Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit provides a foundation in microbiology and immunology for future health professionals. The unit will introduce common bacterial, viral, fungal and parastic microorganisms that can cause human disease. It will develop an understanding of how microbial pathogens cause disease and how it is possible to prevent, control and treat these infections. Students will learn about the molecules, cells and tissues of the immune system that provide protection from infection. They will also learn that when these immune processes fail, a lack of immune control can result in cancer, transplant rejection, hypersensitivity, immune deficiency disease, and autoimmunity.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 1 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 2 core unit in the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice; Integrated Dental Sciences; Podiatric Health and Medical Sciences; Medical Science major sequences
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) recognise the types and characteristics of medically important microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites; (2) describe how microorganisms cause diseases in humans, including how they spread, invade the body, and affect our immune system; (3) describe laboratory methods used to identify and diagnose microbial infections; (4) explain the mechanisms of action of selected drugs used to treat infections, and the concept of drug resistance; (5) describe strategies for infection prevention and control, including epidemiology, sterilisation, disinfection and vaccination; (6) outline the early defences against infection including barriers, inflammation, complement, cytokines, and antiviral responses; (7) explain how the process of antigen capture, antigen presentation, and antigen recognition by the adaptive immune system creates enduring immune responses; (8) describe activation of T cells and the effector mechanisms of T cell mediated immunity; (9) describe activation of B cells, antibody production and the effector mechanisms of humoral immunity; and (10) apply foundational immunology principles to describe the basis of vaccination, immune deficiency, hypersensitivity, tumour development, transplanation rejection and autoimmunity.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) final examination; (2) in-semester tests; and (3) workshop/laboratory assessments. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Erika Bosio
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication
and IMED1004 Health and Society - Co-requisites
- IMED2002 Blood and Drugs
Approved quota: 240—a quota of 240 has been set and only students who have successfully completed IMED1003 and IMED1004 in the MJD-IMSCP, MJD-DENTS, MJD-PHMSC, or MJD-MEDSI may enrol. - Contact hours
- Lectures: 3 hours per week
Laboratories: 4 hours per semester
Workshops: 10 hours per semester - Texts
Recommended textbook for Immunology component of this unit is: Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai. Basic Immunology - Functions and Disorders of the Immune System (6th Edition).
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.