Module BISS3142: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Department: BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BISS3142: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop knowledge and understanding in aspects of infection and immunohaematology, including current approaches to detection of disease and treatment and the molecular mechanisms of microbiological and immunological disease.

Content

• Tolerance, autoimmunity and arthritis, FACS and flow cytometry, allergy and hypersensitivity, cell signalling in the immune system and immunopharmacology.
• cell signalling in microbes.
• transplantation biology and bone marrow transplantation.
• reproductive immunology.
• pathogen evasion of the immune system.
• A systematic survey of microbial diseases, including historical background, clinical manifestations, mode of entry, route of transmission, major microbial groups involved, and appropriate treatments.
• The control of microbial infections and aspects of public health, epidemiology, and health monitoring.
• Introduction to the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying microbial infections.
• Bacterial toxins and adherence.
• Introduction to biofilms.
• The role of biofilms in human disease, medical devices and microbial differentiation.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module students should have an appreciation of the molecular mechanisms of microbial and immunological disease including aspects of: stem cell transplantation, basis of tolerance and unresponsiveness in the immune system.
• Students should have a knowledge of epidemiology, diagnostic tests, treatment of selected microbial diseases and be able to discuss mechanisms microbes employ to cause disease and evade immune response of host.

• Students should be able to work safely in the laboratory using experimental procedures applicable to the study of infection and immunity.
• Students should be able to discuss current topics in the study of immunology and infectious diseases.

• Students should be able to demonstrate an ability to handle and interpret experimental data.
• Students should be able to present information in a variety of ways to critically discuss aspects of disease process.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures provide a solid foundation for knowledge and understanding, both practical and theoretical, and form a framework for students' self-directed learning.
• Seminars are used for in depth exploration of knowledge and to highlight the range of sources of information available to the biomedical scientist.
• Student-led seminars, in the form of workshops, both enhance subject specific knowledge, as well as the development of key skills.
• Laboratory sessions are used to reinforce the subject knowledge identified in other teaching and learning modes, but also serve to enhance subject specific skills such as of accuracy, reproducibility, data recording and interpretation as well as health and safety in the biomedical laboratory.
• Self directed study is provided with a framework from other formal components of the course, but is supported in particular by the Biomedical Sciences DUO site.
• This mode serves to embed both subject specific knowledge as well as extend subject specific skills, for example in critical analysis as well as key skills such as the ability to work independently and in teams.
• CAL is used both to enhance subject specific knowledge, but also to enhance subject specific skills, for example in the handling of biomedical data as well as key skills, such as IT.
• Case studies are a powerful tool to work through biomedical problems from first principles to disease outcome, and as such explore both subject specific knowledge and skills in terms of critical analysis and data compilation, as well as key skills of problem solving and communication.
• Unseen examinations are a test of the range, depth and sophistication of student's knowledge and understanding of the material in a module.
• They also test key skills in ability to present arguments and communicate them effectively in a concise, written form.
• Lab reports test the subject specific skills of scientific analysis and competent experimentation in the biomedical laboratory.
• The ability to analyse critically the data generated is also an important component assessed.
• Posters are used to both assess subject specific knowledge and ability to communicate ideas to others in a format commonly used in biomedical sciences.
• Oral presentations are used to assess knowledge in specific areas, but also to examine the students ability in communication.
• Analytical exercises provide an opportunity for the student to display an ability in bringing together of information and the critical assessment of data, often in clinical context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

CAL workshops.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University