INFECTIOUS DISEASES B

1 EJC H2 Biology T2W8 Infectious Diseases Part II Extension Topic A: Infectious Diseases (Part 2) 1. Introduction Pathogens have the ability to infect humans and cause diseases. This led to the development of vaccines to induce immunity against pathogens as well as antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Edward Jenner is considered the founder of vaccinology in the West in 1796, after he inoculated a 13 year old boy with vaccinia virus (cowpox), and demonstrated immunity to smallpox. In 1798, the first smallpox vaccine was developed. Since then, a plethora of vaccines have been developed. In 1928, Alexander Flemi ng had discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, but it took over a decade before penicillin was introduced as a treatment for bacterial infections. This was possible through the work of Florey and Chain who managed to efficiently purify the antibiotic and scale-up production. The introduction of penicillin marked the beginning of the so-called “golden era” of antibiotics. 2. Learning Outcomes a. Describe the specific (adaptive) and non -specific (innate) immune systems including active and passive, natural and acquired immunity. e. Discuss how vaccination can control disease (e.g. in the eradication of small pox), limited to vaccination stimulates immunity without causing the disease and vaccination of a high enough proportion of the population can break the disease transmission cycle. f. Discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination. g. Explain how viruses, including influenza and HIV, cause diseases in humans through the disruption of host tissue and functions (e.g. HIV and T helper cells, influenza and epithelial cells of the respiratory tract). h. Explain the mode of transmission and infection of bacterial pathogens, using Mycobacterium tuberculosis as an example. i. Describe the modes of action of antibiotics, including penicillin, on bacteria. 3. References Judith Owen, Jenni Punt, Sharon Stranford. Kuby Immunology, 7th Edition. Murphy KM, P Travers, M Walport (Eds.) Janeway’s Immunobiology. 8 th Edition. Pommerville, Jeffrey C. Alcamo’s Fundamentals of Microbiology: Body Systems.

2 EJC H2 Biology T2W8 Infectious Diseases Part II Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 2. Learning Outcomes.................................................................................................... 1 3. References ................................................................................................................. 1 4. Vaccination ................................................................................................................ 3 5. Pathogens & Diseases................................................................................................ 9 a. Pathogenicity of Influenza Virus ................................ .......................