This course is a continuation of the material covered in PHPH9107 and, like the previous course, aims to provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms involved in disordered physiology that underlies common disease states. The objective is to provide an understanding of those disorders that are amenable to correction or amelioration with drug therapy. It thus provides a rationale for drug design and utilization. The course consists of four main sections: immunology and diseases of immunity; infection, genetic disorders; and neoplasia. Immunology and diseases of immunity includes a review of normal immune system mechanisms (cells of the immune system, cytokines, histocompatibility antigens, and hypersensitivity reactions); mechanisms of autoimmune diseases, immunologic deficiency syndromes, other actual or suspected immune system diseases (e.g. amyloidosis). Infection includes a brief introduction to mircobiology, general principles of microbial pathogenesis, discussion of selected human infectious diseases. Genetic disorders includes a brief section on the new genetics , mutation, mendelian disorders, disorders with multifactorial inheritance, normal karyotype cytogenetic disorders, single-gene disorders with nonclassic inheritance, molecular diagnosis. Neoplasia includes definitions and nomenclature, characteristics of benign and malignant neoplasms, epidemiology, molecular basis of cancer, biology of tumour growth, carcinogenic agents and their cellular interactions, host defence mechanisms, clinical features of tumours. Aspect of molecular biology relevant to the preceding topics (e.g. gene therapy) will be discussed.

Note: The course is elective for programmes 5504, and 9060.