Infection Biology - Clinical Perspectives

Aim

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Explain the mechanisms underlying the ability of various pathogenic microorganisms to cause disease
• Describe the various interactions between the human host and infectious agent, from molecular to clinical level and apply this knowledge to explain clinical manifestations
• Based on mechanisms for the development of infectious diseases, explain principles for diagnostic methods, treatment and prevention of common human infections

Competence and skills

• Plan, perform and interpret experimental and diagnostic laboratory analyzes in medical microbiology

Judgement and approach

• Critically review and discuss scientific publications in infectious biology

Content

The main content of the course is current areas in infection biology, medical microbiology, and virology with a focus on interactions between humans and pathogenic microorganisms, and with a perspective on clinical and global medicine.

The following specific subject areas are included in the course:

• Human microbiota
• Human pathogenic microorganisms
• Interactions between host and pathogenic microorganisms
• Virulence strategies and mechanisms exerted by pathogenic microorganisms
• Microorganisms and immune system
• Vaccines and vaccine development
• Antimicrobial agents and resistance to them
• Epidemiology of human infectious diseases
• Transmission routes and zoonoses
• New infectious diseases
• Experimental and diagnostic methods in medical microbiology
• Infectious diseases in the perspective of global medicine