module specification

The module aims to provide students with knowledge of  a range of microorganisms  and the diseases that they cause. Students will develop an appreciation  of how pathogens cause disease and be able to carry out diagnosis from  associated  pathophysiological features.  They will also have knowledge of the  identification, prediction and control of disease. Epidemiology features as a topic area in both the infection and tissue science material.
The module also addresses the gross structure and ultrastructure of normal cells and tissues and the structural changes which may occur during disease (infectious and genetic causes); the principles and applications of laboratory diagnosis including aspects of QA and QC. Students’ will further develop their microbiological, molecular, cellular visualisation and imaging techniques in the laboratory in practical sessions. Theoretical and practical problems will be employed to assist students in the development of their analytical and problem solving capabilities. Case studies will be examined to give students practice in diagnosis.

This module focuses on human pathology involving the evaluation of structural and functional changes in tissues brought about by  infection, inflammation, trauma and neoplasia. Selected examples  will be studied in depth to explore the underlying causes as well as the  pathophysiological features of disease. The epidemiology of selected diseases will be studied and strategies used for  disease control and management will be explored including examples of prophylaxis and therapy.

BC5002

This module will cover clinical pathology  including pathophysiological features of diseases and their cause (e.g. infection, inflammation, neoplasia).
Paradigms of microorganism-host interactions in disease: concepts and mechanisms of infection; pathogenicity and virulence; constitutive and induced host defence mechanisms; microbial evasion/subversion of host defences; rationale  of diagnostic procedures and antimicrobial chemotherapy. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Paradigms of microorganism-community interactions: exogenous encounter; major transmission routes of human pathogens; emerging microbial infections; the role of public health laboratories in disease control; strategies for control of community, health care associated and hospital acquired infections; rationale of immunisation programmes. LO3, LO4

Practical exercises will involve microbial and tissue identification, reviewing disease tissue, fluorescent staining techniques and other molecular biology techniques. LO5, LO6

Students will be provided with the opportunity to acquire knowledge through a programme of lectures (30 hours), problem-solving tutorial sessions (20 hours), laboratory based practical exercises (10 hours) and on-line exercises (25 hours). Students’ ability to make critical evaluations will be developed through analysis of source material and case studies supported by tutorial material. Students ability to attain and critically evaluate data, and scrutinise the data through problem solving activities will be developed through laboratory based exercises. Students will be expected to reflect on taught material in order to demonstrate their understanding of the principles and practices of pathology (total:  300 hours).

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1.  Apply knowledge of the pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of major groups of microorganisms.
2.  Assess  the pathophysiological features  of diseased tissues and organs, and apply the interpretation of laboratory results in diagnosing disease.
3.  Evaluate the relevance of epidemiology in the prediction, control and identification of  current and emerging diseases.
4. Appraise the application of  therapeutic and prophylactic measures.
5. Understand the use of laboratory investigations to integrate clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease.
6.  Work individually and as a member of a team in performing and evaluating microbiological, molecular and cellular laboratory diagnostic procedures.

The module will be summatively assessed by means of two coursework components (60% of the overall module mark) and two time constrained unseen examinations (40% of the overall module mark). The coursework will consist of two elements: a time constrained case study exercise in week 26 (30% of the overall module mark) and a practical report in week 12 (30% of the overall module mark). The case study exercise will test the application of student’s knowledge of disease and associated pathogens. The practical report will assess the ability to gather and interpret data from experiments using diagnostic techniques. The unseen exams will assess knowledge of the subject and its application.

Summative assessment of the case study and the practical report are given within three weeks of the hand-in date.  The coursework components will also be used to provide formative feedback to students. Exemplar case studies are discussed in tutorials to prepare students for summative assessment in case studies. Practical results are also discussed in tutorials which also help to prepare students for summative assessment in the practical report.

To pass the module, students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 40%. There will be an attendance requirement for the practical sessions. If the module is passed on reassessment, then the maximum mark awarded will be 40%.

Component                                                Learning Outcomes          
Practical report (1500 words)                 2,5,6,                               
Progress exam (1.5 hrs)                         1,2,3,4,5,  
Case Study questions (1500 words)    1,4,5
Unseen exam (1.5 hrs)                            2,3,4,5,

Recommended textbooks:
Brooks G.F., Butel J.S. and Morse S.A. (2016) Jawetz, Melnick and Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology (27th edition). McGraw Hill.
Ford,M. (2014) Medical Microbiology (2nd edition). Oxford University Press. Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series.
Glencross, H. Ahmed, N. and Wang, Q. (2016). Biomedical Science Practice (2nd edition). Oxford University Press. Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series.
Hall, A. and Yates, C. (2016). ‘Immunology.’ Oxford University Press. Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series.
Nath S.K. and Revankar S.G. (2006) Problem-based Microbiology. Saunders - Elsevier.
Orchard,G and Nation B. (2017) Histopathology (2nd edition). Oxford University Press. Fundamentals of Biomedical Science series.

Journals:
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
Infection and Immunity
International Journal of Medical Microbiology
Journal of Medical Microbiology
Reviews in Medical Microbiology
Internet:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Federation of European Microbiological Societies: www.fems-microbiology.org
Health Protection Agency: www.hpa.org.uk
Microbe World: www.microbeworld.org
Microbes Info: www.microbes.info
Microbiology On-line: www.microbiologyonline.org.uk
Society for General Microbiology: www.socgenmicrobiol.org.uk
World Health Organization: www.who.int/en