VET SC 3512RW - Veterinary Immunology and Infectious Diseases III

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course will incorporate the pre-clinical scientific disciplines of immunology and microbiology, and highlight the relationship between pathogens and disease at the tissue and animal level in various body systems. The course will introduce the concepts of zoonoses and infectious disease implications for veterinary public health.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 3512RW
    Course Veterinary Immunology and Infectious Diseases III
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 15 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites VET SC 2510RW
    Restrictions Available to BSc (Veterinary Bioscience) students only
    Assessment written and practical mid-Semester exams; written and practical end-of-Semester exams; written assignments, oral presentations
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Farhid Hemmatzadeh

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Knowledge of the terminology, basic principles and application of veterinary microbiology and immunology

    2 Knowledge of the terminology, basic principles and application of veterinary public health

    3 Knowledge and application of diagnostic and laboratory skills

    4 Development of practical laboratory skills

    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.

    1,3,4

    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.

    1,3

    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

    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.

    1,3,4

    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.

    1,3,4

    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.

    1,3,4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    This course will require the following texts and other resources:

    1- Quinn,  P. Markey B.K.,  Carter M.,  Donnelly W.J.,  Leonard F. (2011)  Veterinary Microbiology and Microbial Disease. Wiley-Blackwell

    2-Fenner's Veterinary Virology: The 4th Edition; MacLachlan, N. James and Dubovi, Edward J. Academic Press, 2011

    3-A color atlas of virology. Jan Versteeg, Publisher: Chicago : Year Book Medical Publishers, 1985.

    4-IR Tizard Veterinary Immunology 8th Ed ISBN 9781416049890

    Additional reading resources will be required and will all be available through the Roseworthy library facilities

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    3 x 3hr blocks of lectures per week
    2 x 3hr practical sessions per week

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    This course is divided into four components: immunology (30% of total course), virology (30% of total course), bacteriology (30% of total course) and public health (10% of total course). As the course is being redesigned, specific topics may alter, so areas are listed below within each component. Practicals and tutorials will complement the topics listed under lectures.

    Lectures will be divided between the components as:

    Immunology 22 hrs
    ·  Innate & adaptive immunity
    ·  Cells & tissues
    ·  Antibody structure & function
    ·  The infected would
    ·  Antibody technology
    ·  Cell-mediated immunity
    ·  Receptors & cytokines
    ·  Lymphocytes
    ·  Tolerance & autoimmunity
    ·  Hypersensitivity
    ·  Immunodeficiency
    ·  Immunity to specific antigens (parasites, viruses, bacteria)
    ·  Vaccines
    ·  Neonatal immunity
    ·  Comparative immunology

    Virology 35 hrs
    ·  Virus structure and morphology
    .  Virus classification
    ·  Virus replication
    ·  Viral genetics
    ·  Virus-cell interactions
    ·  Pathogenesis of viral disease
    ·  Diseases caused by viruses (Parvovirus, Caliciviridae, Paramyxoviruses, etc)

    Bacteriology 35 hrs
    ·  Bacterial structure
    ·  Growth & nutrition of bacteria
    ·  Classification & identification of bacteria
    ·  What makes a pathogen?
    ·  Host-parasite-environment interactions
    ·  Antibiotics
    ·  Bacterial genetics
    ·  Antibiotic resistance
    ·  Microbial diversity in health and disease

    Practical classes will divided between the components as:
    Immunology 21 hrs
    Virology 21 hrs
    Bacteriology 21 hrs


  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle Yes/No Objective being assessed
    Spot quizzes and in-class activities (6%)
    (4% Virology, 2% Microbiology)
    Formative & Summative 6% No 1, 2, 3, 4
    Group assignments and presentations (12%)
    (6% Virology, 6% Microbiology)
    Formative & Summative 12% No 1, 2, 3,4
    Practical assessments (10%)
    (5% Immunology, 5% Microbiology)
    Formative & Summative 10% No 1, 5
    In-semester exams (23%)
    (10% Immunology, 6% Microbiology, 7% Virology)
    Formative & Summative 23%
    Yes
    1, 2, 3, 4
    Final semester exams (49%)
    (15% Immunology, 16% Microbiology, 18% Virology)
    Summative 49% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    An exemption to the hurdle requirements of the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy has been approved by the Faculty of Sciences for 2022.


    Course component weightings (percent of overall course grade):

    Components Weightings
    Virology 35% 
    Bacteriology & Mycology 35%            
    Immunology 30%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment Item with hurdle % needed or requirement to meet hurdle Is additional assessment available if student does not meet hurdle requirement? Yes or No Details of additional assessment, if available
    Combined in-semester and final written exams Students must attain 50% in total and at least 48% for each component Yes An additional assessment will be offered to the student
    Assessment Detail

    Spot Quizzes and in-house activities (6%): Four Virology MCQ Spot Quizzes will be conducted during lectures and an integrated learning activity (ILA). Two Microbiology MCQ Quizzes will be conducted during ILAs. Each quiz will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

    Group Assignments & Presentations (12%) For the Virology Group Assignment (6%), all students in the class will be divided into small groups. Each group will complete and submit an assignment (2000 words) and a 10-minute presentation at specific presentation times. For the Microbiology Group Assignment, students will choose their partner and group. The assignment will be conducted as part of the Unknown Organism Practicals and will consist of a group mark (4%) and a pair mark (2%).

    Practical Assessments (10%) The practical assessments will comprise of assessment of the immunology practical class laboratory notebook (5%) and the microbiology practical assessment (5%). For the microbiology practical assessment, students will be assessed as a pair on their practical skills (Gram-stain (1%), bacteriological plating (1%), antimicrobial susceptibility plate (1%) and diagnostic flow chart (2%)).

    In-Semester Exams (23%) There will be four in-semester exams covering virology (7%), microbiology (6%) and immunology x 2 (10%).

    Final Semester Written Exams (49%) The final exam is divided into three separated exams on three different days: 1) Virology (18%); 2) Microbiology (16%); 3) Immunology (15%). Each paper may consist of a combination of short answer, multiple choice, and long answer questions.

    Submission
    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.

    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 Access Adelaide.

  • 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • 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’s disciplinary procedures.

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