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Infection, Inflammation and Immunology: Implications for Your Health

Infection, inflammation and immunity are biologic processes at the core of a large number of the world's most pressing health problems. This UCSF Osher Mini Medical School series, representative of the one attended by second year UCSF medical students, covers key topics in microbiology, immunology, infectious disease, and international health. Taught by an extraordinary team of UCSF faculty, the programs combine basic science, clinical medicine and public health in a most unique and stimulating manner. (from uctv.tv)

1. How Bacteria Cause Diseases
Join Warren Levinson to learn about the various agents that cause infectious diseases: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and worms, with a focus on how bacteria are transmitted and cause disease, and how exotoxins and endotoxins cause symptoms of disease.

2. How the Body Fights Infection
Miniaturized battles are waged continuously by heroic micro-warriors that protect us from viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Join Dr. Richard Locksley for a look at how these unseen victories (and occasional defeats) are played out, and how vaccination stacks the deck in our favor.

3. Anatomy of an Outbreak: Lessons from the SARS Epidemic and Implications for Avian Flu
Join UCSF's Dr. George Rutherford to examine how world health leaders investigated and controlled the 2003 outbreak of SARS and how we might prepare for future epidemics such as avian flu and other serious pathogens.

4. Things that Go Bump in the Night
James McKerrow, PhD, Chair in Experimental Pathology at UCSF, explores parasitic diseases from mosquitoes to sushi, from single cells to worms. Learn about tropical parasites and the diseases they cause.