Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
BB40139 Pathogenesis and immune evasion by microbes |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX 70%, SM 30% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take BB20033 |
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Aims:
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to: * give a detailed oral presentation describing and explaining an example of a host-pathogen relationship; * discuss a wide variety of aspects of pathogenic mechanisms and host defences to pathogens; * discuss how such interactions affect the evolution of virulence. Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A. Content: This lecture course will consist of a brief review of vertebrate immunity to infection, followed by specific case studies where the interactions that occur between a named pathogen and its host will be presented (e.g. how a pathogen causes disease, how the host protects itself and how the pathogen evade this host immunity). The final lecture will take the example of Staphylococcus aureus (the MRSA superbug) and will discuss disease management and how this is likely to influence the future evolution of the pathogen. In their seminars the students will be asked to present a named pathogen and discuss the following: its disease, how the host protects itself from it, how the pathogen can evade this immunity, how the disease is usually managed and what effect this may have on the future evolution of the pathogen. |