Infection Biology

Code:

CM4000

Acronym:

CM4000

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medical Sciences

Instance: 2018/2019 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Imuno-Physiology and Pharmacology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Biochemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:BQ	6	Plano de Estudos do MBIOQ_2013-2014	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The Biology of Infection course aims at introducing students to the biological basis of Infection. The mechanisms of resistance to infection as well as the microbial factors that allow microbes to infect will be addressed. At the end of the course, it is expected that the students will have acquired basic knowledge regarding the host response to infection and the different microbial strategies employed by infective microorganisms. Students should be able to relate these two aspects, ie, should understand the basis of infectious diseases and of infection models. Students should also be capable of analyzing original research papers on the subject, both from the point of view of the specific subject analysed and of the methodology used.

Learning outcomes and competences

The choice of the syllabus made by the Unit lectures and its sequence enables students to acquire a number of new and basic concepts related to the infective process on its whole. The way how the syllabus is introduced (lectures seeking active student participation as well as, lab classes and foruns for student presentation and analysis of scientific articles) favors the development of critical attitudes and introduces students to some basic techniques.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1.Historical perspective of the infectious diseases.

2.Epidemiological aspects of the infectious diseases.

3.The immune response to infection:presentation based on key examples.

3.a.Innate immunity.

3.b.Humoral immunity.

3.c.Cell-mediated immunity.

3.d. Immunity based on cytotoxic mechanisms.

4.Microbial virulence:

4.a.Bacterial virulence. Toxins. Cellular microbiology.

4.b.Viral virulence.

4.c.Fungal virulence.

4.d.Protozoan virulence.

5.Helminths.

6.Biofilms.

7.Consequences of infection:

7.a.Immunopathology.

7.b.Infection and autoimmunity.

8.Therapy and prevention of infectious diseases.

Mandatory literature

FEG Cox;; Modern Parasitology: A Textbook of Parasitology. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0632025855/ ISBN-10: 0632025859

Complementary Bibliography

Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai; Cellular and molecular Immunology, Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0323222754

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures (which will include the discussion of experimental data), laboratory classes  and oral presentation of scientific manuscripts by the students.

Teaching methodologies (chosen to promote discussion with students) allow presentation of the basic concepts related to infection in a dynamic way facilitating comprehension by students. They also enable students to learn “how to think” scientifically the infective process”. In order to allow students to have a clear perspective of the biology of infection, classes will focus on specific aspects of infection caused by virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and helminths as well as in aspects common to all these organisms. Classes and other types of student interaction enables that the concepts introduced are acquired with a critical attitude.

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Immunology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Microbiology
Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Infections

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Exame	80,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	16,00
Estudo autónomo	90,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Terms of frequency: Attendance of a minimum of 3/4 of the classes is mandatory.

Calculation formula of final grade

Oral presentation of a scientific manuscript has a weight on the final mark of 20%, while the final examination (or the mean of the 2 mid-term tests) have a weight of 80%.