BI3AM2: Applied Microbiology

Module code: BI3AM2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Glyn Barrett , email: glyn.barrett@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Geraldine Mulley, email: g.mulley@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE BI1FM1 OR ( TAKE BI1S1 AND TAKE BI1BAC2 ) (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop your understanding of the medical, agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications of microbes and microbial biotechnology and how advances in this field can help tackle global challenges including antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, food security, pollution and climate change through the development of novel products, processes and science policies. You will develop the knowledge required to propose well-reasoned, innovative solutions to real-world problems, considering factors required for commercialisation and sustainability.   

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Explain how knowledge of molecular microbiology can be applied to develop new products and technologies, from the initial experimental research through to real-world applications.
2. Provide examples of how microbiological research has facilitated advances in biotechnology and other areas of biological sciences, and explain how this knowledge has been used to change public policies and provide innovative solutions to real-world problems including antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious diseases, food security, pollution, and climate change.
3. Use an evidence-based approach to propose innovative, creative solutions to specific biological problems using microbes and/or microbiological techniques, considering the practical and regulatory processes required for commercialisation or application.

Module content

Topics covered include the application of microbes and / or microbiological techniques in development of:

Medicine and healthcare:

• therapeutics and pharmaceuticals (e.g. antimicrobial agents, gene therapy, bacteriophage therapy)
• vaccines
• diagnostic tests for infectious diseases
• biocontrol agents for vectors of infectious diseases
• probiotics and prebiotics

​Food security and production:

• biocontrol agents for animal pests and plant pathogens
• biopesticides, biofertilisers and plant growth-promoting microbes
• methods to improve food production, safety and preservation
• microbial phytases

Environmental management:  

• biofuels
• sustainable materials including biopolymers
• strategies to decontaminate pollution and degrade plastics
• strategies to manage food waste and wastewater

Biotechnology and research tools 

• recombinant protein production systems
• genetic engineering including CRISPR genome editing tools
• viral vectors 
• ³¾¾±³¦°ù´Ç²ú¾±²¹±ôÌý±ð²Ô³ú²â³¾±ð²õ

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, student-led seminars, self-directed learning and directed independent study. A day trip to visit a nearby biotech facility exploiting microbes in a commercial setting is planned. This could include for example a visit to an anaerobic digestion facility, agritech or landfill site. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard. 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs