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Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PA30245: Pharmacology of infection & immunity

Click here for further information Credits: 12
Click here for further information Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Click here for further information Period: Academic Year
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 20%, EX 80%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
To familiarise the students with the pathogenic mechanisms of infectious disease, the human host response to infection and the pharmacology of anti-infective agents; to describe the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with acute and chronic inflammation, to illustrate the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases and to introduce the pharmacology of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs; to illustrate clinical cases through problem-based learning.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit, the student will demonstrate an understanding of 1) the innate, inflammatory and adaptive host defence mechanisms against infectious agents in man; 2) the key features required by micro-organisms to cause human disease and how the relevant prominence of virulence determinants contributes to the type of disease caused; 3) the role of excessive stimulation of host defence mechanisms in themselves causing human disease; 4) the pharmacology of agents targeted at the exogenous infection or endogenous host defence response, and 5) the student will be able to give a short oral presentation based on group study of appropriate clinical cases.

Skills:
Scientific and practical skills (T/F/A)
Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F)
Oral communication skills (T/F)
Problem solving (T/F)

Content:
This course introduces the concept of how micro-organisms cause infectious disease. It outlines the general defence mechanisms of the human body against infection and the ways in which micro-organisms defeat these systems. A number of paradigms of infectious diseases will be used to illustrate the critical stages of pathogenesis, namely adhesion, replication, evasion of host defences and damage to the host. Pharmacology of anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and other anti-infective compounds. Mechanisms of acute and chronic inflammation, inflammatory diseases and their treatment. An introduction of the role of the immune system in chronic inflammation. Problem based learning applied to relevant clinical case studies.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PA30245 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.