Microben en infecties

Course goals

After completing the course, you will:

• Have knowledge of the key structural characteristics of (micro)organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi) and be able to describe their functions.
• Understand the interaction between (micro)organisms and their host, including both beneficial and adverse (infectious disease) host responses.
• Be able to describe the processes involved in the innate and adaptive immune systems, including the relevant immune cells, and relate these to different microorganisms.
• Be able to apply your knowledge of how selected viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites cause disease to other (micro)organisms.
• Be able to identify different (pharmaceutical) interventions for the treatment of infections and understand the principles underlying specific treatment strategies.
• Understand the causes of antimicrobial resistance development in (micro)organisms and explain the consequences for human and animal health.
• Have knowledge and understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of various infectious diseases, including geographical differences and influencing factors.
• Have knowledge of the characteristics of epidemics and pandemics and their risk factors in both humans and animals.
• Have knowledge of various (pharmaceutical) interventions and vaccination programs for infection prevention, as well as how these are evaluated.
• Have knowledge of similarities and differences in infection prevention across different domains (general human population, healthcare settings, and the veterinary sector).
• Be able to communicate knowledge about infections and prevention to a broad audience.

Content

Infectious diseases play a significant role in society. They can affect the health and well-being of individuals, but also have an impact on society as a whole. In addition to infectious diseases that are limited to either humans or specific animal species, there are also pathogens that can occur in both humans and animals, so-called zoonoses. The integrated approach involving humans, animals, and the environment is referred to as the One Health approach, in which collaboration between sectors plays a crucial role.
In this course, you will acquire knowledge about various infectious microorganisms (i.e., examples of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), their characteristic properties, and their harmful effects on the body. In addition, the beneficial effects of microorganisms (e.g., gut microbiota) will also be addressed.
Subsequently, you will study the immune response through a chronological overview of events following the initial contact with a (micro)organism. The emphasis in studying the immune system will be on processes at the cellular level: which types of cells and factors are activated, how cells communicate with one another, and which processes are initiated to combat the infectious agent. The resulting disease manifestations will also be considered.
Using several examples, key aspects of the epidemiology of infectious diseases will be discussed, and you will explore strategies for infection prevention in both human and veterinary settings. Many examples in the course concern zoonoses and are used to highlight the importance of collaboration between human and veterinary health professionals, with attention to health risks and One Health principles.
The course includes a practical component in which you will observe how different bacteria grow and use staining techniques to examine their morphology and properties microscopically. You will also determine the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated by yourself.
The course builds on prior knowledge of immunology and microbiology (see course Mechanisms of Disease and Health 1) and applies this knowledge to the study and management of infectious diseases.