Entry requirements

120 credits including 40 credit points/60 credits biology and 20 credit points/30 credits chemistry.

Learning outcomes

The overall the aim of the course is that the student should obtain advanced knowledge of molecular mechanisms that lie behind the pathogenesis of the most common infectious diseases.

After the course, the student should be able to:

� account for structure and function of infective viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi and what that distinguishes the different groups of infective organisms.

� account for different sterilisation techniques and hygienic aspects of the infection biology

� describe a general infection process and name the different main stages

� account for the most important component of the human immune system and which parts that are important at different types of infections

� describe the most common virulence factors of bacteria, viruses, parasites and worms and how they have evolved and how they can be transferred

� account for the most common diagnostics and treatment methods within the infection biology and mechanisms for antibiotics resistance

� work safe with infective microorganisms

� analyse data in infection biology, draw conclusions from these and design testable hypotheses from the analysed data

� critically analyse scientific work within the area

� lead and summarise discussions during seminars and mini-symposium

� communicate knowledge in infection biology in writing and orally.

Content

Lectures

During the course, a large number invited persons from hospitals, authorities and companies lecture about the latest findings within different aspects of infection biology.

General infection biology: History, principles for classification of infective bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans.

Bacteriology: The fundamental structure of bacteria, especially structures important for pathogenicity and virulence. General properties for medical important bacterial infectious diseases. Importance of different virulence factors, e.g. . exotoxins, the endotoxin, secretion systems, the invasiveness, intracellular survival, antigenic variation and other mechanisms to avoid the immune system.

Virology: Components and structures of virus particles and the basis for the classification of virus. The stages of a viral infection and biological differences between RNA and DNA virus. Main host defence against viral infections. The basis for diagnostics, immunoprophylaxis, drug treatment and drug resistance.

Parasitology and mycology: General and specific properties of infective protozoans, worms and fungi. The climate's influence on the infection spectrum.

Immunology: Natural barriers. Function of pathogen associated molecular patterns (BIGWIG) and Toll receptors. Inflammatory reactions. Complementary system. Innate immunity, dendritic cells, NK cells, antigen-presenting cells interferon. Connection to adaptive immune system. Adaptive the immune system, MHC, antibodies, T-cell receptors, the super-antigen, T killer cells.

Virulence factors: Main methods for identification of virulence factors (IVET, subtractive hybridisation, transposon mutagenesis and use of gene fusions). Chemotaxis and two-component systems. Different methods for binding, invasion of host cells, principles for intracellular survival, secretion, toxins and gene regulation. Transfer and evolution of virulence factors. Different theories of evolution of virulence.

Diagnostics: Growth of microorganisms. The main types of microscopy use at analysis of infectious diseases. The basis for PCR, RT-PCR, immunofluorecsence, ELISA, FACS and Western blotting.

Vaccination and phage therapy: Basic principles for vaccination. Socio-economic aspects on vaccination. Importance of adjuvant. New types of vaccine. The basis for phage therapy.

Antibiotics and antibiotics resistance: Principles for antibiotics mechanisms. Definition of bacteriostatic and bactericidal. Mechanisms for origin of antibiotics resistance and its importance within the healthcare. Rational using antibiotics.

Laboratory sessions

- Studies of modes of action of antibiotics. Identification of resistent mutations.

- Identification of unknown antimicrobial substance.

- Studies of host parasite interactions. Toll receptors and bigwig.

Seminars

Reading and critical examination of current scientific articles within the infection biology. Teacher-supervised group discussions.

Construction of super-bacteria. Discussions in group and the presentation. Understanding of virulence factors.

Mini-symposium

During the course, the students are divided in groups of two. The group will read a current scientific article dealing with one of the infective organisms covered in the course. A scientific abstract is written, a presentation is prepared and be presented to the course.

Instruction

The course includes lectures, seminars and laboratory work. Participation in seminars and practicals is mandatory.

Assessment

Participation in laboratory course, mini-symposium and seminars compulsory. Two written assignments are included: a detailed examination after half course (module 1, 4.5 credits) and an overall examination (module 2, 6 credits) at the end of the course. To pass the course requires passed compulsory parts and passed results of both the examinations.

Other directives

May be credited in a degree together with the course 1BL178 Molecular Infection Biology NV1, 7.5 credits, that in all 21 credits.