MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY
The Master of Science in Medical Microbiology and Parasitology is designed to produce competitive medical professionals in the field of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Course Structure
MMP 610: Medical Microbiology
MPH 610: Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals
MMP 620: Advanced Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
MMP 630: Advanced Immunology of infectious Diseases
MMP 640: Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
MPH 640: Environmental and Occupational Health
MMP 650: Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
MMP 660: Integrated Vector Management
MPH 660: Advanced Concepts and Methods in Epidemiology & Control of Infectious Diseases
MMP 670: Vector Biology & Vector Parasite Interactions
MMP 693: Clinical Diagnostic Microbiology and Parasitology
MMP 698: Thesis in Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Course Description
MMP 610: Medical Microbiology
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the clinical and diagnostic issues in bacteriology, virology and mycology. The course begins with introductory lectures reviewing the laboratory methods in use in modern diagnostic laboratories. This will be followed by comprehensive presentation of all the families of human bacterial pathogens (systemic pathogenic bacteria), viruses and fungi affecting humans with emphasis on the taxonomy, structure, epidemiology, virulence factors, clinical presentations of infection, modern diagnostic and detection techniques, treatment and prevention. The role and mechanisms of common antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal resistance in bacteria, viruses and fungi, respectively will also be covered.
MPH 610: Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals
This course presents an overview of the legal issues facing the healthcare industry with some inferences on Cameroon. It provides students with a basic working knowledge of health law and Professional ethics. It is a comprehensive and inclusive review of a wide variety of health care legal issues. Students are provided with a realistic knowledge of health law and its application to the real world. At the end of this course, students are expected to validate the online institutional review board (IRB) training course on ethical issues in health research at the National Institute of Health (NIH)(https://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php).
MMP 620: Advanced Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
The aim of this course is to acquaint the students to versatile tools in molecular biology techniques and demonstrates the influence of recombinant DNA technology in modern Biotechnology. The module will include lectures on the key principles and techniques in molecular biology that are required for this process, including the concept of molecular cloning, cloning vectors (plasmids, bacteriophage lambda and others) and their hosts, expression vectors and their construction, synthetic DNA (synthesis of primers), amplifying DNA (The polymerase chain Reaction, PCR), C0T curves, transfection, reverse transcription and DNA sequencing, hybridization and labeling of nucleic acids. Construction principles and uses of gene/chromosome libraries (human, animal and plant gene libraries) as well as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis will be covered under this module. Bacterial expression systems are the most commonly used in biotechnology therefore a component of the course will focus on cloning and expression of mammalian and plant genes in bacteria, and will also cover the use of in vitro and site-directed mutagenesis to change the sequences and properties of the recombinant proteins being expressed. The module ends with applications of genetic engineering in biotechnology and demonstrates the influence of Recombinant DNA technology in the production of mammalian products (such as human growth hormones and insulin) and vaccines, gene therapy, transgenic plants and animals, food processing as well as environmental bioremediation.
MMP 630: Advanced Immunology of infectious Diseases
The course examines the molecular and cellular basis of the immune system and how they culminate to fight infection. In addition to providing background material, the lectures will also attempt to bring students up to date with current areas of basic research in immunology. Topics to be covered include: lymphocyte development; immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene rearrangement; immunoreceptor signaling; MHC class I and class II antigen presentation; cytokines, phagocytes; NK cells; autoimmunity; immunodeficiency, mechanisms underlying immunologic disease, Analysis of medical literature reporting immunologic advances, rationale for use of new immunodiagnostic and immunotherapeutic modalities etc, as well as diagnostic techniques in the detection of these immunological properties.
MMP 640: Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
This course is aimed at examining the principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy within the areas of selectivity Selective toxicity, medicinal chemistry, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (pharmacology) and apply these to different classes of antimicrobials such as antibacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal compounds. Areas to be covered include: Antimicrobial chemotherapy versus Pharmacodynamics. Principles of selective toxicity – distribution, comparative biochemistry, comparative cytology. Classifications of antibiotics. Principles of treatment – clinical diagnosis; bacteriological diagnosis; place of chemotherapy in medicine; considerations relevant to effective antibiotic use; reasons for treatment failure. Investigations of the mechanism of action, spectrum, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion and adverse events of the major classes of antimicrobial agents including: Sulfonamides/Trimethoprim; Penicillins, Cephalasporins and other Beta-lactam drugs; Aminoglycosides; Protein synthesis inhibitors; Anti-tuberculoids; Anti-malarials; Anti-virals; Anti-fungals and miscellaneous antimicrobial agents. Mechanisms for the development of antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial combination therapy and antibiotic policies.
MPH 640: Environmental and Occupational Health
This course covers terms and concepts in environmental health with particular emphasis on various types of environmental pollution, global warming, Greenhouse effect, Occupational health, and the role environment plays in the transmission of communicable diseases. The main goal of this course is to educate students about the terms and concepts in environmental and occupational Health with particular emphasis on the various types of pollution, global warming, Greenhouse Effect, and the role of the environment in the transmission of communicable diseases.
MMP 650: Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
The main aim is to introduce modern methods in use and under development for the laboratory diagnosis of the important parasitic diseases of man for clinical and epidemiological purposes. The module also provides opportunities to evaluate the potential applications of these methods in developing and developed countries, and to improve diagnosis by microscopical methods.
MMP 660: Integrated Vector Management
The aim of this course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of how vectors be controlled using a combination of interventions. Topics to be covered include, Chemical, physical and biological methods of controlling vectors and intermediate hosts with provisional recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of particular methods for addressing vector control problems in particular settings; formulate accurate responses to key questions about side effects and resistance problems arising from application of vector control.
MPH 660: Advanced Concepts and Methods in Epidemiology & Control of Infectious Diseases
The purpose of this course is to provide students with more knowledge about the principles and practice of infectious disease epidemiology, including how communicable diseases and their control affects public health locally, nationally and internationally. Topics include: general principles of infectious disease epidemiology, including: principles of Infectious diseases; outbreak investigation; role of the public health laboratory; disease surveillance; principles of screening and screening tests; Major infectious diseases and modes of transmission, including: food borne illness; zoonotic diseases; tuberculosis; influenza; vector borne diseases; malaria; other parasitic diseases; HIV/AIDS; sexually transmitted diseases; viral hepatitis; antibiotic resistant bacteria, different control and evaluation strategies for infectious diseases, including: vaccination; nosocomial infections; behavior change and HIV/AIDS; blood safety; immigrant and refugee health etc.
MMP 670: Vector Biology & Vector Parasite Interactions
This course is aimed at equipping students with a broad understanding of the key aspects of insect vector behavior, vector ecology and vector-parasite interactions relevant to the epidemiology and control of vector-borne diseases.
MMP 693: Clinical Diagnostic Microbiology and Parasitology
This course provides a clinical experience in modern diagnostic methods in microbiology and parasitology learnt during the taught modules. Students will spend 3 months each in the microbiology and parasitology unit at an affiliate laboratory.
MMP 698: Thesis in Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
Students must write and defend a satisfactory thesis to be awarded a Master’s degree. This piece of work, undertaken in the last semester gives you the opportunity to apply the techniques and theories learned during the taught modules. Thesis topics reflect the expertise of your lecturers and you may be asked to choose from a list of options. Supervision often starts with small groups of students studying similar topics meeting with their supervisors, who then guide students in deciding on the focus for their individual Thesis. The Thesis itself normally consists of a literature review followed by a piece of empirical work, involving either qualitative or quantitative research. It should not be less than 50 pages.
