Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Course
Course
Objectives
The objective of this course in Medical Microbiology and Infectious
Diseases is to provide an understanding of the
scientific basis for prevention, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment
of
infectious and immunologically-mediated human diseases. The
course surveys the immunobiology of human
hosts and the biology of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites. It presents a broad
introduction to immunology, general and pathogenic microbiology, and
host
responses to infectious agents. The
student should develop an understanding of the biological
characteristics of
pathogenic microorganisms, the course of their infections, the
functions of the
immune system, and the actions of antibiotics against these
pathogens. Upon completion of the course, the student
should be able to answer the following questions about each infectious
agent:
- How is the pathogen identified?
What are its specific growth characteristics or distinguishing
biochemical tests? What are its morphological and/or staining
characteristics? What immunological or nucleic acid-based tests
are used to identify the pathogen?
- What diseases does the pathogen cause? What are the most common symptoms?
- Which epidemiological risk factors (age/sex/ethnicity/race/immune status /geographic or occupational exposure) make an individual susceptible to infection/disease?
- How is the pathogen transmitted to a human host? How is it maintained in nature?
- What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
- How does the host defend itself against the pathogen? Does the host response contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease?
- How is infection by the pathogen treated?
- How is infection/disease prevented? Does a vaccine exist to protect susceptible hosts? If so, what is its composition?
Contact Information
Department of Microbiology
and Immunology
Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Telephone: 301-295-3400
Fax: 301-295-1545