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Unit of study_
MICR3921: Microbes in Health and Disease (Advanced)
2025 unit information
Microorganisms are vital to life on Earth. By examining the role of microbes in healthy ecosystems, and high profile recent cases in emerging infections, students will gain perspective on the critical role that microbes play in health and disease. This unit is structured along three themes: 1. Microbes in the anthropocene: you will evaluate the role of microbes in healthy and disturbed ecosystems and how epidemiology and surveillance can track disease outbreaks; 2. Emergence of microbes: you will explore how and why infectious diseases emerge and re-emerge; 3. Current challenges and new approaches: you will evaluate the role of microbes in chronic diseases and diseases of unknown cause, and how new drugs and treatments are developed and used. This advanced unit includes six tutorial sessions on current challenges and new approaches that support self-directed learning with discussions on contemporary microbiology topics. The integrated practical component teaches advanced practical skills in culture, microscopy and molecular biology in the PC2 laboratory context. Workshops and professional tutorials relate the material to the real world. This unit sits at the forefront of modern medical microbiology and will equip you for a career in microbiology in areas including fundamental research, industry, biotechnology, hospital services, policy and teaching, among others.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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A mark of 65 or above in (MIMI2X02 or MEDS2004 or MICR2X22 or BMED2404) |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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MICR3011 or MICR3021 or MICR3911 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Fundamental concepts of microorganisms, biomolecules and ecosystems |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Assess, analyse and evaluate the role of microbes in our environment, how they can act to provide healthy ecosystems, water, food, animals and people, and how this can be disrupted, resulting in disruption leading to disease outcomes.
- LO2. Evaluate and develop an advanced understanding of how microbes might emerge or re-emerge to impact on global health, using specific illustra�ve examples.
- LO3. Evaluate and develop an advanced understanding of the ways in which important microbes pose ongoing challenges to human and planetary health, and new approaches to meet these challenges.
- LO4. Interpret complex microbiology laboratory findings, analyse data and assess and validate methodologies.
- LO5. Demonstrate and develop an advanced, high-level practical dexterity in the biosafety context and knowledge and skills relevant to the microbiology profession.
- LO6. Critically evaluate and synthesise the research literature and other sources to create and communicate independent ideas and knowledge relating to microbes in current real-world challenges.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
