BIOTECH 7004 - Molecular Microbiology and Vaccines
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code BIOTECH 7004 Course Molecular Microbiology and Vaccines Coordinating Unit Molec & Biomedical Science Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 4 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Assumed Knowledge BIOCHEM 2500, MICRO 2500 or equivalent Restrictions Available to Graduate Certificate in Biotechnology (Biomedical), Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology (Biomedical), Master of Biotechnology (Biomedical) and Master of Biotechnology (Biomedical) (Advanced) students only Assessment Tutorial presentation & participation, written assignment, exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Antonio Focareta
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Demonstrate an awareness of the global burden of infectious diseases and understand its impact on world health and future implications for under-developed countries. 2 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the factors that influence vaccine design and development. 3 Develop an understanding of how research based discovery has driven vaccine development in current, emerging and,re-emerging infectious diseases. 4 Critically analyse and interpret the model systems and data used to test the efficacy of vaccines. 5 Develop the skills to critically assess the different types of vaccines available and their suitability for different diseases. 6 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the development of next generation of vaccines to meet future global needs. 7 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of vaccines as a public health strategy. 8 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of strict quality control and regulation in the vaccine production process, and an awareness of issues associated with the manufacturing of vaccines such as good manufacturing practice. 9 Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and variability of bacterial and virus antigens relevant to vaccine development. 10 Develop ability to critically analyse, evaluate, and integrate information from scientific
data and literature.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
1, 3, 5, 7, 10 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
1, 3, 5, 6, 7 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
4, 5, 10 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
No specific text book is required. A manual outlining lecture topics and reference lists will beprovided.Suggested
reading lists, journal articles, web sites and databases will also be
provided as a basis for tutorial discussions and workshop assignments.Online Learning
MyUni is an essential resource for this course and it is important for
students to login regularly to check on important course-related
announcements and material.
Students will find the following on MyUni:
All lectures are recorded
All lecture notes
Tutorial papers
Assignments -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures
Two 50 minute lectures per week with a total of 18 lectures over the semester which are recorded for MyUni.
Tutorials
Eight 2 hour tutorials over the semester.
Tutorials will be delivered either via Zoom (for remote learning students) or face-to-face (for on-campus students). All students are expected to attend in either format. On-campus students are encouraged to attend Zoom sessions as well. All tutorial sessions are recorded and will be available for students. Time zone differences will be taken into account, with adjusted times for remote students (if applicable).Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in this 3 unit course, should expect to spend, up to 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (e.g., lectures, tutorials and workshop), as well as non-contact time (e.g., lecture revision and tutorial preparation).Learning Activities Summary
Lecture Content:
The lectures cover the following areas: Molecular Bacteriology and Virology, Contemporary vaccine use in controlling infectious disease, Immunological responses to vaccines, Next generation vaccines, Contemporary vaccine production and regulation and Case studies of Bacterial and Viral Vaccines.
Tutorials:
Tutorials are based on publications relating to the topics covered in lectures. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment for grading Hurdle Learning Outcome Tutorial presentation Formative and Summative 20%
No 1 -5, 9, 10 Written assignment on a selected topic on vaccines Formative 25% No 1 - 10 Written exam Formative
50%No
2, 3, 5 - 7, 9Tutorial Questions Formative and Summative 5% No 1 -5, 9, 10 Assessment Detail
Tutorial presentation and participation:
Each student will give two oral tutorial presentations based on published research articles
relating to lecture topics over the semester (10% each).
There is a participation mark of 5% as part of the tutorial presentations. Each student has to present a related research article on two occasions during the semester. The rest of the audience not presenting are usually required to actively participate after the presentation by asking and answering questions related to the topic. However, due to the difficulty of implementing this with the mixture of off-shore and on-campus students, the participation mark will be removed.
One written assignment (of 2,500 words) on a selcted topic relating to vaccines.
Final written Examination: A three hour exam covering lecture material only is held during the November examination period.Submission
Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
