MICP 511M Microbiology & Immunology
This course provides students with the fundamental principles of microbiology and immunology to understand the mechanisms of disease caused by microorganisms and the means by which the host protects itself against them.
Microbiology is the study of a large and diverse group of cellular microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae, protozoa) and viruses. Immunology includes studying the response of other organisms (e.g. humans) to infection by microorganisms. In order to diagnose oral infections and develop effective treatment plans, dental practitioners require a basic knowledge of general microbiology, medical microbiology, and oral microbiology. The two most frequent major disorders seen by dentists, caries and periodontal disease, result from bacterial infection or other changes in the oral microbial flora. As health care practitioners, dentists must continually be aware of, and contend with, the past, present, and possible future exposures of their patients to microorganisms. Sterilization and disinfection in the clinic, treatment of patients with AIDS, recognizing characteristic symptoms of common bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and assessing when prophylactic antibiotic treatment is warranted are just some of the everyday considerations, decisions and practices which require a dentist to possess a fundamental and applied knowledge of microbiology.
This course has been designed to provide you, a future dentist, with a basic knowledge of microbiology and immunology that will be a firm basis upon which to expand your future clinical education, experience, and practical knowledge of dental microbiology. The course begins with basic concepts concerning bacterial structure, physiology, diversity, and genetics. Lessons explaining principals of infection control in the clinic, antimicrobial chemotherapy, and mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis are followed by an introduction to immunology and human immune responses. A series of lectures describing major groups of medically-important bacteria, fungi, and parasites and the infectious diseases they cause are followed by sessions devoted to introductory virology. The sessions will be presented in traditional lecture format.
Offered
Fall.