Microbiology & Immunology

Catalog description

This lecture course is structured to provide basic information in four broad categories relating to oral health. 1. The evolutionary relationship, structure, physiology and molecular biology of prokaryotic cells as it relates to oral health. This knowledge provides the rational basis for many aspects of chemotherapy, understanding mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, sterilization and disinfection and the host response to infection. Emphasis is placed on bacterial genetics physiology and regulatory mechanisms [MODULE 1]. 2. The relationship, structure and molecular biology of viruses and in particular those infections that relate to oral health. This knowledge provides the rational basis for many aspects of understanding mechanisms of viral pathogenesis, the host response to viral infection, the basis of viral vaccines and chemotherapy [MODULE 1]. 3. The human immune system and its response to challenge by microorganisms. Emphasis is placed on the interactions between antibodies and antigens, the roles of the innate and cellular immunity and the activities of B and T cells. This information provides the foundation for understanding how the host responds to invasion by microorganisms to prevent or lessen the severity of infectious disease [MODULE 2].