James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

MI5051:03

Mechanisms of Infectious Diseases

Townsville HECS Band 2

36 hours lectures, 33 hours practicals. Semester 2.

Staff: Dr G Burgess.

Advanced aspects of the aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment and diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases of medical and veterinary importance will be presented. The major emphasis will be the mechanisms of microbial and parasitic pathogenicity in the different body systems. Antimicrobial and antiparasitic chemotherapy and susceptibility testing in the control of infectious disease and the role of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory will be discussed in detail.

Learning Objectives:

  1. describe the processes whereby bacteria, viruses and parasites are able to cause disease;
  2. appreciate the role of normal microbial flora as disease agents in the compromised host;
  3. understand the principles of antimicrobial and antiparasitic chemotherapy in the control of infectious disease and critically evaluate their usage;
  4. understand the critical role played by the diagnostic microbiology laboratory in the management of infectious disease.

Assessment by laboratory assignments (40%); examination (45%); essay (15%).