526-321 Practical Aspects of Characterising Medically Important Bacteria

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Microbiology 526-201 or 526-203 ( 1998 Handbook) and 526-202 or 526-201, 526-221 and 526-202 or 526-204 (1999 handbook).

Strongly Recommended: Biochemistry 521-211 and 521-212 (or 521-201) or Genetics 652-214 and 652-215

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of the subject students should be able to:

• understand and explain the principles and procedures involved in isolating and identifying bacteria, particularly those of medical importance

• perform the necessary manipulative skills involved in bacterial culture, isolation and identification

• apply modern analytical methods (e.g. SDS-PAGE) to problems encountered in a microbiological laboratory.

• retrieve published scientific data relating to a particular topic using computer searches and library facilities (e.g. medline)

• Write up the results of their experimental studies in the format of a paper for a scientific journal.

This subject covers various aspects of microbiology including medical microbiology, bacterial nutrition and growth, media, rapid diagnostic methods, and bacterial taxonomy. All students will do a series of short experimental exercises (i.e. not a project practical course) and write up the results as reports which will be used for assessment. The essay topic to be given out at the beginning of the course will focus on some aspect of current interest.

Assessment

Laboratory work (written reports and oral presentations); personal assessment: and a 2-hour practical examination. The weighting of the components will be advised at the commencement of the subject.