General Parasitology

Code:

B/CMED3002

Acronym:

B/CMED3002

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medical Sciences
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2019/2020 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Pahology and Immunology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biochemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:BQ	4	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

Parasites (protozoa, helminths and artrópodes) are causative agentes of importante, often devastating, diseases. This course aims at providing students a broad knowledge of the main parasites and parasitosis afflicting humans. It is also intended that students develop critical capacity and self-learning attitudes.

Learning outcomes and competences

The Parasitology course aims at introducing students to the study of the biological basis of parasitism. At the end of the course, it is expected that the students will have acquired basic knowledge  on different parasite factors and strategies that allow these organisms to infect hosts and cause disease. It is also expected that students learn on aspects of the host response to infection. Finally, students should also be capable of analyzing original articles on the subject, both from the point of view of the specific subject analyzed and of the methodology used.

Working method

Presencial

Program

The course will start by examining the concept of parasite and parasitism and the impact of parasites along human history. Next, we will look at the cell and molecular biology of protozoa such as Plasmodium or Trypanosoma brucei (the agents of malaria and sleeping sickness, respectively), helminths such as Schistosoma (the cause of schistosomiasis) and artropodes like ticks, and at the interaction of these organisms with their hosts to understand how and why they can cause disease. Examples of aspects that will be considered in detail are i) antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei and its importance for the persistence of this protozoan parasite in the host, ii) the capacity of Leishmania spp to modulate the metabolism of their host cells to their own advantage and iii) the induction of a specific type of immune response by worms in order to survive silently in infected animals. Finally, the main factors responsible for the epidemiology and the control of some of the diseases caused by parasites will also be discussed.

Mandatory literature

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

Comments from the literature

Scientific Articles

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and practicals (some laboratory based).

The choice of the syllabus and its sequence enables that students to acquire a number of new and basic concepts related to the parasitism 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 in students and introduces them to some basic techniques.

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Infections
Health sciences > Medical sciences > Veterinary medicine > Zoonesis
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Microbiology
Health sciences > Medical sciences > Veterinary medicine > Protozoan pathogens of animals

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Exame	70,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Elaboração de projeto	20,00
Estudo autónomo	56,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Total:	114,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in a minimum of 3/4 of the laboratory classes

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exam: 70% (14 values) of the final mark.

Paper presentation and discussion: 10% (2 values) of the final mark.

Scientific monography: 20% (4 values) of the final mark.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Paper presentation and discussion.

Scientific proposal - elaboration and discussion

Classification improvement

According to the University directions.