Microorganisms are by far the most ubiquitous organisms on the planet, and underpin healthy ecosystems through nutrient recycling and biodegradation, as well as providing many aspects of plant and animal nutrition. They are used in many industrial processes such as producing enzymes, vitamins and antibiotics, and in the manufacture of some foods and beverages. Microorganisms can also cause problems, however, such as human, animal and plant diseases, poisoning, pollution and spoilage. The small size of most microrganisms means special techniques are required to view, measure, classify and identify them. In this unit of study, the diversity of microbial life, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa, and their importance to humans, are introduced. The course is designed for the students wishing to major in microbiology as well as those requiring microbial skills while specializing in related fields, such as molecular biology.
Theoretical aspects of microbiology are supplemented with laboratory classes that teach the safe handling and viewing of microrganisms, and draw on research in microbiology laboratories.

This unit of study is based on MICR2021 with replacement of some material to explore some more advanced aspects of introductory microbiology (lecture and tutorial). The content and nature of this component is based on current topics in microbiology and may vary from year to year. This advanced material is assessed in the form of short answer questions in the end of semester exam.

Pathogenic microbes cause infectious diseases of humans, animals and plants, and inflict enormous suffering and economic losses. Beneficial microbes are important contributors to food production, agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental processes. The aims of MICR2022/2922 are to explore the impacts and applications of microbes in human society and in the environment at large, and to teach skills and specialist knowledge in several key areas of microbiology. Medical Microbiology lectures will cover bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens, and will introduce the concepts of epidemiology, transmission, pathogenicity, virulence factors, host/parasite relationships, host defences, prevention of disease, and antibiotic types, functions, and resistance. Lecture topics in other areas include Food (preservation, spoilage, poisoning, industrial context), Industrial (fermentation, traditional and recombinant products, bioprospecting), Environmental (nutrient cycles, atmosphere, wastewater, pollution, biodegradation) and Agricultural (nitrogen fixation, plant pathogens, biocontrol) microbiology. The laboratory sessions are integrated with the lecture series and are designed to give students practical experience in isolating, identifying and manipulating live potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

This unit of study is based on MICR2022. A science communication exercise is unique to MICR2922 and consists of three small group sessions exploring how recent advances in microbiology are communicated to the wider public. This advanced component replaces one assignment exercise from the practical class and is assessed as short essay. The content and nature of this component is based on recent publications with potential high impact for society.

This unit introduces the diversity of microbes found in soil, water, air, plants and animal environments. Through an examination of their physiology and genetics it explores their interactions with plants, animals and each other, and their roles as decomposers and recyclers in the environment. The soil is a rich microbial environment, and the concept of soil health and its relationship to plant growth is discussed. Practical classes introduce techniques and skills in isolating, quantifying and culturing microbes, designing and interpreting experiments to study microbial growth, and in preparing and presenting data.

This unit is designed to further develop an interest in, and understanding of, medical microbiology from the introduction in Intermediate Microbiology. Through an examination of microbial structure, virulence, body defences and pathogenesis, the process of acquisition and establishment of disease is covered. The unit is divided into three themes: 1. Clinical Microbiology: host defences, infections, virulence mechanisms; 2. Public health microbiology: epidemiology, international public health, transmission, water and food borne outbreaks; 3. Emerging and re-emerging diseases: the impact of societal change with respect to triggering new diseases and causing the re-emergence of past problems, which are illustrated using case studies. The practical component is designed to enhance students' practical skills and to complement the lecture series. In these practical sessions experience will be gained handling live, potentially pathogenic microbes. Clinical tutorial sessions underpin and investigate the application of the material covered in the practical classes.

This unit is available to students who have performed well in Intermediate Microbiology. This unit is designed to further develop an interest in, and understanding of, medical microbiology from the introduction in Intermediate Microbiology. Through an examination of microbial structure, virulence, body defences and pathogenesis, the process of acquisition and establishment of disease is covered. The unit is divided into three themes: 1. Clinical Microbiology: host defences, infections, virulence mechanisms; 2. Public health microbiology: epidemiology, international public health, transmission, water and food borne outbreaks; 3. Emerging and re-emerging diseases: the impact of societal change with respect to triggering new diseases and causing the re-emergence of past problems, which are illustrated using case studies. The unique aspect of this advanced unit that differentiates it from the mainstream unit is six tutorial style sessions that replace six mainstream lectures in the theme 'Emerging and re-emerging diseases'. These dedicated research-led interactive advanced sessions support self-directed learning and involve discussion around specific topics that will vary from year to year. Nominated research papers and reviews in the topic area will be explored with supported discussion of the relevance to and impact of the work on current thinking around emergence of microbial disease. The focus will be on microbial change that lies critically at the centre of understanding the reasons for the emergence of new diseases and challenges in an era of significant scientific ability to diagnose and treat infection. The practical component is identical to the mainstream unit and is designed to enhance students' practical skills and to complement the lectures. In these practical sessions experience will be gained handling live, potentially pathogenic microbes. Clinical tutorial sessions underpin and investigate the application of the material covered in the practical classes.

This Unit of Study introduces students to key areas of research in molecular microbiology. Building on knowledge gained in MICR2021 and MICR2022, as well as MBLG1001, the lectures explore areas of microbial evolution, pathogenesis, physiology, ecology, biotechnology and genetics, with each key theme explored with a series of 6 lectures led by an expert in the field. Lectures will be complemented with practical/tutorial sessions that explore recent research in these areas. The first set of practical/tutorial sessions are small-group sessions led by demonstrators, that are focused on critical interpretation of the scientific literature in the area of host-microbe interactions. The focus is on experimental design, and analysis of the raw data. The second set of pracs are bioinformatics labs, which introduce software such as ORF Finder, BLAST, ClustalX, and TreeView and databases such as NCBI-Nucleotide and KEGG; the aim is to figure out the identity, functions, and biotechnological applications of a mystery piece of microbial DNA. It is strongly recommended that students also take the complementary unit of study MICR3042 or MICR3942.

This unit of study introduces students to key areas of research in molecular microbiology. Building on knowledge gained in MICR2021 and MICR2022, as well as MBLG1001, the lectures explore areas of microbial evolution, pathogenesis, physiology, ecology, biotechnology and genetics, with each key theme explored with a series of 6 lectures led by an expert in the field.The first set of practical/tutorial sessions are small-group sessions led by an academic, which are focused on critical interpretation of the scientific literature in the area of host-microbe interactions. The focus is on evaluating the scientific significance of published papers, and determining the level of experimental support for key conclusions. The second set of prac sessions continue with the small-group, academic-led critical evaluation of scientific literature, but with a different topic area (mobile genetic elements); the focus is again on evaluating significance, and linking experimental methods to conclusions. It is strongly recommended that students also take the complementary unit of study, MICR3042 or MICR3942.

Research in molecular microbiology is needed to tackle problems in medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and biotechnology. This Unit of Study focuses on developing practical skills and training in experimental approaches and that are essential for laboratory research in molecular microbiology, together with knowledge of the underlying theoretical concepts. We will focus on key areas of modern microbiology including Bioremediation, where micro-organisms are used to break down harmful substrates in the environment; Microbial biotechnology, which explores how microbes can be used as cellular factories to produce useful products; Medical microbiology, where molecular epidemiology is used to track a disease outbreak, and Yeast genetics, where we explore genes and protein interaction networks that cells regulate in their response to antibiotic agents. It is strongly recommended that students also take the complementary unit of study MICR3032 or MICR3932.

Research in molecular microbiology is needed to tackle problems in medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and biotechnology. This Unit of Study focuses on developing practical skills and training in experimental approaches that are essential for laboratory research in molecular microbiology, together with knowledge of the underlying theoretical concepts. In this Unit the practical component is entirely replaced by a research project undertaken in an academic microbiology lab. The lecture material in MICR3942 is focuses on the areas of microbial biotechnology and bioremediation, and the genetic and molecular diversity of medically important eukaryotic microbes. It is strongly recommended that students also take the complementary unit of study, MICR3032 or MICR3932.

This unit of study will focus on the microbial communities that dominate soil, animal, marine and freshwater environments, and on functional interactions between the organisms that make up these communities. Students will investigate how the development of molecular methods in environmental microbiology and molecular ecology has provided new insights into the function of microbial communities in the environment. The course material will build on knowledge gained in MICR2024, and will particularly emphasize the importance of complex microbial communities in processes such as nutrient cycling and species interactions. At the end of this unit, students will be able to describe modern methods of molecular microbial ecology, outline the diversity and dynamics of cultured and uncultured aquatic, human and soil microbial communities, and will understand how the interactions between the organisms in these communities govern nutrient cycling in soil and water environments. They will develop their analytical inquiry skills through the critical analysis of research papers in the field of microbial ecology, gathering and evaluating information concerning microbial communities in the environment, and practice collaboration and discussion skills through group presentations.

Viruses are some of the simplest biological machinery known yet they are also the etiological agents for some of the most important human diseases. New technologies that have revolutionised the discovery of viruses are also revealing a hitherto unappreciated abundance and diversity in the ecosphere, and a wider role in human health and disease. Developing new gene technologies have enabled the use of viruses as therapeutic agents, in novel vaccine approaches, gene delivery and in the treatment of cancer. This unit of study is designed to introduce students who have a basic understanding of molecular biology to the rapidly evolving field of virology. Viral infection in plant and animal cells and bacteria is covered by an examination of virus structure, genomes, gene expression and replication. Building upon these foundations, this unit progresses to examine host-virus interactions, pathogenesis, cell injury, the immune response and the prevention and control of infection and outbreaks. The structure and replication of sub-viral agents: viroids and prions, and their role in disease are also covered. The practical component provides hands-on experience in current diagnostic and research techniques such as molecular biology, cell culture, serological techniques, immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses and is designed to enhance the students' practical skills and complement the lecture series. In these practical sessions experience will be gained handling live, potentially pathogenic microbes. Tutorials cover a range of topical issues and provide a forum for students to develop their communication and critical thinking skills. The unit will be taught by the Discipline of Microbiology within the School of Molecular Bioscience with the involvement of the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology within the Sydney Medical School.

This unit is available to students who have performed well in Intermediate Microbiology and is based on VIRO3001 with additional lectures related to the research interests in the Discipline. Consequently, the unit of study content may change from year to year. Viruses are some of the simplest biological machinery known yet they are also the etiological agents for some of the most important human diseases. New technologies that have revolutionised the discovery of viruses are also revealing a hitherto unappreciated abundance and diversity in the ecosphere, and a wider role in human health and disease. Developing new gene technologies have enabled the use of viruses as therapeutic agents, in novle vaccine approaches, gene delivery and in the treatment of cancer. This unit of study is designed to introduce students who have a basic understanding of molecular biology to the rapidly evolving field of virology. Viral infection in plant and animal cells and bacteria is covered by an examination of virus structure, genomes, gene expression and replication. Building upon these foundations, this unit progresses to examine host-virus interactions, pathogenesis, cell injury, the immune response and the prevention and control of infection and outbreaks. The structure and replication of sub-viral agents: viroids and prions, and their role in disease are also covered. The practical component provides hands-on experience in current diagnostic and research techniques such as molecular biology, cell culture, serological techniques, immunofluroescence and immunoblot analyses and is designed to enhance the students' practical skills and complement the lecture series. In these practical sessions experience will be gained handling live, potentially pathogenic microbes. Advanced lectures cover cutting-edge research in the field of virology in small group discussions and presentations that provide a forum for students to develop their communication and critical thinking skills. The unit will be taught by the Discipline of Microbiology within the School of Molecular Bioscience with the involvement of the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology within the Sydney Medical School.

This unit of study explores diseases in human caused by viruses, with focus on the way viruses infect individual patients and spread in the community, and how virus infections are diagnosed, treated and/or prevented. Host/Virus interactions will also be described with a focus on the viral mechanisms that have evolved to combat and/or evade host defence systems. These features will be used to explain the symptoms, spread and control of particular human diseases ranging from the common cold to HIV. The unit will be taught by the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology within the Sydney Medical School with the involvement of associated clinical and research experts who will contribute lectures on their own special interests and with contributions from the Discipline of Microbiology. In the practical classes students will have the opportunity to develop their skills in performing methods currently used in diagnostic and research laboratories such as molecular analysis of viral genomes, immunofluorescent staining of viral antigens, cell culture and the culture of viruses.

This unit is available to students who have performed well in VIRO3001 or VIRO3901 and is based on the VIRO3002 course with inclusion of tutorials, including with leading research medical virologists, enabling students to gain additional experience with cutting edge virology research. The content of this unit may change from year to year based on research interests within the department.