BIOL 584: Student Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• compare and contrast different microbial diseases, including the properties of different types of pathogens, and the mechanisms of pathogenesis.
• summarize the role of the host in infectious disease, including natural barriers to infection, innate and acquired immune responses to infection, and inflammation.
• compare and contrast experimental approaches for identifying virulence genes and the advantages/disadvantages of each approach for specific pathogens.
• compare and contrast therapeutic treatments for microbial infections, and distinguish when a vaccine, antibiotic, or other therapy is likely be the most appropriate response.
• specify the role of ecology and evolution in the spread of infectious diseases, comparing the role of transmission, population size and susceptibility, and virulence in endemic disease, epidemic disease, emerging diseases, and bioterrorism.

Last modified on November 21, 2004
Please send comments, suggestions, or questions to smaloy@sciences.sdsu.edu