Host Defense, Infection, and Pathogenesis (Step 8)

This course integrates the biomedical disciplines of immunology and medicalmicrobiology with the pathophysiology of infectious and/or immunologicaldiseases and the appropriate pharmacology, emphasizing the relevance tothe clinical setting. Students learn fundamental concepts and terminologiesof immunology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology with anemphasis on mechanisms of microbial disease transmission, interwoven withan understanding of host defense mechanisms. A basic understanding of theclassification and characteristics of infectious micro-organisms, the mechanismsby which infectious agents cause disease, methods of both preventionand treatment are highlighted. Causes and treatments of immune diseasesare also emphasized. Students become familiar with the concepts of inflammation,sepsis, cell injury, tissue repair, hemodynamic disorders, geneticdisorders, environmental and nutritional pathology, immunodeficiency diseases,autoimmune diseases, allergy, metabolic diseases and neoplasia.Throughout the course, small group tutorials and interactive clinical correlationsbased on clinical cases link basic science concepts to clinical medicine.Laboratories in microbiology and immunology introduce students to some ofthe basic techniques used in diagnostic laboratories for the identification ofinfectious bacteria, parasites and fungi, and acquaint students with laboratorytests that are routinely performed in diagnostic clinical microbiology andimmunology laboratories. Laboratories also utilize diagnostic unknowns totrain students in the interpretation of clinical case histories and the isolationand characterization of micro-organisms involved in infectious diseases.General pathology laboratories focus on observations of gross specimensand light microscopic examination of diseased tissues to identify the featuresof general pathological processes relevant to diverse disease states. Tutorials,clinico-pathological correlations and laboratories emphasize problem-solving skills, integration of knowledge and independent learning.

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