BSc Infection and Immunity
Outline
Aims of the programme
The teaching and study of infectious diseases is a young science, whose origin as an independent field of investigation can be traced back to the discovery of microorganisms. Even though infectious diseases have been known for thousands of years, the details of their causes and origins have been known for little more than a hundred. The understanding of immune responses towards pathogens has increased considerably in the more recent past, now providing great challenges to develop effective vaccines for emerging diseases.
Today, the science of infection and immunity is an interdisciplinary subject situated at the interface between medicine and molecular and cell biology. This fact is taken into account by offering MBBS (or BDS) students the possibility of studying these subjects thoroughly in theory and practice in the form of an intercalated BSc in Infection & Immunity.
Detailed knowledge of infectious disease and immunity is important for all doctors, especially with the likelihood of pandemic flu and the ubiquity of infectious diseases in all parts of medical practice. There is a growing need for scientifically trained doctors with an interest in infection, who will be in a position to carry out research to answer basic and translational research questions.
Learning outcomes for the programme
- To understand the role of infectious pathogens in the natural history of disease.
- To understand the basics of molecular and cell biology, and to become familiar with specific aspects of the replication of infectious pathogens and their interactions with their host.
- To understand the impact of molecular and clinical diagnostics on improving disease management and therapy.
- To study in depth a number of basic problems in molecular virology, molecular microbiology and immunology, and a variety of specialist topics not covered in the MBBS or BDS programmes.
- To experience first-hand the process of experimental investigation into the study of a problem in experimental microbiology or immunology, and to acquire specialist laboratory or clinical expertise (as well as data, word processing and presentation skills) sufficient to interpret and report the results of these investigations.
Structure and timing
| Summary for 2012/13 with unit values and approx dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laboratory Methods and Projects (core unit) | 1 unit | Autumn term |
| 2 | Biology of Bacteria | 1 unit | Autumn term |
| 3 | Virology | 1 unit | Autumn term |
| 4 | Immunology | 1 unit | Autumn term |
| 5 | Clinical Infection and Molecular Diagnostics | 1 unit | Autumn term |
| 6 | Project linked to the above taught options | 3 units | Spring term |
Summary of course units
II1. Core course unit 1 – Laboratory Methods and Projects
Course Organiser: Drs Xuenong Bo (Neuroscience/BI) and MT Dittmar (CIID/BI)
This core unit aims to provide an overview of basic research and laboratory skills. It covers basic topics such as safety, experimental design, statistics, use of literature, analysing and presenting data. It involves staff from several departments and course specific project supervisors. (The main part of this course unit will be shared with intercalated BSc students enrolled in Experimental Pathology and Neuroscience).
II2. Biology of Bacteria
Course Organiser: Prof L Hall (CIID/BI)
This unit aims to provide the student with an understanding of the biology and diversity of bacteria, with emphasis on bacteria of clinical importance. Lectures will outline the main groups of pathogenic bacteria, and address the ways in which these groups differ at the cell and molecular level, from each other and from eukaryotic cells. Biological processes relevant to pathogenesis and anti-microbial chemotherapy will be covered. Tutorials will examine topical subjects with reference to scientific literature and current events.
II3. Virology
Course Organiser: Dr MT Dittmar (CIID/BI)
This unit aims to provide the student with a molecular-based approach to understanding viral replication and hence, viral pathogenesis (virus life cycle, virus host interaction). Throughout the unit, the implications of this understanding for the development of viral vaccines, antiviral chemotherapy (immune evasion, antivirals, vaccines) and its impact in the clinical management of viral diseases will be stressed. Tutorials at the end allow the application of new knowledge to understand current ‘hot-topics’ in virology (for instance, novel treatment strategies for HCV infection, RNAi as antivirals).
II4. Immunology
Course Organiser: Dr A Stagg (CIID/BI), Prof RA Mageed (WHRI)
This unit aims to provide the student with a refresher in the basic understanding of immunology as a prelude to studying the subject in more depth. The unit starts by introducing the key elements of the immune system, such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, NK cells etc, outlining specific mechanisms by which these elements contribute to an immune response. The middle section of the unit then discusses examples where these elements converge in immunologically relevant scenarios, such as autoimmunity, vaccination and allergy. Finally, various disease states are discussed, primarily focusing on pathogen/immune system interactions, demonstrating the immune system in its entirety.
II5. Clinical Infection and Molecular Diagnostics
Course Organisers: Dr M Wilks (BLT) and Dr MT Dittmar (CIID/BI)
This unit aims to provide the student with a deeper understanding of clinical infection scenarios using specific examples. Molecular approaches to diagnostics in pathology will be explained. The implications of molecular biology and clinical diagnostics in the different disciplines will be emphasised for disease diagnosis and clinical management and where relevant, treatment.
The lectures will reiterate basic concepts in clinical infection and molecular biology (bacteria, viruses, fungi) and introduce state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to study bacteria, viruses and the immune system (Microscopy, Flow Cytometry, qPCR).
Projects
The following maximal 12 projects will be offered to students for the intercalated degree 2012/2013:
Supervisor | Project |
Prof Lucinda Hall | Genetics of antibiotic resistance |
Prof Tanya Parish | New treatments for Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
Prof Aine McKnight | Innate immunity and HIV |
Prof Catherine Harwood | Human Papilloma Virus |
Prof Ping Wang | Molecules controlling inflammatory cytokine expression in effector T cells |
Dr Richard Waite | Molecular and physiological characterisation of biofilms formed by Cystic Fibrosis pathogens |
Dr Andy Stagg | Dendritic cells and gut immune responses |
Dr Matthias Dittmar | miRNA based therapy of HCV infection |
Dr Patrick Kennedy | Understanding chronic hepatitis B virus. |
Dr Mark Wilks | Application of new molecular methods such as MALDI-TOF or Q PCR and other rapid molecular methods to a current clinical problem |
Dr Duncan Clarke | Molecular Viral Diagnostics for the future |
Dr David Wareham | Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance to Treatment Options of Last Resort |