A synopsis of the curriculum
• The major micro-organisms responsible for infectious disease in humans
• Routes of entry and host defences
• Pathogenicity and modes of transmission
• The role of the immune system: Defence of the realm
• The components and function of the immune system – humoral and cell mediated immunity; innate and acquired immunity, antibody-antigen interactions
• Immunisation and vaccination programmes as modern Public Health control measures
• When things go wrong: allergy, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency and transplant rejection
Blended distance learning:
Contact Hours: 110
Private Study Hours: 40
Total Study Hours: 150
Portfolio 30% - composed of 5 individual assignments where topics are applied to the workplace
Assignments 20% - 2 Assignments
2 hr Exam 50% - MCQs (20%) and standard-length questions (30%)
The pass mark for each individual assessment is 40%. All assessments must be passed in order to pass the module.
Playfair, J., and Chain, B., Immunology at a Glance (9th. ed.), Blackwell, Oxford, 2005.
Playfair, J., and Bancroft, G., Inection and Immunity, (3rd. ed.) Blackwell, Oxford, 2008.
Robson, A., and Roitt, I., Really Essential Immunology, Blackwell, Oxford, 2005.
Wood, P., Understanding Immunology, Pearson, Cambridge, 2006.
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of infectious diseases, their transmission and spread.
Develop an understanding of the elements of the immune system in terms of the body's response to infection.
Appreciate the consequences of immune responses.
Demonstrate an understanding of the methods used to manipulate the immune response: and appreciate the role of immunisation and vaccination programmes.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Analyse, evaluate and correctly interpret data.
Present and communicate data effectively.
Obtain and use information from a variety of sources as part of self-directed learning.
Display time-management and organisational skills within the context of self-directed learning.
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