1. Introduction, historical perspective of the fight against infectious diseases
2. Systemic versus epithelial localized immune response. The role of epithelial cells in the resolution of infection.
3. Immune response against viruses
4. HIV – epidemiology and treatment (prof. Ladislav Machala, FN Bulovka)
5. HIV – clinical perspective (prof. Ladislav Machala, FN Bulovka)
6. Immune response against bacteria I. – Tolerance versus immunity, symbionts, pathobionts, pathogens
7. Immune response against bacteria II. – Microbiome composition
8. Immune response against bacteria III.– Dysbiosis, Immune response to pathogens
9. Bacterial infections - clinical aspects
10. Immune response against fungi
11. Immune response against parasites
12. Immune evasion strategies
The Immunology of infectious diseases course is intended for advanced MSc or PhD students with an interest in host-pathogen interactions. The course is held in English, the first half of each lecture is devoted to the theoretical background and during the second part, the emphasis is given to the interaction and discussion between lecturer and students focusing on a current research paper(s) essential for selected topics.
Various aspects of host-pathogen interactions are going to be covered during the course, starting from differences between systemic and epithelial immune responses, further focusing on the complexity of immune response during viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection and closing the circle with the escape strategies imposed by pathogens in order to prevent the immune response. The main objective of the course is to understand how the complexity of the immune response against pathogens is achieved and regulated.
Students will also learn to critically read and discuss scientific papers in the quickly evolving field of host-pathogen interaction.