Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Immunology

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

Bacteriology: The goal is to provide knowledge in basal and clinical bacteriology as well as an understanding of important human pathogens among protozoae, parasites, fungi and helmints.

Major topics: Culture and identification of important human pathogens, microbial growth conditions, effect of antimicrobial agents, development of resistance against antimicrobial agents, sterilization and disinfection, bacterial virulence factors, production and control of vaccines.

Virology: The goal is to provide knowledge in basal and clinical virology.

Major topics: How virus can inflict disease, how viral infections can be prevented by vaccination, effect of anti-viral agents and development of resistance against anti-viral agents.

Immunology and transfusion medicine: The goal is to provide knowledge in basal and clinical immunology, including transfusion medicine.

Major topics: How the immune system protect against infections ¿ including principles of vaccination, how malfunction of the immune system may cause disease, immunological therapy. Transfusion medicine involves the main blood groups and how to manufacture blood cells and blood products.

Learning Outcomes

Bacteriology:

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student is able to understand:

-structural characteristics of the most important bacterial pathogens, fungi, helminths and protozoae.

-growth conditions, and how bacteria are characterized in the microbiological laboratory, including investigating antibiotic resistance.

-procedures for sterilization and disinfection.

-how to avoid microbial contamination during manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

-principles and methods for production and control of vaccines.

-methods used in the microbiology lab to identify microbes.

-treatment of infections and how to prevent microbes from spreading in the society and the hospital

Practical skills:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

-explain how bacterial properties are linked to pathogenicity and virulence and the most important targets for anti-microbial agents.

Virology:

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

-understand structure and physical properties of virus, and the fundamental difference between RNA- and DNA-virus.

-know how virus replicates, understand the differences between various pathogenetic processes such as latency and how virus can induce cancer

-know the mechanisms for viral variability and its consequences for protective immunity, vaccines and antiviral treatment.

Practical skills:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

-explain how viral properties are linked to pathogenicity and virulence and the most important targets for anti-viral agents.

Immunology and transfusions medicine:

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

-know how the immune system protects the body against infections, -understand the principles of vaccination and the immunopathology of allergy, autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies.

-know how various types of blood products are manufactured in transfusion medicine

Practical skills:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

Explain how the immune system functions and how relevant pharmaceutical agents targets the immune system.

General competence:

After completing the course, the student is able to:

-understand the principles for how to avoid microbial contamination in pharmaceutical products.

-understand the most important principles for use of antibiotics and how this influences antimicrobial resistance.

-take the responsibility for proper information and follow-up of patients.

-to acknowledge that the care for blood donors need to be prioritized over the care for the patients.

-to acknowledge that race or sexual orientation are not relevant for the selection of blood donors, but that no one has the right to become a blood donor.

Level of Study

Bachelor and Master

Semester of Instruction

Autumn

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
The students must have followed the compulsory courses in the program prior to this course.
Recommended Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology

Access to the Course
Students admitted to Integrated Master programme in Pharmacy or to a programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, lab course and colloquium. 47 hours of lecures, 16 (8 x 2) hours lab course, 6 (3 x 2) hours colloquium.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Practical course in microbiological techniques 16 hours. Lab course and journals must be approved before the students can complet the writen exam.
Forms of Assessment

Written exam, 4 hours

No supprot materials are allowed

Grading Scale
Grading scale A-F is used
Assessment Semester
Autumn
Course Evaluation
The students evaluate the teaching according to the Quality Assurance System at the University of Bergen
Examination Support Material

None

Department
Department of clinical Science