Microbiology & Immunology Course Descriptions
- MED 48801
Host Defense, Infection, and Pathogenesis (Step 8)
Spring, 4th Year, 10 credits
20 hours per week (248 hours per semester)
Duration: 13.4 weeks (includes one week preparation for the National Board of Medical
Examiners - Microbiology Examination)
Prerequisites: MED 30500 and MED 33601
Course Director: Stanley Lipper, M.D.
This course integrates the biomedical disciplines of immunology and medical microbiology with the pathophysiology of infectious and/or immunological diseases and the appropriate pharmacology, emphasizing the relevance to the clinical setting. Students learn fundamental concepts and terminologies of immunology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology with an emphasis on mechanisms of microbial disease transmission, interwoven with an understanding of host defense mechanisms. A basic understanding of the classification and characteristics of infectious microorganisms, the mechanisms by which infectious agents cause disease, and methods of both prevention and treatment are highlighted. Causes and treatment of immune diseases are also emphasized. Students become familiar with the concepts of inflammation, sepsis, cell injury, tissue repair, hemodynamic disorders, genetic disorders, environmental and nutritional pathology, immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergy, metabolic diseases and neoplasia.
Throughout the course, small group tutorials and interactive clinical correlations based on clinical cases link basic science concepts to clinical medicine. Laboratories in microbiology and immunology introduce students to some of the basic techniques used in diagnostic laboratories for the identification of infectious bacteria, parasites and fungi, and acquaint students with laboratory tests that are routinely performed in diagnostic clinical microbiology and immunology laboratories. Laboratories also utilize diagnostic unknowns to train students in the interpretation of clinical case histories and the isolation and characterization of microorganisms involved in infectious diseases. General pathology laboratories focus on observations of gross specimens and light microscopic examination of diseased tissues to identify the features of general pathological processes relevant to diverse disease states. Tutorials, clinico-pathological correlations and laboratories emphasize problem-solving skills, integration of knowledge and independent learning.
