MMED3939 Medical Virology, Immunology and Immunopathogenesis

2020

4.5

2 x 1-hour lectures weekly
6 x 2-hour tutorials per semester
2 x 1-hour seminars per semester
5 x 1-hour on-line exercises per semester

1 BIOL1102 - Molecular Basis of Life
2 2 of BIOL2761, BIOL2722
2a MMED2935 - Human Immunology and Infectious Diseases
3 54 units of topics
Must Satisfy: (1 and (2 or 2a) and 3)

Basic cell biology, DNA, RNA and protein structure and function, basic immunology, basic microbiology (bacteria) and virology.

Examination (50%), Tutorials, Seminar presentation and submission, Quizzes

This topic will extend the students' knowledge of the workings of the human immune system and the concepts of autoimmunity, immunopathology and allergy to an advanced level. In virology, the fundamental aspects of human virology will be extended to include advanced concepts including viral pathology, immunopathology, diversity, acute, chronic and latent infections and the relationship that these properties bear upon the immune responses to viruses. Students will be introduced to key applications of this knowledge in the areas of medicine, laboratory and health sciences.

This topic will provide a forum for advanced studies in medical virology and immunology extending on from the second year subject content provided in BIOL2761 Virology, MMED2935 Human Immunology and Infectious Diseases and BIOL2722 Disease and Immunology. These advanced studies will provide an attractive stream for students entering Flinders University with and interest in human and medical virology and immunology and a new opportunity to study in this area through the BSc or BMedSci course. The overall aims will be to educate students at a relatively in depth level in the medically relevant areas of virology and immunology with the goal to providing knowledge that can be applicable to both laboratory, medical and health science professions.

Students successfully completing this topic will be able to critically explain the workings of:

• innate and adaptive immunity and the role of this in human viral disease

• the maintenance of balance in the immune system and how this effects human viral diseases

• the immune responses and viral infections in situations such as chronic and latent infections and infections associated with serious pathology/immunopathology in humans

• the immune responses to vaccinations and the problems some viruses present to vaccine approaches for human diseases

• Laboratory models in immunology and virology research.