Chronic infection and inflammation: what are the consequences on your health?

Lectures: 1 session / week, 2 hours / session

7.03 Genetics
7.05 General Biochemistry
7.06 Cell Biology
or
7.28 Molecular Biology

Today we can treat certain cancers and other chronic diseases with vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral drugs. Not so many years ago, such treatments were topics for science fiction. New discoveries have helped us understand common chronic diseases, such as cancer, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Many chronic diseases are caused by pathogens or by the chronic inflammatory response of our own bodies to pathogens. One striking clinical success story is the development of a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer, human papilloma virus (HPV). About 20 years ago the causal relationship between HPV and cervical cancer was discovered. Through increasing molecular knowledge about HPV a recombinant vaccine was developed and has recently been introduced for broad use. It has been predicted that this vaccine will drastically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. In this course we will explore the new emerging field of pathogen-induced chronic diseases. Work in this field has redefined the causes of some major disorders, such as ulcers. By reading the primary research literature we will learn about the molecular mechanisms through which pathogens cause disease. The diseases that we cover will be introduced with a short patient case study. We will discuss the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and gastric disease, HPV and cervical cancer, hepatitis C virus and liver disease, Epstein-Barr virus and lymphoma, Cytomegalovirus and atherosclerosis, as well as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. We will study technical advances in the fight against microbes and explore future directions for new treatment strategies of chronic infections and inflammation.

This course will consist of 12 classes focusing on critical reading of original scientific literature. Two papers will be read in detail before each class and the results discussed in class. Attendance and participation in all classes is required. Students will have weekly assignments related to the reading, as well as a two—page essay and two oral presentations.

Grading is Pass/Fail and will depend on attendance, participation and completion of class assignments.

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