This 10 week course in the Spring semester integrates microbiology, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial pharmacology. Content covers pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), host-pathogen interactions, microbial virulence determinants, host immune responses, signs and symptoms of disease presentation, epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, prevention (vaccines) and therapy (antimicrobials).
Block Directors:
David Barton, PhD
Edward Janoff, MD
Coordinator:
Ellen Valentine (303-724-2069)
Course objectives
- Name common microbial pathogens.
- Name the diseases caused by common microbial pathogens.
- Describe presenting symptoms of specific infectious diseases.
- Describe laboratory methods used to diagnose specific infectious diseases.
- Explain therapeutic options for specific infectious diseases.
- Describe vaccines to prevent specific infectious diseases.
- Describe key virulence factors for specific infectious diseases and explain how these virulence factors are important in the pathogenesis and symptoms of specific infectious
- Describe features of the innate and acquired host response associated with protection from disease (protective immune responses).
- Describe features of the host immune response associated with immunopathogenesis.
- Appreciate epidemiologic features of specific infectious diseases:
- modes of transmission (aerosols, food-borne, parenteral, sexual, zoonotic, iatrogenic, etc...)
- means of blocking transmission (handwashing, body fluid precautions, pasteurization, mosquito control, etc...)