Fighting infectious diseases

• Explain the drivers of infectious diseases at the global and local level
• Discuss state-of-the-art methods for preventing and controlling infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance
• Assess the benefits and risks of contemporary antimicrobial strategies on human health
• Develop and assess strategies that contribute to the prevention and control of infectious diseases
• Discuss approaches for prioritizing different intervention options
• Explain and discuss different techniques for whole genome sequencing and use data from these techniques to assemble draft genomes using web-based methods
• Apply web-based bioinformatic methods to identify bacteria, sequence type, antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in whole genome data
• Apply web-based methods for epidemiological investigations related to outbreaks caused by microorganisms and interpret the results in relation to identification of the route and source of infection
• Generate new research questions and studies whose findings could facilitate the development of novel and more sustainable strategies to fight infectious diseases
• Critique scientific articles and communicate the results

History of infectious diseases and means to combat them. The most common groups of infectious disease organism (vira, bacteria, parasites), their modes of transmission (e.g., airborne, vectorborne, foodborne) and risk factors. Methods for preventing, controlling and treating infections: prophylaxis, antimicrobials, immunization (vaccination and monoclonal antibodies), drug discovery, probiotics, bacteriophages, biosensors, antimicrobial peptides, hygiene, intervention (e.g., blocking transmission pathways). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) techniques and assembly. The bacterial species concept, antibiotics – mechanisms of action, mechanisms of resistance, virulence factors, horizontal gene transfer, phylogenetic trees, epidemiology; metagenomic data.

23258/23256, Knowledge in microbial diversity and the basic biological processes related to molecular microbiology, microbial physiology, and host immune defenses. Basic microbiological experimental skills/knowledge, such as microbial cultivation and PCR. Basic statistical skills/knowledge, such as understanding probability and interpreting results of statistical tests as applied in e.g. experimental and epidemiological studies.

Lectures, exercises, team work

Students taking this course may also be interested in 27250. These two courses complement each other well, and you can follow them both. 23205 focusses on current & novel technologies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, and 27250 focusses on the molecular basis of infections and technologies to studying host-pathogen interactions.