MI3071 - Tropical Microbial Molecular Analysis and Epidemiology

Credit points:	03
Year:	2015
Student Contribution Band:	Band
Administered by:	College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences

This subject has an enrolment limit of 20 students per year. The subject will be available to BMedSc, BMedLabSc students only or by permission of Head of School

This is a vocationally oriented subject aimed at providing practical training for students and future professionals with a microbial research and/or diagnostic focus. The subject introduces the molecular techniques with respect to microbial epidemiology and analysis. It covers both underlying theory and practical application. Areas that the student will be exposed to include quality assurance and measures of error, pipette maintenance, genetic techniques such as nucleic acid extraction, PCR and cloning and computer assisted analytical techniques such as primer design, sequence and SNP analysis, whole genome and next generation sequencing, database searches, testing the validity and robustness of phylogenetic data and identification of markers of microbial pathogenicity and virulence.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the provided theoretical knowledge to practical applications;
• Identify the basic components of the various molecular kits, describe the function of these components and successfully utilise these kits;
• Explain causes of erroneous results and offer solutions;
• Have a working knowledge of sequence databases and appropriate tools for interrogating and analysing these databases;
• Integrate tools for microbial epidemiology, databases and tree analyses to make hypotheses based on problem data.

Assumed Knowledge:	Students should enter the subject with an understanding of genomic structure, DNA replication mechanisms and microbial diversity
Prerequisites:	(3 CP OF LEVEL 2 MI) AND (3 CP OF LEVEL 2 BC)

Availabilities
Townsville, Block, Study Period 7
Census Date 09-Jul-2015
Face to face teaching 29-Jun-2015 to 10-Jul-2015
Coordinator:	Dr Jenny Elliman, Dr Graham Burgess
Lecturers:	Dr Jenny Elliman, Dr Donna Rudd, Professor Bruce Gummow, Dr Graham Burgess.
Contact hours:	25 hours lectures - 2.5 hours per AM session over 10 days 25 hours practicals - 5 hours per day during Week 1 (Mon-Fri) 25 hours workshops/Seminars - 5 hours per day during Week 2 (Mon-Fri)
Assessment:	quizzes or tests (50%); tutorial attendance and participation (50%).
Special Assessment Requirements:	Compulsory attendance of 9/10 practical sessions Satisfactory completion of set competency tasks undertaken during practical sessions
Restrictions:	An enrolment quota applies to this offering.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.