Introduction

Microbiology, the study of micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses, is a vast subject with importance not only for medicine but also in many other areas such as environmental sciences, food technology and brewing. The vast majority of micro-organisms are relatively benign, and most are beneficial in performing an essential recycling role through the turnover of organic materials in the environment. This module is designed to introduce some of the concepts of microbiology, with a clear emphasis on applications relevant to the pharmaceutical sciences. The module will also provide an introduction to later modules dealing further with antibiotics and biotechnology.

Micro-organisms can have significant effects within three main areas of pharmaceutical sciences:

• In causing diseased states, notably due to bacteria, viruses and fungi.
• In generating pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics or vaccines
• In spoilage of pharmaceutical products, typically by bacteria or fungi (yeast/moulds)

Who Should Do This Course?

This course is ideal for bioscience professionals (Academics, Food Technologists, Research Scientists, Pharmacists, Biotechnologists, etc.) and healthcare workers (Medical Practitioners, Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientists). Participants should have at least diploma qualification or second year level achievement in biomedical science undergraduate discipline.

Aims

This course will introduce some of the basic concepts of microbiology, with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical issues. The course will help participants to understand the properties of some micro-organisms and their role in pathogenicity and spoilage of pharmaceutical preparations. A broad training in basic microbiological issues for scientifically aware managers will be provided.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge and Understanding:

After completing this module you will be able to:

• Describe the structure and functions of bacterial cell components and appreciate how antibiotics interact with these components.
• Appreciate the different types of growth media and their use in bacterial identification.
• Describe bacterial growth in open and closed environments.
• Appreciate causative organisms for several diseased states.
• Understand the mechanisms whereby bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance.
• Describe the basic principles of pathogenicity and immunology
• Understand the role of fungi in common medical conditions
• Describe how viruses replicate and cause pathogenicity.
• Appreciate the various methods available for sterilisation of pharmaceutical products.

Discipline specific skills and you will also be able to:

• Safely handle potentially pathogenic organisms.
• Microscopically examine bacteria using a range of stains and examine for motility
• Safely reconstitute penicillin and prepare Total Parenteral Nutrition in an isolation unit.
• Perform aseptic manipulations.

READING LIST
There are numerous basic microbiology books in the library and these will assist in your learning about basic bacterial cell structure and function.

Recommended Texts
Prescott, LM, Harley, JP, Klien, DA. Microbiology 5th Edition McGraw-Hill, Boston, 1999
ISBN 0-697-35439-3

For the more pharmaceutical aspects of the module, the recommended text is:

"Pharmaceutical Microbiology" Edited by W.B. Hugo and A.D. Russell (Blackwell Scientific Publications).

LECTURE CONTENT

Course Content