Currently for the academic session 2021-2022, each option is assigned to an area of specialisation. Please note, it is not guaranteed that every option will run each year and the ability to apply for specialisation will be dependent on the options available at that time.
|
Option |
Offered by |
Qualifies for an endorsement in |
|
Industrial & Environmental Microbiology |
Microbiology |
Bacteriology |
|
Molecular and Cellular Microbiology |
Microbiology |
Bacteriology/Parasitology/ Virology |
|
Grand Challenges in Medical Microbiology |
Microbiology |
Bacteriology |
|
Chemotherapy, Resistance and Parasite Control |
Microbiology |
Parasitology |
|
Medical Virology |
Microbiology |
Virology |
|
Emerging Viruses |
Microbiology |
Virology |
Students will only apply for an endorsement retrospectively at the end of Semester 2 of Final Year, not earlier. The Microbiology Programme Coordinator will invite Final Year students to apply at this time. The endorsement will only be applied where a student requested it and was qualified; it will not be automatically applied to any qualified student.
This is not compulsory – you can choose not to have a specialisation even if you qualify.