Intro to Emerging Pathogens

3.0 credits

The past several decades have been marked by a rise the emergence of exotic pathogenic microorganisms and their introduction into the human population. This course documents the history of the appearance and spread of these emergent pathogens, and discusses mechanisms that govern the selection of new pathogenic strains and species. The evolution of host pathogen relationships is also considered as well as the role of environmental change in the development of new emergent and re-emerging pathogens. Current and future technological advancements, such as research into the design of biological weapons and the construction of synthetic life forms are discussed with respect to potential risks for the emergence of novel infectious agents.