Molecular Microbiology (MICR3003)

Course overview

In Molecular Microbiology the fascinating array of intricate microbial components and genetic pathways, principally from of bacteria and fungi, will be revealed with particular emphasis on how these relate to their cellular biology, environmental survival strategies, human infection and treatment of disease. Students will learn how these molecular processes are not only important to the microorganisms but also how they can be exploited through advanced molecular techniques for human benefit (societal, environmental and industrial) and for the advancement of medicine. This course has an emphasis on research and as such consists of current-knowledge lecture material and advanced, comprehensive practicals. Lecture topics include: modern methods of genetic manipulation, environmental sensing and subsequent information management (signal transduction), regulation of gene expression, bacterial operons and regulons, fungal genetics, bacterial physiology and stress responses, bacterial organelles and their function and mechanisms of bacterial persistence. Two extended practical classes include; 1. Advanced methods of gene cloning/protein expression and, 2. High throughput compound screening for antibiotic discovery for the treatment of emerging superbugs.

What are theﾠ major component parts of microorganisms and how are they assembled and how do they coordinate their functions? How do microorganisms relate and react to their environment? How do they communicate? How can we introduce new genes into bacterial cells and why? How do we sequence a bacterial genome and compare it with others? How do antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolve? How do bacteria deal with stress? What molecular mechanisms do bacterial pathogens use to infect humans and cause disease? How is their growth and physiology regulated? How are bacterial spores formed? Molecular Microbiology explores the fascinating answers to these questions and will introduce you to theﾠmolecular methods for answering them. Such answers are important for understandingﾠhow they evolve antibiotic resistance, how they contribute to degrading environmental pollutants, how they can be used in biotechnology, and how they cause disease and how new treatments and vaccines against such diseases can be discovered. This course deals with four major areas of microbial investigation, with a stress on molecular mechanisms underlying the life of microorganisms. 1. Microbial genetics and advanced techniques - cloning, sequencing and expression of genes, whole genome screening and essential gene identification. 2.ﾠ Microbial gene regulation in relation to physiology. 3. Microbial cell biology - structure and components of bacterial cells such as cell walls and how cell processes such as cell division occur, including relevant mechanisms of antibiotic action/resistance. 4. Microbial adaptation - stress responses and environmental adaptation for persistence.ﾠﾠEach of these areas is contributing in a major way to our understanding of the microbial world. The laboratory classﾠtakes you through 2 extended duration practicals of relevant, scenario driven research, exposing you to scenarios of vaccine development for outbreak response, and how to maximise withﾠthe utility of modern molecular biology,ﾠhigh-throughput drug screening to address emerging superbugs.

Course requirements

Assumed background

It is expected students have completed a second level course in microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry or infectious disease so they are familiar with fundamental concepts and can understand relevant scientific jargon and acronyms.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

MICR2000 or MICR2900

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

[BIOC2000 or BIOC2900] or [BIOL2202 or BIOL2902]

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

There areﾠ 2 lectures ﾠper week. All lectures will be face to face, on campus with recordings posted to Echo360 after the lecture.ﾠ

There are ﾠ3 hours of practical work, when timetabledﾠ (students must complete all practicals to pass this course).

There is only one practical session per week, when timetabled.

Please check your timetable regularly at the start of each semester. ﾠPlease check times and venues before classes start, as they may change!

Aims and outcomes

AIMS 1. To gain an understanding ofﾠcell structure and cell division, genetics, regulation of genes and gene expression and physiology, and an understanding of the developmental biology of microorganisms at the molecular level, especially with respect to bacteria, fungi and archaea. 2. To understand how these areas of microbiology can be integrated to provide a detailed understanding of the biology of individual and/or populations ofﾠmicroorganisms as well as antibiotic resistance mechanisms. 3. To master laboratory techniques for, and theoretical principlesﾠof,ﾠbacterial and fungal geneticsﾠthroughﾠa wide range of fascinating and challenging practical exercises. These will include hands on experience with modern molecular biology techniques of gene cloning, gene and protein expression, and compound screening for new antibiotics.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Laboratory Participation

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance

Category

Participation/ Student contribution, Performance

Weight

Pass/Fail

Due date

2/03/2025 - 11/05/2025

Only applicable during timetabled session.

Learning outcomes

L02, L03, L08, L10, L13, L14, L15, L16

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

If a student is unable to attend a practical session they must complete the online exercises pertaining to the missed material. Tutors will be informed when online exercises are complete and will record a PASS mark for that week.

Laboratory Report 1 - Outbreak Response

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

25%

Due date

9/04/2025 2:00 pm

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L02, L03, L08, L10, L15

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

This assignment must be submitted electronically to the Turnitin Portal.

The date and time of submission will determine whether or not late penalties are applied.

Electronic assignment submission via Turnitin is required for Laboratory Report 1.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for Extensions

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension.

Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

If you are unable to provide approved documentation to support your application by the due date and time, you must still submit your application by the deadline but with an attached Word document that outlines why you cannot provide the approved documentation by the deadline. You will then need to acquire and upload the approved documentation to your request within 24 hours. Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting by the requested due date and time.

Prolonged Absence

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester.

Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)

For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g. a medical certificate.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.

In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you w

Laboratory Report 2 - Drug Screening

• Hurdle
• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

25%

Due date

28/05/2025

Other conditions

Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L08, L10, L13, L14, L16

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

This assignment must be submitted electronically to the Turnitin Portal.

The date and time of submission will determine whether or not late penalties are applied.

Electronic assignment submission via Turnitin is required for Laboratory Report 2.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Applications for Extensions

Information on applying for an extension can be found here: my.UQ Applying for an extension.

Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.

If you are unable to provide approved documentation to support your application by the due date and time, you must still submit your application by the deadline but with an attached Word document that outlines why you cannot provide the approved documentation by the deadline. You will then need to acquire and upload the approved documentation to your request within 24 hours. Please note: When an extension request has been submitted and is pending, students are expected to continue to work on the assessment item, with the aim of submitting by the requested due date and time.

Prolonged Absence

If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester.

Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)

For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g. a medical certificate.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period). 10% will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point your submission will receive a mark of zero (0) unless an extension has been approved.

In most instances one or more hurdles will apply to your assessment item so you will need to submit it to fulfil the requirements of the course regardless of how late it is and the mark you are likely to be awarded.

Final Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Other conditions

Student specific, Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L04, L05, L06, L07, L09, L11, L12, L14

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Assessment Hurdles

In order to pass this course, you must meet ALL of the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):

1. You must obtain an overall course mark of 50% or more; and
2. You must obtain an overall mark of 40% or more on the end of semester exam; and
3. You must obtain a minimum weighted average mark of 40% across all other non-examination course assessment items; and
4. You must complete 100% of the laboratory component of the course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Assessment Submission

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.

Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (for example, screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

In the case of a Blackboard outage, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.

Assessment/Attendance

Notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the Course Profile (CP) for your course provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.

A note for repeating students in this course

Only learning activities and/or assessment items completed during the study period of enrolment, including any approved extensions, may contribute to your grade in this course. The whole or partial use of assessment items previously submitted for the same course, for a course at any institution, or for published material, is not permitted without written permission of the Course Coordinator.

Important Note

Turnitin is to be used for assignments/laboratory reports to check for plagiarism. Penalties can be severe for plagiarism.

The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another either intentionally or unintentionally. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

Students should read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Blackboard

The PowerPoint Presentations for each lecture will be supplied in PDF format prior to the lecture where possible.

Course and supplementary material will be posted on the Blackboard and LearnX site for MICR3003 at learn.uq.edu.au

Please check the Announcements section of the Blackboard site regularly for information updates.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.