69501 Infection and Immune Diagnostics
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 69505 Medical Microbiology AND 69513 Medical Microbiology
Note
If you have already completed 69505 Medical Microbiology in C11216 Graduate Certificate in Science, please apply for recognition of previous learning (RPL) of 69501 Infection and Immune Diagnostics.
Description
Infectious diseases are among one of the world’s leading causes of death. Accurate and rapid diagnostics for pathogens are critical to treatment and control because if we cannot detect it then we cannot treat it. In 69501 Infectious Diseases and Immune Diagnostics, students investigate the different types of organisms that infect humans including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pathogens. Students explore how these pathogens cause disease, how our immune system defends against them and important antimicrobial treatments and vaccination strategies.
In this subject, student’s also learn about modern clinical, molecular and serological diagnostic methods used as well as new emerging diagnostic techniques. Students gain practical experience by applying modern diagnostic methods to identify causative pathogens in clinical samples and evaluate the most suitable antimicrobial treatment. Finally, students also get a chance to design their own innovative diagnostic assay and develop their research, critical thinking skills to evaluate how well their assay performs against current methods used.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe the major types of human pathogens including the disease they cause, their epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention, and methods of detection (including antimicrobial sensitivity testing). |
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| 2. | Work safely in a PC2 laboratory and implement microbial diagnostic approaches, methods and technologies to identify the causative pathogen(s) in clinical specimens. |
| 3. | Apply research methodology, including critically analysing scientific literature, to design novel diagnostic assays and evaluate its performance against other diagnostic approaches for infectious diseases. |
| 4. | Critically evaluate and interpret results from laboratory investigations, and where appropriate, reflect and provide suggestions to problem solve and troubleshoot experiments. |
| 5. | Communicate scientific knowledge, results and interpretations of laboratory investigations to clinical and scientific audiences. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Critically appraise advanced knowledge and evaluate the advanced application of in-depth and up-to-date technical knowledge and research principles in pathology in the context of medical laboratory science. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate relevant scientific literature in the investigation of complex medical and diagnostic problems, and demonstrate assessment, argue for and conduct appropriate approaches to independent research. (2.1)
- Independently engage in laboratory work practices that demonstrate a high-level understanding of health and safety requirements, ethical conduct, risk management, organisation, record keeping and collaborative skills in the context of a professional pathology laboratory. (3.1)
- Demonstrate creativity and innovation, to find, create, evaluate and self-reflect on processes and solutions to medical diagnostic needs with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability within the medical laboratory profession. (4.1)
- Exemplify professional communication of complex ideas and justifications in a rigorous, effective and professional manner across many mediums to peers, industry representatives, government, and members of the public. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The Faculty of Science has six graduate attributes that you will develop during your course at UTS. This subject is intended to develop the following attributes:
Graduate Attribute 1 - Disciplinary knowledge:
Disciplinary knowledge of major types of human pathogens and how they are diagnosed using a range of biochemical, molecular and serological tests in Australian and international laboratories will be learned in the online Canvas modules and practicals.
This disciplinary knowledge of infectious diseases and how they can be diagnosed will be assessed in module quizzes on canvas, the practical exam and the scientific report.
Graduate Attribute 2 – Research, inquiry and critical thinking
Through designing and testing your own diagnostic assay in the practicals, you will learn about the research methodology. You will develop your research, inquiry and critical thinking skills by evaluating and interpreting the performance of your diagnostic assay from data generated in the lab, comparing the results, benefits and limitations to other diagnostic assays (available in the literature or also generated in the lab). These skills will also be developed through searching for relevant scientific articles and evaluating them for your scientific report. You will also use your inquiry and critical thinking skills to interpret clinical information, choose appropriate diagnostic tests and draw conclusions on the most likely causative pathogen in clinical specimens.
Your ability to critically evaluate clinical and laboratory information as well as information in scientific articles will be assessed in the module quizzes, practical exam and scientific report.
Graduate Attribute 3 – Professional, ethical, and social responsibility
In the practicals, you will develop your bench skills and learn to work both independently and collaboratively in pairs within a PC2 laboratory. The practicals labs, including specimen cases you receive and processes undertaken to identify the causative pathogen, are designed to mimic working in a professional pathology laboratory. You will learn about laboratory safety rules and appropriate ways to safely handle different specimens which are potentially infectious. You will also develop your record keeping skills by recording notes, data and results of laboratory tests undertaken and then collating your notes to write your scientific report. You will also learn how to report your laboratory findings to doctors. The appropriate reporting of relevant results is of primary importance in order to provide the doctor with the information needed to make an informed decision regarding diagnostic and treatment.
Your competencies on working in a PC2 lab and reporting relevant results to the prescribing physician will be assessed in your practical exam and module quizzes. Your ability to accurately record and communicate your research findings will be assessed in the scientific report.
Graduate Attribute 4 – Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
The ability to innovate and design creative solutions to address contemporary diagnostic issues will be developed through the design of your own diagnostic assay. You will use reflective practices to optimise your assay, problem solve and provide practical suggestions to troubleshoot and improve the design of your diagnostic assay.
Your ability to reflect on the performance of your assay and provide innovative and creative suggestions to improve your diagnostic assay will be assessed in the scientific report. The scientific report will also assess your ability to provide innovative and creative solutions to address limitations current diagnostic approaches.
Graduate Attribute 5 – Communication
Effective and profession communication to a wide range of audiences is vital to being a scientist. You will develop your scientific written communication skills in the practical classes, Canvas discussion boards and through the process of writing your ‘scientific report’.
Written communication will be assessed in the ‘scientific report’ to communicate the findings of your diagnostic assay to members of the scientific community. Written communication will also be assessed in the practical exam.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject will run over 12 weeks. It contains a mix of asynchronous online content delivered through CANVAS and synchronous in-person lab practicals. Each week, students will work their way through the online self-directed learning modules. There will be 3 modules in total and each module will contain a range of activities and formats. This may include interactive activities, videos, lecture recordings, expert interviews, readings, library tutorials and other online media. There will be small progress quizzes every 2-3 weeks.
Practicals: From weeks 2-10, there will be a 3-hour practical which occurs every week in the HIVE. Prior to each practical class, you need to have completed the previous week’s canvas module and read your practical notes. These practicals are an important opportunity for you to undertake hands on laboratory work and apply what you have learnt in the previous week on Canvas. In each practical you will undertake hands on laboratory work individually or together in pairs and discuss your results with the class.
These practical classes provide an authentic experience of what it is like to work in a diagnostic pathology laboratory from how a specimen is processed to its identification. You will learn about the identification techniques and progress towards the identification of organisms within a specific specimen obtained from various body sites (stool, urine, wound etc), together with patient history. You will also test which antimicrobial will be appropriate for the treatment of the patient (if any). The techniques you learn and your ability to interpret results will be assessed in a practical exam.
In the practical classes, you will also get the opportunity to design and test your own diagnostic assay for an infectious disease throughout the session. The design and results of your diagnostic assay will form the basis for your scientific report assessment task.
Content (topics)
Module 1 – Bacterial pathogens and Clinical Bacteriology: This module will explore clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, how they are transmitted, their pathogenesis and how they are currently identified in Australian and international laboratories.
Module 2 - Diagnostic Virology and serology: This module will explore clinically-relevant viruses, how they are transmitted, their pathogenesis and how they are currently identified in Australian and international laboratories. This module will also examine the immune response to pathogens and how serology is used in diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Module 3 - Fungal pathogens, parasites, and emerging diagnostic techniques: This module will explore clinically relevant fungal pathogens and parasites. This module will also introduce new and emerging techniques and approaches in diagnostic microbiology.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Module Quizzes
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
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|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 10 - 15 questions per quiz. |
| Criteria: | Each quiz is worth 10%. Student’s should submit all four quizzes, however only the highest marks from 3 out of the 4 quizzes will contribute to your grade. Marks will be awarded for correct answers to questions presented in a quiz format. |
Assessment task 2: Practical exam
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
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|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2 hour 30 minutes |
| Criteria: | This in-person pratical exam will assess your disciplinary knowledge, critical thinking, laboratory skills, quality of the interpretation to laboratory findings and written communication. |
Assessment task 3: Scientific report
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
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|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on your discipline knowledge and research of the pathogen and diagnostic method/technique utilised in your design. You will also be assessed on your professional ability to accurately record and communicate your research findings as well as the preparation of your work with adherence to guidelines on scientific report writing such as correct referencing. Your use of research, inquiry and critical thinking to interpret your data within the scope of published literature will be assessed along with your ability to reflect and propose solutions or suggestions that improves your diagnostic assay, with evidence to support your arguments. Finally, your written communication skills will be assessed by your correct presentation of the sections in your report and the correct use of English language and grammar. Your scientific report will be marked against a rubric which will be available in CANVAS. Generative AI should not be used in the writing of this scientific report and you must cite primary sources in your assignment. |
Minimum requirements
A total of 50% or higher must be obtained for a pass in this subject.