Postgraduate Course: Host responses to infection (INAH11002)
Course Outline
School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course aims to promote an understanding of the host responses to infection, including intrinsic and extrinsic strategies for disease control.
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Course description |
The main body of the course description should ideally cover a number of elements:
Host responses to infection focuses students on several critical aspects of the host immune response and their interaction with infectious agents. An overview of innate immunity is given, as well as content focused on the adaptive immune response. More specific topics such as acute and chronic inflammation, wound healing and repair and hypersentivity are also covered. The course is designed to give students an initial introduction to these topics, and is not all-encompassing; it is aimed at students with little or no previous experience of immunological concepts.
Each week a set of course notes is released, alongside recommended reading and resources. Additional case studies, focusing on particularly important veterinary diseases are given regularly in addition to the course notes, to illustrate the academic concepts outlined in the course notes and reading in an applied context. There is a weekly discussion board for students to ask questions and share their learning with fellow classmates.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | Students will be required to have regular access to a networked computer, and will be responsible for providing their own computing equipment and consumables. |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Flexible |
Course Start Date |
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Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Online Activities 60,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
116 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online discussion in both a synchronous and asynchronous environment will contribute further to the final mark. In combination with the submission of electronic course assignments, these elements will provide the remaining 40% of the final mark. |
Feedback |
Summative assessment consists of two written assessments, worth 30% of the total mark each, and an online element worth 40%. In each case, comprehensive written feedback is provided individually within 15 working days of the assessment deadline. Students are expected to reflect on their feedback, to seek additional clarification if appropriate, and to use this to improve on future assignments of a similar nature.
Formative assessment consists of discussion around what is expected of each piece of assessed work for the course. This is conducted in an open discussion forum for all students to contribute to and provides an opportunity to clearly understand the key requirements for each assignment before submission. Any student can post questions about the assignment and a response will be posted on the discussion board by the course tutor within 3 working days. |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have demonstrable knowledge of the components and roles of innate and acquired immunity and how they affect each other, shown by an ability to explain and describe these relationships accurately
- Describe the significance of cell-mediated immune mechanisms in different infections and disease states
- Critically assess the relatively importance of the different mechanisms that control infectious diseases in the host, and how these vary between infectious agents
- Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of susceptibility and resistance to disease, and the immunological basis for this
- Show critical awareness of how the immune response can be used as a diagnostic tool, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of immunodiagnostic tools, and demonstrate their awareness through clear communication to others and appraisal of opinions counter to their own
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Reading List
The following text books are recommended reading to accompany this course. Earlier editions of these books will also be acceptable. Electronic versions of these books may also be available for download to electronic reading devices:
¿ Veterinary Immunology 9th edition. Tizard, I.R. Elsevier (2008), ISBN-10: 1455703621, ISBN-13: 978-1455703623.
OR
¿ Roitt's Essential Immunology 12th Edition, Martin, S.J., Burton, D.R., Roitt, I.M, Wiley-Blackwell (2011), ISBN-10: 1405196831, ISBN-13: 978-1405196833.
OR
¿ Veterinary Immunology: Principles and Practice, Day, M.J., Manson Publishing (2010), ISBN-10: 1840761431, ISBN-13: 978-1840761436.
This book exists in the University library collection and chapters may be available as scanned copies from library staff. See http://edin.ac/1diroDd for details.
OR
¿ BIOS Instant Notes in Immunology 3rd edition (2011), Lydyard, Whelan and Fanger, Taylor & Francis. ISBN-10: 0415607531, ISBN-13: 978-0415607537.
OR
¿ Janeway's Immunobiology 8th edition, Murphy, K., Garland Science (2011), ISBN-13: 978-0815342434.
The 5th Edition of this book can be freely accessed here (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=imm.TOC&depth=2) but can only be searched rather than browsed.
OR
¿ Medical Microbiology updated 3rd ed. Mims, Dockrell, Goering, Roitt, Wakelin and Zuckerman (2005).
The 4th Edition of Medical Microbiology is available online at the following URL: Baron, Samuel, editor. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch ; c1996 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed. |
Additional Information
Course URL |
http://www.internationalanimalhealth.ed.ac.uk |
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will gain critical analysis skills, gain experience of interpreting scientific information, and work on their communication skills. They will have extensive experience of autonomous, self-directed researching and learning, as well as the time management skills required to do this. |
Special Arrangements |
This courses will be taught entirely by distance learning, using the virtual learning environment Learn as the delivery platform. Course materials are protected by secure username and password access, that will be made available to registered users. |
Additional Class Delivery Information |
This course will be delivered online through Learn.
The course will run from the 2nd of October to the 16th of December. |
Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Emily O'Reilly
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Jenn Liedtke
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: |
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