Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases (Coursera)

You will understand what pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites are and discover how antibiotics work. You will then explore what causes resistance to antibiotics, a significant and growing problem worldwide, as it can make the treatment of bacterial infections more challenging and, in some cases, ineffective.

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs working together to defend the body against harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. The course will help you understand the immune system's main components and how the innate and adaptive immune responses fight invading pathogens. You will explore immunisation and how it triggers the immune system to remember pathogens.

What you'll learn

- Compare bacteria, viruses and parasites as causes of infectious disease.

- Describe different modes of transmission of infectious agents.

- Understand what an antibiotic is and explain what is meant by resistance to antibiotics.

- Explain the basic components of the immune system and how it fights invading pathogens.

Syllabus

Infectious diseases

Welcome to the Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases course. This course explores infectious diseases, how they are transmitted and how they can be treated.

The immune system

This week you will explore how the human body fights infections and how immunisation has reduced the occurrence of common infectious diseases.