BIOB2200 Medical Microbiology and Immunology Course description

Medical microbiology deals with all types of microorganisms that can cause infection in humans, and the immunological response to such infections. Microbiological laboratories are tasked with contributing to the detection and characterisation of infectious agents and, if relevant, antibodies in patients with a suspected infection. This is important to ensure the best possible treatment of the individual patient and to detect an outbreak as soon as possible, identify sources of infection in the event of outbreaks, sanitise the reservoir of infection and implement preventive measures against the further spread of infection.

Basic knowledge of medical microbiology and immunology are important because biomedical laboratory scientists are responsible for conducting and quality assuring the analyses and detection methods used in this type of laboratory. The course emphasises the detection and identification of microorganisms and determination of bacterial sensitivity/resistance to antibiotics, as well as methods for detecting antibodies against microorganisms. Emphasis is furthermore placed on how the different microorganisms cause infectious disease (pathogenesis) and how the balance between the microorganisms’ virulence and the host's immune system determines how serious the disease becomes.

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the important properties of some of the most prevalent forms of human pathogenic microorganisms
• can give examples of how microorganisms can cause disease
• can describe the main principles of antibiotics’ mechanisms of action
• can describe some of the resistance mechanisms of bacteria and explain how bacteria can develop resistance to an antibiotic
• can explain how microorganisms can be determined with the help of microscopy, cultivation, bio-chemical, immunological and gene technology methods and mass spectrometry, and describe the methods’ areas of use, possibilities and limitations
• can assess the importance that findings of different microorganisms can have in different types of sample material
• can explain the principles behind different immunological methods for detection of antibodies against microorganisms and describe the methods’ areas of use, possibilities and limitations
• can explain quality assurance for relevant methods and analyses
• has knowledge of sample collection and the correct treatment of different types of sample material for microbiological investigations, and how analytical, pre- and postanalytical conditions influence analysis results
• can explain principles for sterilisation and disinfection
• is familiar with how social conditions affect the extent of various infectious diseases and the development of resistance at a national and global scale

Skills

The student

• can detect, isolate and identify important human pathogenic microorganisms and carry out resistance testing on antibiotics, quality assuring methods used and assess sources of error
• can carry out and quality assure different methods for detecting antibodies in patients in connection with infection or vaccination and assess possible sources of error related to these
• can perform work in a responsible manner that safeguards infection control
• can follow procedures for responsible waste management both with regards to the danger of infection and the environment

General competence

The student

• is familiar with the laws and regulations relating to infection control in society and the health services
• can reflect on his/her own practice, keeping up with the latest academic research, seeking and receiving supervision
• can interpret an order containing clinical information and provide the correct test result

Fairytales and Creativity is one of the courses under Nordic Childhoods. It focuses on Nordic culture where nature plays an important role in society, aesthetics and in work with children. Joint events with the other Nordic Childhoods courses are integrated, as overnight trips and outdoor excursions. We also visit schools, kindergartens and other institutions. We focus on play, learning by doing, experience and workshops.

In the Fairytales and Creativity course we ask: Why do stories appeal to modern man? In what way can stories contribute to increasing knowledge about today's cultural expressions, and about ourselves? How can we use stories in contexts relevant to different pedagogical approaches? The objective of the course is to introduce students to the storytelling tradition of Western culture and the main theories of myths and basic mythology. Important elements in the course are: the difference between myths, fairytales and legends; structural theories, psychological theories, eclectic theories; myths and religion.

•Literature studies/theory

•Lectures and supervision

•Excursions

•Workshops

•Seminars/discussions

•Cultural exchanges and real life encounters

•Reflective journal

•Individual and group papers/performances

Combined assessment:

Part 1) Individual practical exam, 3 hours.

Part 2) Supervised individual written exam, 2 hours.

One overall grade is awarded based on the following weighting of the parts of the exam: Part 1, practical exam, 70 per cent; part 2, written exam, 30 per cent. Students must be awarded a pass grade A-E for both parts of the exam in order for a student to pass the course.

Resit exam: If the student is awarded an F in one part of the exam, this part of the exam must be retaken.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for part 2 of the exam.

The final assessment is based on two exams. The completion of the two exams will result in one final overall grade. The final grade for the course will be calculated as the sum of the grades for the first and second part worth 60% and 40% respectively.

Part 1

The first part consists of an individual paper on a chosen topic (4000-4500 words. If the student makes a practical product, the written part only needs to be 2000 words). The individual paper should

•have an individually chosen topic and be related to the student's own experiences

•be an in-depth study of the individually chosen topic

•focus on the central parts of the course and make meaningful use of at least 3 texts from the syllabus.

The paper can

•be a purely theoretical study/analysis

•include practical studies

•test out educational ideas linked to the subject

•be a performance etc., including theoretical reflections on the choices made

•focus on the central parts of the course and make meaningful use of at least 3 texts from the syllabus.

The topic must be approved by the course leader(s).

Part 2

The second part consists of an individual product addressing an authentic target group. The student also writes a meta-text 1000-1500 words).

The product should

• have an individually chosen topic/purpose
• represent a deeper understanding of the individually chosen topic/purpose
• address an authentic target group
• be accompanied by a meta-text that argues for the choices made in the product. The text should focus on the central parts of the course and make meaningful use of at least 3 texts from the syllabus.

The topic must be approved by the course leader(s).

If a student fails the exam or is absent at the time of the exam for a valid reason, the student is entitled to resit the exam the following semester. The resit will be organised in the same manner as the ordinary exam. Students who fail the exam may submit an improved paper for the resit exam.

The regulations on resit and rescheduled exams are available in the Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. Students must register for a resit or rescheduled exam.

All examination support materials are allowed. However, Sources must be stated in accordance with applicable rules for source references.

The first exam will be graded by one internal and one external examiners.

The second exam will be graded by internal examiners.

The course is designed to offer a full-time programme in English for students of Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher Education, but is also relevant for students of other professions, including museum education officers, hospital workers and social workers. The period of study is three months. The students may decide to prolong their stay from three to four months after arrival.

Admission

Applicants are admitted as international students at the Faculty of Education and International Studies. Studentsfrom other academic areas may also be accepted. Students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted.