Prevention and Therapy of Infectious Diseases

Code

21212

Academic unit

NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Department

Medical Bacteriology / Medical Virology

Credits

2

Teacher in charge

Prof.ª Doutora Isabel Maria dos Santos Leitão Couto/Prof. Doutor João Mário Brás da Piedade

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1.    To describe the different types of (viral) licensed vaccines and their advantages and disadvantages;

2.    To understand the scientific grounds of contemporary methodologies used in the development and production of new vaccines;

3.    To explain the scientific basis of therapeutic interventions against viral diseases and antiviral-drug resistance mechanisms;

4.    To describe the mechanisms of action of antibiotics and associated resistance mechanisms;

5.    To name antibiotic sensitivity tests and to describe their fundamentals;

6.    To perform antibiotic sensitivity tests and to interpret their results;

7.    To understand the principles of antimicrobial therapy and to discuss consequences of antibiotic misuse;

8.   To recognize new approaches to the monitoring and control of hospital infection.

 

Prerequisites

n/a

Subject matter

A. Historical perspective and fundamentals of vaccination. Live attenuated, inactivated and subunit vaccines. Adjuvants. The Portuguese National Vaccination Programme;

B. New vaccine development approaches. VLPs, viral and bacterial vectors. DNA, peptide and edible vaccines;

C. Major classes of antiviral agents in clinical use and mechanisms of action. Resistance to antiviral agents and combination therapy;

D. Major classes of antibiotics and mechanisms of action. Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance acquisition;

E. Antibiotic sensitivity tests. Practical execution of antibiograms, result reading and interpretation, using the CLSI and EUCAST rules;

F. Program for Prevention and Control of Infection and Resistance to Antimicrobials. Rational prescription of antibiotics. Consequences of the use and abuse of antibiotics. Situation in Portugal, when compared to other countries. Control of antibiotic resistance spread;

G. New approaches to the monitoring and control of hospital infection.

 

 

Bibliography

Ashiru-OredopeD, Hopkins S (2015). Antimicrobial resistance: moving from professional engagement to public action. J Antimicrob Chemother. 70:2927-30.

Chan HT, Daniell H (2015). Plant-made oral vaccines against human infectious diseases Are we there yet? Plant Biotechnol J. 13:1056-70.

Chang HH, Cohen T, Grad YH, et al. (2015). Origin and proliferation of multiple-drug resistance in bacterial pathogens. Microbiol MolBiol Rev. 79:101-16.

Flint SJ, Enquist LW, Racaniello VR, Skalka AM (2009). Principles of Virology, ASM Press, Washington DC, 3rd Ed (vol. II).

Knipe D, Howley P (2013). Fields Virology. Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, USA, 6th Ed (vol. I).

Loomis RJ, Johnson PR (2015). Emerging vaccinete chnologies. Vaccines (Basel). 3:429-47.

Lorian V (2005). Antibiotics in laboratory medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, USA, 5th Ed.

Zhu JD, Meng W, Wang XJ, Wang HC (2015). Broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Front Microbiol. 6:517. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.00517.

 

Teaching method

The course has a strong expository character (8 lectures, 10.5hrs.). However, the student is led to think critically about the contents and regularly during the class, being questioned and asked to formulate opinions. The lectures are supported by information in digital format (PowerPoint), later handed over to the students. In the practical classes (3.5 hrs.), students will carry out one susceptibility testing technique (performed by all students). Tutorial sessions are envisaged to clarify any questions, but mainly to the analysis and discussion of results of tests performed in the lab and alternative tests. It is advisable that students read some review papers, which may contribute to the systematization of knowledge and critical analysis of relevant issues. Considering the rapid evolution of knowledge in this area, the bibliography is updated annually.

Evaluation method

The assessment consists of a final written exam, with multiple-choice questions, covering theoretical and practical contents.

Courses

• Master in Medical Microbiology