BIOM1005/BIOM1905

Basic Microbiology
for Biomedical Science

My background info.
Clinical Microbiology (Chartered Scientist)
~30 years experience in clinical practice/laboratory management
Public Health Laboratory Service
Health Protection Agency
NHS
Involved in the training biomedical scientists, medical students (HO,
SHO, Registrars)
Clinical patients/Food, Water & Environmental Monitoring
HCPC registered
HCPC Registration Assessor
IBMS External Examiner/Registration Portfolio Verifier (Clinical
Laboratory Training Competence) circa 15 years
Consultant Adviser to Royal College of Pathologists
Trainee Junior B MLSO >Senior Biomedical Scientist >Chief Biomedical Scientist
>Pathology Directorate Manager>DMU
Been at DMU 9 yrs (Fellow of Higher Education Academy)
Undergraduate -Biomedical Science, Medical Science, Pharmacy
Postgraduate MSc Advanced Biomedical Science
Previous form at.Open University(10yrs)&Greenwich University(4yrs)

Module Leader (&

lecturers)
(BIOM1005) Shivanthi Samarasinghe(Module Leader)
Marilena Ioannou
Susannah Walsh
Peter Chimkupete

E-mail Contact Details:

ssamarasinghe@dmu.ac.uk RoomHB1.18
mioannou@dmu.ac.uk Room HB2.25e
swalsh@dmu.ac.uk Room HB2.25k
pchimkupete@dmu.ac.uk Room HB1.32a

My Open Office hours Wednesdays 2pm-4pm

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Basic module information; BIOM1005 (Biomedical Science)

Assessments: BIOM1005

Component

Percentage of Module Mark

Unseen
Exam
Coursework

70
Spot Tests (MCQs)
Spot Test 1 Practical 1

10

Spot Test 2 Practical 2

10

Phase test: 30 min. Timed

Essay, at the last 2h
practical session; Practical
3

10

Total of coursework

30

TOTAL

100

Basic module information; BIOM1905 (Medical Science students)

Theory and module syllabus: Refer to module handbook
BIOM1905 Practical Content
Safety in Microbiology Lab (1h session)
2. Colonial Morphology, Staining and Microscopy (4h session + spot test 1)
3. Results Reading and Phase Test (2h session)

Assessments: BIOM1905

Component
Unseen
Exam
Coursework

Spot Tests (MCQs)

Spot Test Practical (4h
practical session)
Phase test: 30 min. Timed
Essay, at the last 2h
practical session.

Total of coursework
TOTAL

Percentage of Module Mark

70

15
15

30
100

Basic module information; BIOM1005/1905

Spot Tests
Multiple Choice Questions at the beginning of each 4h practical sessions
(BIOM 1005).
Multiple Choice Questions at the beginning of 4h practical session (BIOM
1905).
The spot tests focus on the content of each practical session, and on the
related lectures delivered.
Please enter by the labelled entrance(s) and read and follow the seating plan. Each
test will start at the beginning of Practical session.
Note that students arriving late are not accepted to the spot tests. Make sure
you attend the practical session in time.
Students with disabilities who need additional time for assignments should
inform module leader at the beginning of academic session and arrangements
will be followed accordingly.
Each test for above practical session consists of ten (10) Multiple-Choice Questions
to be answered in ten (10) minutes.

Basic module information; BIOM1005/1905

The Phase test a 30-minute Timed Essay
In this Academic Year this takes place in Term 2. Further details will be posted on
Blackboard (BB). It is intended to give you practice in many aspects of the essay
questions that you will encounter in the final examination for this Module and later
Modules on your course.
The timed essay questions are in the format of those in the Final examination
This phase test gives you practice in answering essays in near-exam conditions.
Your response will be marked and written feedback given to you on your performance
and approach, using the report form in Appendix 7 of this Handbook
The Phase Test will take place in the Microbiology Lab HB 3.21, for each group
at the final 2h practical session.
Students with disabilities who need additional time for assignments should
inform module leader at the beginning of academic session and arrangements
will be followed accordingly.
You will be set ONE of the given TWO questions in module handbook (but you will
only know which one when you begin the test). Refer Module Handbook.

Basic module information; BIOM1005/1905

BIOM1005/1905 Final Examination
Time allowed: 2 hours
Final Examination paper has two sections: Section one- MCQ and Section TwoEssays type questions
Section one: This section is compulsory. You must answer 25 questions on EDPAC
form provided. You are strongly advised not to spend more than 30 minutes in this
section
Section Two: Answer selected 3 questions from section two. Answer each question
in a separate answer booklet

Course content How

delivered?
Biomedical Science students (full-time)
lectures, laboratory practicals and tutorials
Medical Science students (full time) lectures,
laboratory practicals and tutorials
Biomedical Science students (part-time) Integrated
Vocational Pathway- lectures, tutorials
Biomedical Science students (part-time) Institutional
Credits top-up modules - lectures and tutorials
Blackboard

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Suggested Reading
Resources
Books: the course text

1 Madigan, M.T, Martinko, J.M. & Parker, J.(2009-2013)

Brock Biology of Microorganisms 9th/10th/11th/12th/13th
edition Prentice-Hall
Website: http://www.prenhall.com/brock/

2 Reed, R., et al.,(2007-2010) Practical Skills in

Biomolecular Sciences 2/e or 3/e Addison Wesley
Longman

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Sources of information:
Communicable Disease Centre (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/
World Health Organisation (WHO)
http://www.who.int/en/
Health Protection Agency (HPA) now PHE
http://www.hpa.org.uk/
Open Educational Resources HALS OER
http://www.biologycourses.co.uk

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Practical Lab Sessions

Lecturers & Supervisors of Practical classes,
M Ioannou, S Samarasinghe, R Reid, P Upreti
(BIOM1005/1905)
Practicals make up substantial part of coursework
mark for BIOM1005 Module (Biomedical Science)
for FT students
Lab coats/safety specs provided in Microbiology but
these must remain in Microbiology area at all times
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Practical Lab Sessions

Before attending any Microbiology laboratory
practicals you are required to attend a compulsory
Safety Tutorial in Week 1 of Term 2
Also need to sign Safety Declaration in Module
Handbook and submit this to laboratory Supervisor
at first Practical Laboratory Session
Locker is essential for storing
coats/jackets/bags
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Module Info
You need to pass all Yr 1 Modules to progress to Yr 2
Most Modules Exam 70% Coursework 30%
Exams take place April/May
Exam timetables become available via myDMU in
February

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What is Microbiology?
The study of:
Bacteria e.g. Salmonella, MRSA,
Viruses e.g. HIV, Influenza
Fungi e.g. Yeasts, Fungi
Protozoa e.g. Amoeba, Plasmodium
Helminths e.g. tapeworms, Ascaris
Prions e.g. Scrapie, BSE, nvCJD
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What is Microbiology?

Images courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures, Sony Screen Gems, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures

Emphasis on
How microbes interact with
humans

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Emphasis on
How microbes interact with
humans
Before
After

Image courtesy of The Telegraph

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How microbes interact with

humans

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How microbes interact with

humans

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Emphasis on
How microbes interact with
humans
bacteria, fungi, viruses and some
parasites
what they are & what they do,
where they are found
how microbes can be detected & studied
in the laboratory
how their growth can be avoided or
controlled to prevent infectious disease
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Emphasis on
How microbes interact with
humans

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What do microbes have in common?

Structurally very little indeed very diverse
Size is common but highly diverse - all are
small and require microscopy to be seen
Potentially high rates of reproduction
Essential requirements for growth

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Microbiology is important in:

Causation of Infectious Disease

Natural flora of the human/animal body
Production of drugs (especially antibiotics), vaccines
Genetic manipulation (GM, genetic engineering) (pharmaceuticals)
Daily Food/Water production and processing
Beer, wine, bread, cheese, yoghurt, mushrooms,
mycoprotein [QUORN]) food spoilage, food-borne
disease

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Neonates and children

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Elderly

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Developing countries
NTDs

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University

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Outbreaks
Ebola Outbreak (West Africa)
http://www.msf.org.uk/ebola?
gclid=CI7f1sWPi8ECFZTLtAod1gQAAw
Spread by direct contact with bodily fluids/secretions/blood
Since March 2014 there have been 2800+ reported deaths
Not a new disease.Ebola outbreaks been occurring over last
30 years
First recorded in 1976 - outbreak occurred within radius of 70km
of village, Yambuku in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo)
Ebola virus was first discovered by young 27yr old Belgian, Peter
Piot named Ebola after the river
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ALSO Microbes
Cause spoilage (biodeterioration) of food,
drugs and cosmetics (important commercially)
Potential Use Biological Weapons (anthrax,
haemorrhagic viruses)
Essential aspects not addressed in the
Module
Degradation of waste
Nitrogen fixation
Bioremediation (degradation of pollutants)
Biocontrol
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Sources of microbes:
Everywhere!

Environment Soil, Water, Air

People - contaminants on hair/body/clothing or natural
flora
Factory staff/medical staff/
Consumers/patients
Animals - pets, wild animals & birds, insects
Surfaces/equipment within the
laboratory/factory/hospital
Chemicals/components within the
laboratory/factory/hospital

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Next week..
Classification/nomenclature/taxonomy of
microbes Dr Samarasinghe

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