University of Sydney Handbooks - 2018 Archive

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Infection and Immunity

 

Unit of study descriptions

INIM5001 Fundamental Immunology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Mainthain Palendira Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2x1hr lectures/week and/or tutorials or seminars/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate immunology, undergraduate bacteriology and virology; basic concepts of epidemiology Assessment: Progressive assessment (50%) including written, practical, and oral based assessment tasks as well as 1x 2hr formal examination (50%). Practical field work: 1x4hr practical class Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Immunology is the study of defence mechanisms that protect individuals against infections and cancers. Studies in immunology are leading to advances in clinical medicine, including understanding allergies, transplant rejection, cancer and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as the development of new vaccines. This unit of study will provide an understanding of the components and functions of the immune system at the molecular and cellular level, the mechanisms of pathological immune processes and immune system dysfunction, mechanisms of immune responses to microorganisms and immunological techniques used in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories. The unit components will be delivered so as to develop skills in problem-solving, evaluation of scientific literature, and oral and written communication. Lectures will provide an overview of the immune system and an update of fundamental facts. Problem/case-based scenarios together with invited guest/specialized lectures, hands-on practical work, literature research and group discussions ('tutorials') will provide in-depth analysis of particular chosen topics.
Textbooks
Abul K Abbas, Andrew H Lichtman and Shiv Pillai. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System. 4th 5th Ed. 2016. Although this is the recommended text, other texts are equally sound. We suggest you discuss with the unit coordinator, Dr Palendira, before making a textbook purchase.
INIM5002 Virology and Cell Technology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Barry Slobedman Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr lectures/week; 1x4hr practical/tutorial class/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate Microbiology or Infectious Diseases Assessment: One 2-hour exam covering lecture material, one 2-hour theory of practical exam, written assignment and oral presentation (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit aims to equip graduates with an in-depth knowledge of medical virology and cell technology that will enable them to work effectively as laboratory personnel in relevant hospital laboratories, clinics or research institutions. Students will develop skills in evaluation of scientific literature, in problem-solving and in scientific communication that will enable them to develop careers as administrators or policy-makers in hospitals, health care organisations or government bodies. The core of the program is a series of lectures, given face-to-face and/or available online. Practical classes will focus on the identification of viruses and cell culture technology, and on techniques used in research investigations and will be conducted in an appropriately equipped student laboratory.
Textbooks
Introduction to Modern Virology, N.J Dimmock, A.J, Easton and K.N Leppard, Blackwell Publishing, 6th Edition. Knipe and Howley. Fields Virology. 6th Edition 2013. Available freely as an electronic resource from the University of Sydney library.
INIM5011 Advanced Medical Bacteriology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Jim Manos Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2x1hr lectures/week; 2x2hr practical classes or tutorials or student presentations/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate Microbiology or Infectious Diseases Assessment: 1x2hr closed-book (Theory) exam, and 1x1.5hr closed book (Theory of Practical) exam Value: Theory exam (50%) Progressive assessment (50%) including class tutorial/presentations (25%), practical exam (15%) and laboratory book assessment (10%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study aims to build on the student's basic knowledge of microbiology by providing an awareness of modern concepts and the latest knowledge of medical bacteriology. This knowledge is relevant to the susceptibility and response of the host to pathogenic bacteria, with special emphasis on the host-pathogen relationship at the cellular and molecular levels regarding symptoms, virulence factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention. The practical component will allow candidates to become familiar with modern molecular-based bacteriological techniques used to identify the characteristic genetic features of bacterial species that cause infections. The unit will provide the advanced scientific and intellectual basis to augment knowledge and understanding, at a postgraduate level, in a career involving medical microbiology or in a related subject area. Lectures will be used to impart knowledge and understanding as well as review key themes of the module, and many of these will be given by experts in the current field. Tutorials will utilise activities such as journal review and topic presentation which enable develop their skills by presenting research on a range of issues including advances in knowledge on bacterial pathogenesis, identification and treatment in Australia and worldwide. The use of case studies will enable candidates to examine breakouts of disease and their investigation by the clinical laboratory. Laboratory sessions will enable students to apply the theoretical concepts of laboratory investigation at the molecular level using advanced molecular techniques of DNA, RNA and protein purification and analysis.
Textbooks
While all material for examination is contained within the lectures, tutorials and practical classes, students who wish to learn more can undertake further reading. Recommended texts for further reading: Bacterial Pathogenesis: A Molecular Approach, Third Edition; Brenda A. Wilson, Abigail A. Salvers, Dixie D. Whitt, and Malcolm E. Winkler ASM Press 2011. Bacterial-Epithelial Cross-Talk: Molecular Mechanisms in Pathogenesis Ed. Beth A McCormick Cambridge University Press UK 2006. Although these are recommended, other texts are equally sound. We suggest you discuss with the unit coordinator, Jim Manos, before making a textbook purchase.
INIM5012 Infection Control and Epidemiology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Peter McMinn Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr lectures/week; 2x 1.5hr practical classes/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate Microbiology or Infectious Diseases Assessment: 1x2hr examination (60%), progressive assessments including a practical exam and a written assignment (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The unit aims to equip graduates to use hospital laboratory services and the research literature in the recognition of individual cases of communicable disease, trace the source of outbreaks and provide a scientific basis for development of institutional infection control policies. There are four specific learning objectives: to know how to estimate the risk of transmission of infection and to assess the value of control measures; to understand the methods used to determine the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs both for treating individual patients and in terms of policy guidelines; to understand the scientific basis of vaccination and its value and limitations in the field; to appreciate the human factors involved in achieving effective infection control. The core of the program is a series of lectures, practical classes and tutorials based on important current or historical examples of epidemic infectious diseases.
Textbooks
Recommended Reading: Infection Prevention and Control: Applied Microbiology for Healthcare, 2nd Edition, Gould, D and Brooker, C. Palgrave McMillan 2008; ISBN 978-0-230-50753-1. Red Book: 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 27th Edition, Pickering, LK, Baker, CJ, Long, SS, McMillan, JA (Eds). American Academy of Pediatrics; 2006.ISBN 978-1-58110-194-2. Although these are recommended reading, other texts are equally sound. We suggest you discuss with the unit coordinator, Peter McMinn, before making a textbook purchase.
INIM5013 Clinical Mycology and Parasitology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Professor Wieland Meyer, Dr Rogan Lee Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2-3x1hr lectures/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate units in microbiology or medical microbiology. Assessment: 1x2hr written examination (55%), seminar presentation (15min) (15%), and laboratory practicalwork protocols (30%) Practical field work: 3x2hr practical classes or tutorials or seminars/week covering molecular based diagnostic and typing techniques, morphology and antifungal susceptibility testing Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit aims to equip science and medical graduates with an in-depth knowledge of medical mycology and parasitology that will enable them to work effectively as laboratory personnel, clincians and medical scientists in relevant hospital laboratories, clinics or research institutions. The course will allow students to develop skills in recognising fungal and parasitic infections, interpret laboraroty reports on identifictaion of the mycotic and parasitic disease agents and molecular typing of clincial isolates, evaluation of scientific literature, in problem-solving and in scientific communication that will enable graduates to develop careers as microbiologists, clinicians and administrators or policy-makers in hospitals, health care organizations or government bodies. The course structure involves lectures on diseases caused by fungal, protozoan and helminthic agents, laboratory classes on identification of fungal and parasitic infections (classical methods such as morphology and biochemistry, molecular methods, inclduing: sanger and next generartion seqeuning, whole genome sequencing, a number of PCR based techniques and MALDI-TOF), molecular typing techniques used to investigate potential disease outbreaks, techniques used in research investigations and specific tutorials (e.g. clinical cases, investigation of outbreaks of disease and prevention strategies). Specific lectures will be given by expertclinicans in infectious dieseas,, basic microbiology/mycology/parasitology scientists and leading diagnostic specialists in the field. Seminars consisting of presentations of specified topics researched by individual students will complement the course. The course takes place at the new Westmead Institute for Medical Research, in the Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Sydney Medical School at the Westmead Campus.
Textbooks
Recommended reading: Medically Important Fungi - A guide to Identification Larone DH 4th Edition ASM Press Washington DC 2002. Atlas of Clinical Fungi (hard copy) 2nd edition de Hoog et al. 2000 Centraalbueau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht The Netherlands, or online version (4th edition) at http://www.clinicalfungi.org. Human Pathogenic Fungi. Sullivan DJ and Moran GP 2014 Caister Academic Press , Norfolk, UK ISBN 978-1-908230-44-7 Clinical Parasitology: A handbook for medical practitioners and microbiologists. Sheorey H et al. University Press Carlton Vic, 2000. Diagnostic Medical Parasitology Garcia L. 6th Edition ASM Press 2016. Foundations of Parasitology 9th Edition Roberts LS, Janovy, J Jr and Nadler, S. Mc Graw Hill 2013.
INIM5016 Clinical and Translational Immunology

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Warwick Britton Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr lecture/week; 1x2hr practical classes or tutorials or seminars/week Prerequisites: INIM5001 Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate immunology; undergraduate bacteriology and virology Assessment: 1x2hr formal written examination (50%), progressive assessments including tutorial assignment, seminar presentation, and one formative assessment (50%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: It is preferable to complete INIM5001, Fundamental Immunology, in First Semester, before Clinical and Translational Immunology. But this is not essential if a student starting in Second Semester has previously studied undergraduate immunology.
The course will have two concurrent themes. Clinical Immunology: this theme will concentrate on the immunological methods used to evaluate human disease and will include the theoretical basis for tests of immune function, practical laboratory application of assays based on these principles and case-based seminars. The application of these methods to translational immunology will be discussed in a range of immune-mediated diseases. Research: This theme will focus on understanding the investigation of immune function with lectures and practical sessions reviewing current molecular and cellular approaches and seminars based on study of current literature and classic papers in Immunology. Instruction will comprise lectures on the immunopathology of disease, the immunological methods used in diagnosis and research and translation into new immunological interventions; laboratory classes on methods and techniques used in clinical diagnosis and research investigations; and tutorials involving clinical cases, journal article reviews, review of laboratory problems and seminars consisting of presentation of specified topics researched by individual students. The learning objectives of this unit are: 1. to understand the immunological basis for infection and immunity and how these concepts are core to and applied in the diagnostic pathology laboratory; 2. to understand how the immune system causes and prevents disease, the use and performance of immunological tests in the investigation of disease and methods of investigation of the immune system; 3. to develop effective skills in problem-solving and self-directed learning; and 4. to foster advanced verbal and written communication skills.
Textbooks
Clinical Immunology and Serology: A Laboratory Perspective, 3nd Edition Stevens CD. F. A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, 2010.This is a reference book that should not be purchased, and a copy will be available in practical classes and the library.
INIM5020 Dissertation

Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Jim Manos Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: No formal classes, unless directed to b undertaken by supervisor/s Prerequisites: A minimum average mark of 70% across all eight units of study in the completed Master of Medicine or Master of Science in Medicine (Infection and Immunity) degree is a pre-requisite requirement Assessment: Following completion of their specified research project candidates will be required to submit a dissertation of 30,000-40,000 words describing the project and its outcomes. Practical field work: The research project will constitute the practical work Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Students who have completed their 48 credit points Master degree and have received permission from the unit coordinator will work with be assigned to work with an established research group and work on a specified research project. This project must be approved by the Infection and Immunity Program Committee and carried out under suitable supervision. At least one of the project supervisors must be an academic staff member of the University. The project must entail laboratory work of a minimum of 12 hours/week for one semester, followed by dissertation writeup (about 4 weeks).
Textbooks
As directed by supervisor/s
INIM5022 Global Control of Infectious Diseases

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Associate Professor Vitali Sintchenko Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2×1hr lectures/week, 1×3hr practical classes and/or 2×2hr tutorials/week Assumed knowledge: Undergraduate bacteriology and virology; basic concepts of epidemiology Assessment: written examination (40%), progressive assessments comprising written assignment (20%), journal club presentation (20%), laboratory work and tutorial participation (20%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study will provide students with knowledge about detection, monitoring and control of existing and emerging pathogens, and with the necessary skills to plan epidemic preparedness strategies, to identify optimal strategies for disease prevention, containment or eradication and to evaluate their effectiveness. This module offers a multidisciplinary framework for understanding the principles of interventions against infectious diseases and focuses on the study of global infectious disease threats in the context of their routes of transmission and potential intervention strategies, as well as the reasons for the success or failure of control programs. The core of this unit is a series of lectures, practical demonstrations and problem-solving tutorials describing real-life examples of diagnostic and surveillance strategies and vaccination policies, community outbreak investigations and epidemic/pandemic preparedness planning. A significant proportion of the lectures are delivered by invited expert infectious disease practitioners and laboratory scientists. The main principles will be illustrated using examples from pandemic and seasonal influenza, arbovirus diseases, tuberculosis, zoonotic and food- and water-borne bacterial infections. A large portion of this unit is based at the State reference laboratories of the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at Westmead Hospital, Sydney Medical School - Westmead Campus.
Textbooks
Kimball AM. Risky trade: Infectious disease in the era of global trade. Ashgate, 2006. Webber R. Communicable disease epidemiology and control: A global perspective. CABI Publishing, 2013.
SEXH5200 Advanced STIs

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Shailendra Sawleshwarkar Session: Semester 1 Classes: Normal day: compulsory attendance at 3x1hr lectures and 1x1hr journal club per week; Block mode: 3x1hr lectures per week; plus block intensive mode, 2-3 days, 9am-5pm Assessment: Written examination (40%); Short essay (10%); Online quizzes (30%); Journal club (10%); Participation in group exercises (10%) Mode of delivery: Block mode, Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Note: For students who are not enrolled in one of the Sexual and Reproductive Health degrees or Internal Medicine must apply to the Unit of Study Coordinator for permission to enrol in this unit of study.
This unit aims to describe the epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical features and management strategies for the common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). On completion of this unit, students should be able to: (i) Discuss the microbiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of the common STIs; (ii) Demonstrate an understanding of the clinical spectrum of STIs, including asymptomatic infection, genital manifestations, extragenital manifestations and problems related to pregnancy; and (iii) When discussing STI management, students will understand the impact of STIs at individual and population levels and how needs differ with risk activity groups and geographical locations. HIV infection will only be covered in the context of its interactions with other STIs. Course content will include the basic anatomy, physiology and clinical skills required for the investigation of STIs; the epidemiology, microbiology and clinical aspects of the following conditions: vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, genital ulceration, upper genital tract infections, sexually transmitted hepatitis, syphilis, anogenital warts and cancer, genital infestations, genital dermatology and other conditions likely to present in a sexual health context. Issues related to difficulties of access to treatment, the challenges faced in resource-poor settings and syndromic management will also be covered.