Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course unit student should be able to

• discuss the main features of the non-specific Immune system which present barriers to infection,
• outline the key features of the specific immune system,
• apply the principles & methods of diagnostic Immunology.

Course content:
Medical Microbiology
Host parasite relationships; pathogenicity; Defense mechanisms in human body.  Infectious diseases affecting the various body systems with reference to their aetiology, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis and control.  A detailed consideration of one infectious disease, that will be used to illustrate general principles applicable to the diseases of the same group. Anatomy and physiology of the sites concerned will also be reviewed briefly. 
Diseases of skin and superficial tissues.  Respiratory tract, urinogenital tract, mouth, ears and eyes infections.  Infections of the central nervous system.  Some common viral and protozoan diseases.  Epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, control of sources and spread of infection by vaccination, antibiotics and the problems arising form their misuse (non-clinical uses of antibiotics).  Mechanisms of antimicrobial action and drug resistance.

Immunology

Inflammation and phagocyte function. Lymphocytes in immune response. Immunoglobulin structure and function. The complement system. Antigens, receptors, and recognition. Microbial antigens; Diagnostic serology and serotaxonomy. Immunochemical techniques. The major histocompatability complex. The modulation of immune response.

Method of teaching and learning:

Throughout the year course with a combination of lectures, tutorials and assignments.

Assessment:

Continuous assessment and end of the course examination.

Recommended reading:

1. Turgeon, M.L (1995) Immunology and serology in laboratory.2nd ed. Plenum. Press, NewYork.
2. Atlas, R M (1996). Microbiology Fundamentals and applications. Wm. C. Brown Publishers
3. Tortora, G.J.; Funke, B.R.; Case, C.L (1998) Microbiology. Benjamin Cummings Publishers, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.