University of Otago

MICR 221: Microbes to Medicine

18 points - Semester 1

Course prescription

Basic concepts in microbiology, building from the characteristics of microorganisms, through the handling and containment of microorganisms, to medical microbiology and immunology.

Course overview

Microbes are all around us, all over us and all over every surface on earth.  Microbes compose greater than 50% of life forms on our planet and yet it is estimated that only 1% have been identified and studied.  We can’t live without microbes and they benefit our lives immensely.

Many of the microbes that surround us can cause disease and our immune system helps protect us from these microbes. The specialised cells of the immune system work as key defenders, protecting us from infection and disease.

MICR 221 will introduce you to the wonderful world of Microbiology and Immunology. You will learn about the immune system and the key cells and pathways of the immune system and also learn about the world of microbes. 

The labs will teach you essential skills in handling and manipulating microorganisms and include looking at the treatment of microbial infections with different pharmaceutical preparations

MICR 221 is essential if you want to carry on in Microbiology but it is also a useful addition to a wide variety of courses.

90% of students in the MICR 221 class in 2012 evaluated this paper as a 1 or 2 (high grade) when asked how valuable they had found it.

Lecture course overview

MICR 221 is a 32-lecture course that gives you a general introduction to Microbiology and Immunology. Lectures cover the following areas:

Module 1: Bacterial Powerhouses 

1.  Powering the bacterial cell through polymer breakdown

2.  Transport across the bacterial membrane – the importance of membrane proteins in bacterial growth

3.  Metabolic flux in Escherichia coli

4.  Pump it up – proton pumps and the chemiosmotic hypothesis

5.  ATP generation by a nanomolecular machine: the F1F0 ATP synthase

Module 2: Microbial Growth and Control 

6.  Physical and chemical requirements of microbial growth

7.  Bacterial nutrition

8.  The two sides of bacterial endospores

9.  Physical control methods

10.  Chemical control methods

Module 3: Medical Microbiology 

11.  Symbiosis

12.  Impact of symbiosis on human health and disease

13.  Impact of microbe, host, and medicine on disease

14.  Food-borne diseases

15.  Respiratory infection

16.  Sexually transmitted diseases

17.  Microbial virulense factors and their host targets

Module 4: Immunology

18.  Introduction to the immune system

19.  Antigen acquisition

20.  The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and antigen presentation

21.  Antigen presentation and costimulation

22.  T cells

23.  B cells

24.  Effector cells of the immune system

Module 5: Virology 

25.  An introduction to the diversity and abundance of viruses: there is more to viruses than a phage

26.  The emergence and evolution of viruses: where do new viruses come from?

27.  How do viruses transmit from host to host?

28.  Virus transmission within a host and the targeting of susceptible cells

29.  The principles of expression and replication of viruses with RNA genomes

30.  Viruses with DNA genomes and the concept of host manipulation

31.  Antiviral drugs – the targeting of key steps in viral replication

32.  Virology tutorial

Lab course overview

The MICR 221 paper includes a 6-lab course. The labs aim to teach you fundamental laboratory skills and reinforce concepts discussed in lectures. You will learn basic bacterial culture techniques, how to grow bacteria, how to estimate bacterial numbers and how to identify bacteria.  You will gain microscope and staining skills and visualise microbes using the microscope. The labs will also see you look at medically important microbes including a look at the bacteria on your own skin and a look at pharmaceutical products that can be used to control microbe infections.  The labs will see you also learn eukaryotic microbes such as fungi, protozoa and algae. 

The MICR 221 lab course covers:

  • Lab 1. Microbiological techniques
  • Lab 2. Identification of bacteria
  • Lab 3. Enumerating bacteria
  • Lab 4. Eukaryotic microorganisms and viruses
  • Lab 5. Skin infections
  • Lab 6. Gastrointestinal microorganisms

Assessment

  1. Terms Test 1 (15%)
  2. Terms Test 2 (15%)
  3. A 3-hr final exam (70%)

Course prerequisites

Prerequisites:
CELS 191 & CHEM 191 & HUBS 191 & 18 further 100-level points

Recommended preparation or concurrent study:
GENE 221

Course Timetable

Lectures:

Mon: 11:00-11:50, College of Education Auditorium
Wed: 11:00-11:50, Burns 1
Fri: 11:00-11:50 (weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 only), Castle 1

Practical:

Tue: 14:00-17:50 or Thu: 14:00-17:50
Labs are held in room 201, Microbiology building
Note: Practical sessions are fortnightly.

 

Textbooks

Essential Text:
Madigan, M. and Martinko J. 2012. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 13th edition (2012), Global edition, Prentice Hall

Teaching Staff

For more information on this course, please contact Dr Judith Bateup (judith.bateup@otago.ac.nz)

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