Module BISS3192: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Biomedical Sciences) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BISS3192: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

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

Content

• Tolerance, autoimmunity, transplantation and arthritis.
• FACS and flow cytometry.
• Allergy and hypersensitivity.
• Cell signalling in the immune system and immunopharmacology.
• Transplantation biology and bone marrow transplantation.
• Reproductive immunology.
• Pathogen evasion of the immune system.
• Survey of selected microbial diseases, including historical background, clinical manifestations, mode of entry, route of transmission, major microbial groups involved, and appropriate treatments.
• Control of microbial infections and aspects of public health, epidemiology, and health monitoring.
• Different bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections.
• Introduction to the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying microbial infections.
• Bacterial biofilms, cell signalling and antibiotic resistance mechanisms and their relevance to human disease.

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 the 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.
• Workshops serve to encourage communication skills, team work and opportunities to extend subject specific knowledge.
• Practicals and Laboratory sessions are used to reinforce the subject knowledge identified in other teaching and learning modes, but also serve to enhance subject specific skills.
• Data Handling provides an opportunity for the student to display an ability in bringing together of information and critical assessment of data, often in a clinical context.
• 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.
• 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.
• Unseen examinations are a test of the range depth and sophistication of the students 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.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Practical report.

■ 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