This module will provide students with a basic understanding of infectious disease and how the immune system is equipped to overcome the microbial challenge. It describes the nature of microbial growth and pathogenicity, the fundamentals of microbial transmission and infection control and the role of the laboratory in microbial isolation and identification. The module also introduces the key molecules, cells and tissues of the immune system and describes their roles in inflammation and protection against bacterial & viral infection.
Lectures
- Microbial diversity, classification and nomenclature
- Nutritional and environmental conditions required for microbial growth and laboratory culture
- Microbial structure and function
- Nature of microbial-host interaction, bacterial pathogenesis and transmission of infection
- Physical and chemical mechanisms of controlling of microbial growth in the environment and the human host
- Physical barriers to infection
- Innate vs. adaptive immune responses
- The cells of the immune system
- Phagocytosis and opsonisation
- Introduction to inflammatory response to infection
- Tissues of the immune system: primary and secondary lymphoid tissues
Practicals
- Fundamentals of aseptic technique and microbial culture
- Factors affecting microbial growth
- Fundamentals of infection control and environmental screening: air and surface sampling, hand hygiene
- Principles of bacterial characterisation and identification
- The antimicrobial effects of lysozyme
- Morphological examination of key cells of the immune system
- Anatomical and microscopic examination of primary and secondary lymphoid organs
- Demonstration of phagocytosis of opsonised bacteria by neutrophils
Lectures
- Microbial diversity, classification and nomenclature- Nutritional and environmental conditions required for microbial growth and laboratory culture- Microbial structure and function- Nature of microbial-host interaction, bacterial pathogenesis and transmission of infection- Physical and chemical mechanisms of controlling of microbial growth in the environment and the human host- Physical barriers to infection- Innate vs. adaptive immune responses- The cells of the immune system- Phagocytosis and opsonisation- Introduction to inflammatory response to infection- Tissues of the immune system: primary and secondary lymphoid tissues
Practicals
- Fundamentals of aseptic technique and microbial culture- Factors affecting microbial growth- Fundamentals of infection control and environmental screening: air and surface sampling, hand hygiene- Principles of bacterial characterisation and identification- The antimicrobial effects of lysozyme- Morphological examination of key cells of the immune system- Anatomical and microscopic examination of primary and secondary lymphoid organs- Demonstration of phagocytosis of opsonised bacteria by neutrophils
This module will be delivered over two semesters with a total of 42 contact hours. The module will use a mixture of lecture/workshops (20h), practical laboratory work (18h) and tutorials (4h). Attendance at practicals is mandatory.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |