Foundations of Immunology and Microbiology

Module Description

This foundational module is designed to provide medical students with an in-depth understanding of the immune system and the microbial world, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This module integrates the study of the mechanisms of immune response, pathogen biology, infection processes, and the principles of vaccines and antimicrobial therapies. Through lectures and case-based learning, students will explore the dynamic interplay between pathogens and the host immune system, gaining insights into disease pathogenesis, diagnostic microbiology, and the current challenges in infectious disease medicine. Emphasizing both the immune system's protective roles and its involvement in disease, this module prepares students for clinical problem-solving and informed decision-making in medical practice.

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Module Goals

• To equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the immune system's structure, function, and role in defense against pathogens.

• To understand the mechanisms by which key organisms cause disease, and the role of the immune system in both host protection and disease manifestations,

• To understand the mechanism of action of antibiotics and mechanisms of drug resistance

• To foster critical thinking skills in diagnosing infectious diseases, selecting appropriate treatments, and preventing infection transmission.

• To encourage the application of immunological and microbiological knowledge to understand current and emerging challenges in infectious disease and vaccine development.

• To apply concepts related to immune cells and molecules in the setting of human disease, including primary and secondary immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, organ transplantation, and cancer.

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Module Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, students will:

Module Learning Objective	Medical Education Program Objective
Identify and describe the functions of key immune cells (granulocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, T-cells, B-cells) and molecules (cytokines, complement components, antibodies) within the innate and adaptive immune systems	Knowledge for Practice 8. Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients.
Classify major pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, using their structural features and life cycles to outline their biology and host interactions.	Knowledge for Practice 8. Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients.
Explain how pathogens cause disease, detailing processes such as invasion, toxin production, and immune system evasion, including the role of microbial virulence factors.	Knowledge for Practice 8. Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients.
Explain how immune cells generate a diverse repertoire, and cooperate with each other, to recognize and clear invasive pathogens.	Knowledge for Practice 8. Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients.
Interpret the results and implications of diagnostic tests in microbiology, such as culturing, staining, molecular diagnostics and other novel technologies used for microbial identification, noting their principles, applications, and limitations.	Knowledge for Practice 9. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care
Describe the mechanisms of action and resistance for antimicrobial agents, as well as strategies use to prevent selection of resistant strains.	Knowledge for Practice 10. Apply principles of public and population health to the identification of health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for patients and populations.
Outline the different types of vaccines, describing the advantages and limitations of each, and describe the processes involved in vaccine development, including the challenges faced and ethical considerations, particularly in the context of emerging pathogens.	Knowledge for Practice 10. Apply principles of public and population health to the identification of health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for patients and populations. 12. Create and present a scholarly product related to the field of medicine.
Recognize the use of immune molecules (antibodies) in diagnostic tests and advanced therapeutics to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases.	Knowledge for Practice 9. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care.
Formulate diagnostic hypotheses and treatment plans based on immunological and microbiological knowledge, utilizing clinical case studies to apply this knowledge practically.	Patient Care 3. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.