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Microbiology

Code: 102660
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Veterinary Medicine OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Dolo Vidal Roig
Email :
dolors.vidal@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Dolo Vidal Roig
Francesc Accensi Alemany

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Although there are no official prerequisites, it is advisable for the student to keep in mind the knowledge acquired in the Microbiology subject (taught in the 1st year) and in the Immunology part of the Physiology subject (taught in the 2nd year, just before the start of this subject)

Objectives

This is a compulsory second course subject in which the student will have to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge that will allow him to obtain knowledge of Virology and on the applications of Immunology in Veterinary Medicine, especially focusing in vaccines as a measure of prevention and control of infectious diseases.


The specific training objectives of this subject are:

- Introduce the student to the basics of Virology.

- Provide knowledge about techniques and methods of work in Virology.

- To know the main virus of veterinary significance (focusing on emerging pathogens and zoonotic agents), as well as the existing control systems of such pathogens

- To know the applications of viruses in different fields: biotechnology, ecology...

- To know the prions and the problems that they produce

- Introduce to the student the applied aspects of the immune response, such as vaccines and immunodiagnostic tests.


Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate information obtained during professional exercise in a fluid manner, orally and in writing, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
  2. Seek and manage information related with professional activity
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of English to communicate both orally and in writing in academic and professional contexts.
  4. Identify the technical applications of immune response.
  5. Recognise the bases of immunodiagnosis techniques.
  6. Describe the main types of vaccines.
  7. Explain the nature, structure and genetics of viruses.
  8. Recognise the microorganism-host relationship, virulence and the pathogenicity mechanisms of viruses.
  9. Recognise and characterise viruses as causal agents of disease in animals in order to diagnose and control them.
  10. Describe and appreciate the applications of viruses.
  11. Identify basic taxonomy of viruses.
  12. Apply suitable methodologies for the study of viruses.
  13. Describe the basic diagnosis techniques of virology.
  14. Interpret the results of the basic microbiological techniques in virology.

Contents

The theoretical content of the subject is divided into six thematic blocks:

  • Block I. Introduction to Virology. History. General characteristics of viruses. Viral replication cycle. Virus-host relationship. Environmental factors. How to fight viruses. Taxonomy: historical perspective and foundations of the current ICTV taxonomy.
  • Block II. Immunodiagnostic techniques: assessment of humoral and cellular immune responses.
  • Block III. Vaccines: Introduction to vaccinology. Vaccines and serotherapy. Types of vaccines. New vaccine strategies.
  • Block IV. Main viruses of veterinary interest I: DNA viruses.
  • Block V. Main viruses of veterinary interest II: RNA viruses.
  • Block VI. Prions. Importance in veterinary medicine and public health.

The content of the laboratory practices of the subject is divided into three blocks with a total of five practices:

  • Virology: titration of a bacteriophage.
  • Immunological techniques applied to diagnosis and research: phagocytosis assay, Rose Bengal test and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA).
  • Vaccines: preparation of an autovaccine.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Practical sessions in the laboratory 8.25 0.33 3, 4, 14
selflearning 11 0.44
Autonomous study 32 1.28
Seminars 3 0.12 2, 3, 4
Tutorial class 2 0.08
Master classes 15 0.6 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

The teaching methodology used during the learning process of this subject is mainly based on the student's work. The task of the teaching staff will be to guide the students in this task, both by providing them with information (or advising on where it can be obtained), and by guiding and supervising the student's work. Thus, the following training activities will be carried out:

  • Lectures: through this type of class, the student acquires the basic scientific knowledge of the subject that they will need to complement later with personal and independent study. Once the lecture has been given, the student will be able to download from the Campus Virtual platform the MS Power Point presentations that the teaching staff will use in each lecture, in order to be able to use it as a guide/support for the study.
  • Practical sessions in the laboratory: through this type of class, held in small groups, the aim is to contrast, complete and reinforce the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes. The student will be able to download the practice script from the Campus Virtual platform. This script will be written in English. At the end of the internship there will be an evaluation activity that will consist of a short test exam on the Socrative platform that will serve students to assess their use of the practical sessions and as a formative evaluation for the ordinary exam.
  • Scheduled tutorials: tutorials are sessions arranged to inform about the content and development of the teaching activities of the subject: as well as to resolve doubts, clarify concepts, correct errors and discuss specific aspects of the subject.
  • Group work / seminar: The group work activity aims to improve the ability to communicate and synthesize a scientific topic and at the same time promote teamwork. Thus, the knowledge obtained in the theoretical and practical sessions of the subject will be worked on, with the aim of delving deeper into certain aspects, while promoting critical discussion. In addition, this activity will promote the ability to analyze and synthesize: after reading a scientific article provided by the teacher (in English), students, in groups of 4-5 students, will have to make a presentation in MS Power Point/canva or similar with the text of the slides in English, which will be briefly presented to the teachers and other students on a pre-agreed date. A presentation session of the activity will be held for all students (scheduled in the schedule) in order to clarify any doubts, especially methodological ones, that may arise in carrying out this work.

Other teaching material provided to the student during the course will be available through the Virtual Campus platform. In addition, the aforementioned platform will be used as a mechanism for exchanging opinions and information between students and the subject's teaching staff.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Exam (of laboratory practices) 5% 0.25 0.01 1, 7, 10, 11, 14
Oral presentation (group) 20% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Examen 75% 2.5 0.1 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

The assessment will be individual and will be carried out continuously during the development of the different activities scheduled for the subject.

The minimum overall score to successfully pass the subject is 5 points out of 10.

The overall weight of each of them will be as follows:

  • Exam (75% weight in the overall grade): it is a written test on the knowledge acquired throughout the subject (during lectures, seminars or practicals), which the student will have to take on the date set in the general schedule. The exam will consist of short or development questions. Maximum score for the exam in the overall grade (out of 10): 7.5 points. In the event of not passing the exam or not having appeared for it, there will be the possibility of taking a retake on the dates indicated in the general schedule of the course. The exam will be written in Catalan (if a version in Spanish is desired, it must be requested at least 15 days in advance). The exam must be passed to pass the subject.
  • Group Work Activity (20% weight on the overall grade): In groups of 4-6 students, students will have to make a brief oral presentation on a scientific article proposed by the professor. Maximum score on the overall grade (out of 10): 2 points.
  • Exam on the use of the practices (5% weight on the overall grade): a multiple-choice test will be given with the Socrative program in the last session of the practices, after a group tutorial to review and resolve doubts. Maximum score on the overall grade (out of 10): 0.5 points.

The completion of the work and attendance at the practical sessions in the laboratory are mandatory. Without their completion, the student will not be able to take the exam, being considered as "non-evaluable". If the student does not appear for the exam and/or oral presentation (group work) he/she will be considered as "non-assessable".

This subject does not provide for the single assessment system.

Bibliography

Bamford, D. & Zuckerman, M. A. (eds). 2021. Encyclopedia of Virology, 4th edition. Academic Press.

Shors, T. 2017. Understanding viruses, 3rd edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning

Murphy, K.; Weaver, C. & Berg, L. 2022. Janeway's Immunobiology. 10th edition. W. W. Norton & Company.

Tizard, I. 2017. Veterinary Immunology. 10th edition. Saunders.

Gómez-Lucía, E. et al. 2007. Manual de Inmunología Veterinaria. Pearson.

 

Software

No special software is required. In any case, the use of a text editor (MS Word or similar) or presentations (MS Power Point or similar) will be necessary.


The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed when doing group work, exclusively in support tasks, such as information search, text correction, translations, etc. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency of the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 3 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 3 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 4 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 4 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 5 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 5 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 6 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 6 Catalan first semester morning-mixed