In this free course, Infection and immunity, you will be introduced to infectious diseases and to the biological agents that invade our bodies and cause them: pathogens. You will also learn about the immune system, the human body’s vital defence against pathogens. Along the way you will learn about the scientific method and how it has helped scientists understand pathogens and aid the prevention of infectious disease. But the challenge is ongoing. Pathogens are everywhere and come in all shapes and sizes. As you will see, the fight against infectious disease remains critical for global health today.There are engaging videos and exciting animations to help you understand some more challenging concepts. The course is split into four sessions to help you structure your learning. Each session ends with a quiz so you can assess how well you're doing.When you complete the course you'll receive a free statement of participation to help you to  share your achievement.This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course SDK100 Science and health: an evidence-based approach, which forms the entry module in our undergraduate degree in Health Sciences.
Overview
Syllabus
- Session1Session 1: Introducing human infectious diseases
- Introduction
- 1.1 Â What are infectious diseases?
- 1.2 Â Symptoms and signs of infection
- 1.3 Â Acute or chronic conditions
- 1.4 Â What causes infectious diseases?
- 1.5 Â Direct person-to-person transmission of pathogens
- 1.6 Â Indirect person-to-person transmission of pathogens
- 1.7 Â Animal-to-human transmission of pathogens
- 1.8 Â The end of infectious diseases?
- 1.9 Â Emerging infectious diseases
- Session 1 quiz
- Summary to Session 1
- References
- Acknowledgements
- Session2Session 2: Scientific lessons from the history of infectious diseases
- Introduction
- 2.1 Â Origins of the scientific method
- 2.2 Â Infant deaths in 19th-century England
- 2.3 Â Waterborne infection in 19th-century England
- 2.4 Â John Snow, cholera and the Broad Street pump
- 2.5  John Snow’s experiment
- 2.6 Â Edward Jenner, smallpox and vaccination
- 2.7  Edward Jenner’s experiment
- 2.8 Â Edward Jenner and the scientific method
- 2.9 Â The eradication of smallpox
- Session 2 quiz
- Summary to Section 2
- References
- Acknowledgements
- Session3Session 3: Pathogens and human infectious disease
- Introduction
- 3.1 Â How many pathogens cause human disease?
- 3.2 Â Cells and their relationship to pathogens
- 3.3 Â Organisms and their scientific names
- 3.4 Â Introducing parasites and protists
- 3.5 Â Ectoparasites and endoparasites
- 3.5.1 Â Roundworms, hookworms and anaemia
- 3.5.2 Â Tapeworms and epilepsy
- 3.5.3 Â Filarial worms, elephantiasis and river blindness
- 3.5.4 Â Flukes, freshwater snails and schistosomiasis
- 3.6 Â Malaria and other protist diseases
- 3.7 Â Fungal pathogens
- 3.8 Â Bacterial pathogens
- 3.8.1 Â Diarrhoeal diseases
- 3.8.2 Â Lower respiratory infections
- 3.9 Â Viral pathogens
- 3.10 Â Prions
- Session 3 quiz
- Summary to Session 3
- References
- Acknowledgements
- Session4Session 4: Immune defences against infectious diseases
- Introduction
- 4.1 Â Natural barriers against pathogens
- 4.2 Â The immune response to infection
- 4.3 Â Leukocytes: the cells of the immune system
- 4.4 Â Innate immunity
- 4.5 Â Adaptive immunity
- 4.6 Â Counting leukocytes in blood samples
- 4.6.1 The digital microscope
- 4.6.2 Testing for the presence of infection
- 4.7 Â Chickenpox: adaptive immunity in action
- 4.8 Â Antigens and the specific recognition of pathogens
- 4.9 Â Antibodies and B cells
- 4.10 Â T cells in adaptive immunity
- 4.11 Â Vaccination
- 4.12 Â Opposition to vaccination
- Session 4 quiz
- Summary to Session 4
- Conclusion
- Take the next step
- References
- Acknowledgements
