Entry requirements

120 credits including 60 credits biology and 30 credits chemistry.

Learning outcomes

After having completed the course the students should be able to:

• account for structure and function of infectious viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi and explain the differences between groups of infectious organisms
• practice different sterilisation techniques and hygienic aspects of infection biology
• explain a general infection process and list the different stages
• account for the most important components of the human immune system and for the components that are important in various types of infections
• describe the most common virulence factors in bacteria, viruses, parasites and worms and explain how they have evolved and how they can be transmitted
• account for the most common diagnostic methods and treatments within infection biology and for the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance
• practice adequate methodology for work with infectious microorganisms
• analyse infection biological research data, draw conclusions, and propose testable hypotheses from the analysed data
• review critically scientific papers in the field

Content

Theory

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, super-antigen, T killer cells.

Virulence factors: Main methods for identification of virulence factors. 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 bactericidals. 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.

- Diagnostics of parasitic diseases.

- 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.

Instruction

Teaching includes lectures, seminars and laboratory practicals. Participation in seminars and practicals is compulsory.

Assessment

Modules: Laboratory practicals and seminars 4 credits; Theory I, 5 credits Theory II, 6 credits

Practicals and seminars require active participation. The theory is examined trough two written exams: an examination of more detailed knowledge after the first part of the course (Theory I) and a comprehensive examination (Theory II) at the end of the course.