Medical Microbiology

Module code: MB2020

This module will cover the biology of pathogens causing major infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, syphilis and others. Special attention will be paid to virulence factors, stress response, mechanisms of adaptation to the in vivo environment and host-pathogen interactions. The module will also include sections on the diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of major infectious diseases.

Practical sessions will provide training in general handling of microorganisms; methodology for determination of bacterial viability and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents; an introduction to molecular techniques for bacterial isolation from clinical samples and identification. A bioinformatics workshop will aid sequence analysis and identification of bacterial pathogens using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Topics covered

Medical aspects of infectious diseases, treatment of infectious diseases and a concept of virulence factors.

Bacterial pathogens, including:

• Respiratory pathogens
• Enteric pathogens
• Vector-borne diseases
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Urinary tract infection pathogens

Viral pathogens (SARS-CoV-2 virus,-HIV and influenza virus)