Overview

Topics that will be addressed include: • The concept of the human normal microbial flora and its role in disease. • Factors affecting microbial pathogenesis including the host’s innate and adaptive immune response, and the increased susceptibility of the immune compromised host. • Clinically significant micro-organisms involved in infectious disease of all major and minor organ systems. • The problem of health care associated infections, antibiotic resistance and cross infection. • The microbiology of food and water and the role of the environment in infectious diseases.

Techniques used to detect and identify micro-organisms including microscopy, culture, serology, gene amplification, along with methods for measuring antibiotic susceptibility in vitro, will be considered.

There will be significant use of relevant current journal articles and in depth review sessions to facilitate skills of critical analysis. The presentation of a synopsis of a piece of current research will form part of the module assessment.

This module will be co-taught alongside MSE-3014 Microbiology & Human Disease

Learning Outcomes

• Assess and interpret the action of common infectious agents at the cellular and molecular level.

• Critically appraise current research into aspects of pathogenic infectious disease and its diagnosis.

• Evaluate the immunological interplay involved in defence against infection, and in the cause of a range of pathologies of different body systems.

• Synthesise learning to examine and communicate current relevant research.