| CODE | BIO3023 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Topics In Microbiology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will introduce a series of topics that will provide a broad understanding of general microbiology, including: - Microbial cell biology, growth, nutrition and metabolism; - Factors affecting the growth, survival and death of microorganisms. Control of harmful microbial growth. Antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance; - Microbial ecology of aquatic and terrestrial environments; - Recent advances in metagenomics and various plant and animal microbiomes; - Beneficial microorganisms and their importance in biogeochemical cycles; - The application of specific microbes in different industries, including the food and beverage industry; - Environmental biology, the microbiology of soil, food and water; - Astrobiology; - Pathogenic microorganisms and emerging diseases. Practical sessions will include training on tests that are routinely carried out in a commercial microbiology lab. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims at providing familiarity with important topics in microbiology and the state-of-the-art techniques that are applied for our better understanding of the microbial world. Students are expected to have followed BIO1080 ‘Microbial Diversity’ prior to attempting this study-unit. Among the various aims are: - To provide familiarity with the cell biology, growth and nutrition of microbes; - To describe factors affecting the survival and control of microbes; - To describe the microbial ecology of aquatic and terrestrial environments; - To discuss recent advances in metagenomics and various plant and animal microbiomes; - To help recognize that the majority of microorganisms are beneficial and to understand their importance in biogeochemical cycles; - To discuss the application of microorganisms in the industrial production of foods and beverages; - To explain environmental biology, the microbiology of soil, food and water; - To briefly introduce astrobiology; - To understand different interactions between microbes and humans with respect to deteriorative, spoilage and pathogenic types; - To elucidate the action of antimicrobials and the evolution of antimicrobial resistance; - To describe pathogenic microbes and appreciate the importance of emerging diseases; - To provide training through laboratory practices and techniques used routinely in a commercial microbiology laboratory. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain important cellular features of microbial cells, their growth, nutrition and metabolism; - Understand the factors leading to microbial growth and its control; - Define microbial ecology of various aquatic and terrestrial environments; - Explain and critically assess recent findings about plant and animal microbiomes; - Appreciate how microbes contribute to mineral recycling; - Acknowledge the role of specific microbes in different industries; - Understand different aspects of environmental microbiology; - Define astrobiology; - Identify the various factors that lead to pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance; - Recognise the importance of emerging diseases; - Apply basic tests used in the microbiology lab. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically review literature about microbiology; - Recognise the major types of beneficial and harmful microbes; - Identify natural microbial processes that are important in the natural environment; - Acknowledge microbial application in industry; - Employ basic microbiological tests and problem-solving during practical sessions.- Prepare laboratory reports, which include appropriate writing skills, data presentation, analysis and interpretation. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year and 2nd Year Study-Units or equivalent This study-unit includes both theoretical and practical learning. Students are advised that regular attendance at lectures and practicals is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student's attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular. A pass mark in the practical component is obligatory for an overall pass to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Marisa Cassar Gabrielle Zammit (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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