Causes of Human Disease: Transmitting and Fighting Infection

Causes of Human Disease: Transmitting and Fighting Infection is organized by FutureLearn.

Duration: 2 Weeks

Description:
Most of us have experienced common diseases like flu or less common ones like pneumonia. On this course, you’ll learn how pathogens cause infectious diseases and how these diseases are transmitted. You’ll examine the bacterial resistance to antibiotics, how this leads to serious infections like MRSA and reflect on approaches to address this problem. You’ll learn how the body’s immune system fights off disease and how resistance is gained. You’ll apply this knowledge to explore why immunisation has been crucial in reducing the occurrence of disease or even eradicating deadly diseases.

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
• Compare bacteria, viruses and parasites as causes of infectious disease.
• Describe different modes of transmission of infectious agents.
• Summarise what an antibiotic is and explain what is meant by resistance to antibiotics.
• Explain the basic components of the immune system.
• Explain the basic components of how the immune system fights invading pathogens.