Course Instructors:

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Conferences

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Course Description

Chemical and biologic properties of agents used to prevent or treat infectious diseases, including diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic uses of immunizing biologicals and spectrum, action mechanisms, resistance patterns, toxicity, and therapeutic applications of antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals. Prerequisite: MICROM 301, MICROM 302, MEDCH570. Credits: 4.

Course Information

Grades

It will take 270 points (out of a possible 450) to pass this course.

There will be:

Lecture Notes - available on the Resources page.

Useful Reference Texts for Background

Research Paper and Presentation

You will be required to write a succinct research report on some aspect of antimicrobials or immunizing agents. You and 3-4 other group members will present a summary of your findings to the class. We will assign (random selection) the composition of the groups. Group members should independently complete their own written research report.

Grading: This paper will be graded on the basis of 50 points. Each group member will be graded independently on the oral presentation, which will also consist of 50 points. It will be important to rehearse your talk so each group member will make a good contribution.

The following will be helpful:

  1. The paper should be about 3 double-spaced typed pages (not including title page and reference list). Click here for a list of suggested topics.For each conference session there will be only one group per topic. Assume your audience are health professionals with a working knowledge of infectious diseases. The information you provide should be up-to-date and relevant to therapy.

  2. Use the following outline in preparing your paper:
    • Title page
    • Introduction
    • Research findings
    • Conclusions and suggestions for future study
    • References

  3. Read the relevant references. Do a computer PubMed literature search to obtain a complete list of relevant references on your topic. The HS Library staff can help you get started if you are not familiar with the online databases. In general the best student papers draw mainly from several primary research articles. Your charge is to find the most recent important information on your topic.

  4. Please Note: Textbooks and review articles are usually dated, so you will need to go beyond these in your paper. Internet databases, e.g. UpToDate, can be helpful, but you must read the primary literature on your topic. Review articles and UpToDate can help you to understand the general layout of a field, but it will not be sufficient to paraphrase and repeat what is written in reviews. Presentations should go into a few specific research studies in depth.

  5. Papers should be referenced with endnotes and a bibliography. Format for references: Use a reference format such as the Harvard Reference Format that includes in-text (author, year) and then bibliography listing all Authors, Year Published, Article Title, Journal Name, Volume (issue), and Pages.

  6. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Put the paper in your own words, and back factual information with reference citations! Violators will get a zero on the paper. We may opt to use software to confirm paper content is not plagiarized.

**Note: The Introduction, Findings, and Conclusions should be about 3 pages in length. Only list the relevant references that you have read.

PLEASE --

No fancy plastic folders; just staple the paper together.

The paper (electronic and paper copies) is due on the day of your presentation (also submit PDF version of your group's presentation).

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