This course is an introduction to basic immunology, virology and microbiology. Emphasis is first placed on understanding the fundamentals of these disciplines, with examples relevant to clinical and diagnostic medicine. Topics covered in Immunology include: Innate immunity; specific humoral effector mechanisms; cells and tissues of the immune system; antigen recognition by T cells; cell-mediated immunity, hypersensitivity; human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism, transplantation; autoimmunity; immunodeficiency. Virology includes: virus classification, structure and replication; pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of virus infections; respiratory, gastrointestinal and sexually transmitted viruses; virus diagnostic methods. Microbiology includes: bacterial structure, classification and growth; mechanisms of gene transfer; diagnostic microbiology; mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, medical mycology and parasitology. And Vaccines.
