Module Information
Module Identifier
BR22310
Module Title
Infectious Diseases
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 x 1 hour lectures per week |
| Other | 1 x 3 hour scientific television workshop |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Wiki page. Individual page per student. | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Scientific television workshop. Group work. | 20% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Theory paper. Section A: 4 short answer questions and Section B: 1 essay question. | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Compare and contrast the types and structures of the major bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses involved in infectious disease.
2. Describe the pathology of the major infectious diseases of animals, humans and plants.
3. Discuss the life cycles, transmission, treatment and control of these diseases.
Brief description
The module is designed to develop an appreciation of the major pathogens (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths and viruses) of animals, plants and humans, with particular emphasis on food bio-security, animal and human health. It will cover the basic biology of the infectious agents, the factors they must overcome to establish and persist in the host, pathology of infection and host symptoms, and approaches to treatment, prevention and control.
Content
The lectures will cover in detail the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths and viruses that are the major pathogens of animals, humans and plants.
For each pathogen, lectures will cover the basic biology and structures, life cycles, methods of transmission, pathology of infection, host symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology and control. The problem of antibiotic resistance and emerging pathogens will also be discussed. The relevance of these diseases to crop and food bio-security, clinical and veterinary microbiology and their economic effect will be discussed.
Major infectious agents that may be covered include:
To include a group presentation in the format of a scientific television report prepared on specific case studies, that will be recorded during the workshop and made available for students to view on-line.
For each pathogen, lectures will cover the basic biology and structures, life cycles, methods of transmission, pathology of infection, host symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology and control. The problem of antibiotic resistance and emerging pathogens will also be discussed. The relevance of these diseases to crop and food bio-security, clinical and veterinary microbiology and their economic effect will be discussed.
Major infectious agents that may be covered include:
- Bacterial: Campylobacter, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Staphylococcus.
- Fungal: Aspergillosis, candidiasis, Phytophthora, Puccinia.
- Parasitic diseases: Fasciola, Globodera, Hookworm, Leishmania, Malaria, Schistosoma, Toxoplasma, Trpanosomes.
- Viral diseases: foot and mouth, picornoviruses, rhabdoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, herpesviruses, pox viruses, oncogenic viruses, retroviruses.
To include a group presentation in the format of a scientific television report prepared on specific case studies, that will be recorded during the workshop and made available for students to view on-line.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Students will be exposed to epidemiological information during the lectures and will be expected to be able to interpret this as part of the module. They will be assessed on this through the exam. |
| Communication | Students will be required to give a team presentation in the form of a scientific television report, testing both their oral literacy ability to produce a clear structured presentation, and their ability to speak in different contexts and for different purposes. Students will also be required to design a wiki page testing their written literacy and ability to present information using the internet. Students will also develop effective listening and communication skills during lectures and the teamwork elements of the workshop. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Improvement of student-centred learning, communication and teamwork. The self-directed learning elements of this module will allow students to develop their own realistic learning and self-management strategies. This will be assessed through the design of a wiki page and planning of the scientific television report. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to develop IT skills in searching the web for information, designing the wiki page. Students will also learn about other digital media formats and their use in disseminating information through the scientific television workshop. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Through the scientific television workshop, design and development of the wiki page students will develop an awareness of alternative careers in the scientific media. |
| Problem solving | Students will be expected to find, interpret and summarise information and present this in the form of an essay, a wiki page and a group television report. Students will be encouraged develop innovative creative thinking approaches to problem solving. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to produce an academic report in the form of a short essay. They will also be required to plan, research, design and produce a wiki page individually, and a scientific television report as part of a team. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Subject concepts relating to infectious diseases will be developed. |
| Team work | The scientific television workshop is designed to encourage students to understand the concept of group dynamics and co-operation, and play an active part in group activities. Students will be expected to contribute effectively to the group activity, and exercise negotiation, team work, management and persuasion skills during the planning and filming elements of the workshop. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5