BIO 349 - Infectious Diseases (3)

Prerequisite: BIO 348 .

This course will address the mechanisms, history and societal impact of infectious disease on the global population. The primary focus of this course will be on the virulence and spread of disease through a biological, epidemiological and public health focus. In addition to discussing a variety of known disease causing pathogens, special attention will be paid to emerging infectious diseases through discussions about zoonotic infections, the role climate change plays in the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases, public health policy surrounding disease and pandemic preparedness and the development of new therapeutics. Other topics in the course will include vaccinations, bioterrorism, virulence mechanisms and pathogenesis and the overuse of antibiotics. Students will achieve a solid understanding of the spread, control and cost of disease in the world today.