Medical Mycology
| Module title | Medical Mycology |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM534 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Mark Ramsdale (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
Fungal pathogens have a major impact on human health, killing as many people as malaria each year. This Medical Mycology module will provide you with insight into the key concepts relating to human fungal pathogenesis, from fungal virulence to immune defences and patient susceptibility. It will describe the biology of fungal pathogens (including the mechanisms that promote colonisation and infection), how our immune system combats these infections, antifungal drugs and diagnostics used by clinicians, and the problem of emerging antifungal drug resistance.
This module is taught by members of the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology. This module is suitable for students on the biosciences MSci / MSc and MRes taught programmes; the Natural Science MSci programme and the Med Sci MSci programme.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The main aim of this module is to provide you with an understanding of fundamental principles in medical mycology and fungal immunology. After an introduction to key concepts in the field, you will be taught about the nature of fungal infections, state-of-the-art research approaches that are being applied to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenesis, the processes that underlie antifungal immunity, and how fungal infections are treated in the clinic. In addition to learning about this clinically important field, you will engage with original research literature, develop research level critical thinking skills in medical mycology and fungal immunology, and learn to communicate complex ideas to both groups and individuals.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically discuss a variety of types of fungal disease, their impact on human health, and how they are diagnosed and treated.
- 2. Outline and critically evaluate the mechanisms by which a range of different fungal pathogens cause disease in humans, including their virulence factors and fitness attributes, including an understanding of how immune cells recognise fungal pathogens and clear them from host tissues.
- 3. Summarise bioinformatic, genomic, genetic, molecular, cellular and immunological approaches that are currently employed to research fungal pathogenesis and immunology.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Collect and/or interpret quantitative data, including the application of relevant statistical methods.
- 5. Demonstrate competency in the reading and interpretation of primary scientific literature.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate the ability to link and evaluate ideas from different sources to reach evidence-based and independent conclusions.
- 7. Employ different communication styles to communicate effectively to the target audience, including effective academic and scientific writing.
Syllabus plan
This module will explore the following topics in medical mycology via a combination of lectures, research seminars and video demonstrations that include interpretation and evaluation of primary data. The main focus will be on:-
- Fungal pathogens, disease and antifungal therapies
- Fungal virulence and fitness
- Antifungal immunity
- Research approaches in fungal pathogenesis
- Research approaches in antifungals
As part of the module assessment, you will write a critical essay on a selected topic in medical mycology and prepare a patient information leaflet on a specified fungal disease.
Accessibility statement:
Please contact the module convenor if you require any particular support with class sessions.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 132 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 18 | Lectures and Q&A |
| Guided independent study | 42 | Patient information leaflet preparation |
| Guided independent study | 90 | Guided reading of literature / essay preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecturer feedback during sessions (lectures and module round-up) | Ad hoc | 1-7 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Information Leaflet | 40 | Two A4 page Patient Information leaflet including infographics | 1-7 | Written |
| Essay critical review | 60 | 1,500 words | 1-7 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Information Leaflet | Patient Information Leaflet (40%) | 1-7 | February-March |
| Essay critical review | Essay critical review (60%) | 1-7 | February-March |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Primary research literature and review articles chosen by the module co-ordinators and students as required.
- Casadevall A et al. Human Fungal Pathogens Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press (2015)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Exeter Learning Environment (ELE)
- MRC CMM:http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/medicalmycology/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) - https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/
- MRC CMM: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/medicalmycology/
Key words search
Medical mycology, fungal disease, pathogenicity, virulence, antifungal immunity, antifungal drugs, infection
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/10/2019 |
| Last revision date | 12/02/2025 |
