Course Resources Archive

This module will explore where and how microbes and humans interact. Often, this interaction is a positive one, and this module will look at examples of where microbes are harnessed in order to benefit humans. Unfortunately, not all microbe-human interactions are positive, and during the module we will also study examples of where microbes and humans collide. This module builds on the fundamentals of microbiology that were taught in NS4202 Cells to Organisms and leads into NS6205 Microbial Biotechnology and certain aspects of NS6204 Pollution inEcological Systems.

This module will consist of two highly complementary elements; environmental microbiology and disease biology. In the first section, students will study environmental bacteria and consider the environmental application of specific microbes – this part of the modulewill involve a large practical element. As the module moves on to study certain disease-causing microbes, a more theoretical approach will be taken to cover topics such as how epidemics and pandemics arise, communicable diseases, and antibiotic residence, for example, in MRSA. The module will cover current microbial topics and so the syllabus will be dictated to by the latest and most current themes

A student passing this module should be able to

1. Evaluate the importance of prokaryotic genetic mechanisms and their main metabolic pathways

2. Determine and apply the conditions required for the successful culture of selected micro-organisms

3. Explain the importance of specific micro-organisms in relation to their environment

4. Evaluate the biological, economic and/or social significance of a range of micro-organisms to humans

5. Understand the life cycle and/or transmission strategies of a specific infectious disease

6. Explain the importance of evolution in disease biology

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.