BMS3082

Infection and immunity

6 points · 3 lectures per week and 3 hours practical or equivalent · Second semester · Clayton

Objectives The aim of this subject is to build upon the knowledge gained in second year to explore in detail the mechanisms of the body's immune response to infection and also to investigate selected infectious diseases as paradigms of microbe-host interactions. On completion of this subject, students will understand the importance of infection and infectious diseases in human health and disease .
Synopsis The following aspects of infection and immunity will be presented in lectures, tutorials, essays, discussion groups and self directed learning sessions: organisation and medical importance of the immune system; structure and function of antibodies and their role as effector molecules in immunity; the role of T cells and antigen recognition; effector cells in cellular immunity; paradigms of microbe-host interactions in infectious diseases such as toxaemic infections, whooping cough, influenza, tuberculosis, cholera, listeriosis, dysentery, urinary tract infections, sexually-transmitted diseases, herpes virus infections and insect-transmitted viral infections.

Assessment To be advised

Prescribed texts

Mims C A and others Medical microbiology. Mosby, 1993
Salyers A A and Whitt D D Bacterial pathogenesis: A molecular approach ASM Press, 1994
Janeway C A and Travers P Immunobiology: The immune system in health and disease Churchill Livingstone, 1997
White D O and Fenner F J Medical virology 4th edn, Academic Press, 1994

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