Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2501230 Biomedical Sciences | OT | 4 | 0 |
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
There are no official prerequisites, but it is advisable for the student to review the contents related to animal biology and cell biology of the subject of Biology of the High School, as well as the subjects of Microbiología Medica and Histologia de sistemas of previous courses of the degree
On successfully completing this subject, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge about the most important parasitic species, in terms of their specific and general characteristics, systematics, adaptations, biological cycles ... and interpret and understand their importance in the biodiversity of species. In addition, they must understand the effect that parasites have on the health of their hosts, know how to diagnose them and the role in modeling the ecology of their hosts, from different points of view: populations and communities.
The general contents are as follows:
I GENERAL CONCEPTS
1. Parasitism. Basic concepts in parasitology. Categories of parasitism. Inlet, contact and penetration pathways of the parasites.
2. Life cycles of parasites. Types of host and parasites. Adaptations to parasitism
II DIVERSITY
3. Protists: excavates, alveolates, amoebozoa, opisthoconts (Microsporidia). Generalities, diversity, life cycles, pathogenesis and ecological role.
4. Platyhelmintes: Trematoda and Cestoda. Generalities, diversity, life cycles, pathogenesis and ecological role
5. Acanthocephala. Generalities, diversity, life cycles, pathogenesis and ecological role.
6. Nematodes. Generalities, diversity, life cycles, pathogenesis and ecological role
7. Parasitic arthropods: Arachnids, Insects. Pentastomids. Generalities, diversity, life cycles, pathogenesis and ecological role.
8. Zoonosis. Interest and classification. Food and water borne zoonoses. Environmental and food health measures.
III ADAPTATIONS AND EVOLUTION OF PARASITISM
9. Origin, evolution and specificity of parasitic species: Gradual adaptation to parasitism; origin of life cycles; origin and degrees of parasitic specificity.
10. Parasite-host balance. Host exploitation strategies. Host strategies against parasites. Evasion of the immune response. Virulence.
IV PARASITIC ECOLOGY
11. Introduction to parasitic ecology. Hierarchical nature of parasitic populations and communities.
12. Effect of parasites on host populations.
The subject applies the following methodology:
Theoretical sessions:
The contents will be taught mainly by the teacher with the support of videos and animations related to the topics discussed in class and / or with activities to assess student learning, by solving issues raised by the teacher. The visual aids used in class will be available in the Campus Virtual. With these lectures the student acquires the basic scientific-technical knowledge of the course, but it should be complemented with the personal study of the topics explained. It is advised that students consult regularly the books recommended in the Bibliography section to consolidate and clarify, if necessary, the contents explained in class.
Seminars:
The seminars work on the scientific-technical knowledge exposed in the lectures to complement their understanding, developing several activities such as the analysis and discussion of audiovisual material or scientific articles, the resolution of issues related to the topics, analysis of parasitological information, talks by professionals, etc. The seminars are characterized by the active work of the student and their aim is to promote the capacity for analysis and synthesis, critical reasoning and problem-solving capacity. In addition, a small part of the contents will also be explained by the students during the seminars with a work that must be presented as an oral presentation to the rest of the students.
Laboratory classes:
The students perform the experimental work individually or in pairs and under the supervision of the professor. Before beginning each practice session, the student must have read the practice guideline to know the objectives of the practice, the basics and the procedures that they must perform and the protocol that they must develop. The objective of the laboratoryclasses is to complement and reinforce the knowledge acquired with lectures and seminars. Practical sessions will be stimulated and developed in the student empirical skills such as the ability to observe, analyse and recognize parasitological diversity. At the beginning of each laboratory class there will be an introduction explaining the theoretical foundations of the practice to be performed. At the end of each practice the students will answer a questionnaire, so that the assessment of the practices is continued.
Laboratory practices consist of:
- 2 sessions to become familiar with the identification of different taxonomic groups (2,5h).
- 2 sessions destined to work the process of obtaining and preparing the parasitological material (2,5h). In addition, they will also estimate parasitological parameters needed to quantitatively describe the level of infestation by a parasite species that is the basis for any subsequent ecological study.
Tutorials:
The purpose of these sessions is to resolve doubts, clarify basic concepts and guide the sources consulted by the students. Likewise, these tutorials allow the orientation of the work that the students will do for the seminars.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Practical sessions | 10 | 0.4 | 2, 4, 8, 9, 6, 16 |
Seminars | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 14, 13, 15, 3, 5, 12, 11, 10, 8, 9, 7, 16 |
Theoretical sessions | 12 | 0.48 | 14, 13, 2, 3, 5, 9, 7, 6 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Tutorials | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 14, 13, 5 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Preparation of work and resolution of questions | 16.5 | 0.66 | 1, 14, 13, 15, 5, 12, 10, 8, 9, 7, 6, 16 |
Study and resolution of problems | 25 | 1 | 1, 13, 15, 3, 11, 9, 7, 6 |
The assessment of this subject is continuous. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing tasks and tests:
Assessment of the theory classes:
There are two partial tests and a second-chance test.
Partial exams: In this part, the students' knowledge of the subject will be assessed individually, as well as their capacity for analysis and synthesis, and of critical reasoning. There will be 2 partial exams (a mark of al least 5 out of 10 is required to successfully pass the partial exam).
Second-chance test: Students who failed one or both partial exams can reassess them. The student must previously have submitted a minimum of two-thirds of the course-assessment items.
Therefore, students will obtain the "Not assessable" qualification when the assessment activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final grade. Likewise, students who wish to improve the grade of one or both partial exams can be re-assessed. Be aware that in this case, previous mark will be lost.
The mark corresponding to the two exams has a global weight of 50% of the final mark.
Assessment of seminars:
Both oral works (content, capacity for synthesis, rigor in the expression, quality of documentary sources and timing) and written activities are assessable, as well as the participation and assistance during the seminars. In addition, the topics discussed during seminars may be included in partial exams.
The mark corresponding to the seminars has a global weight of 20% of the final mark.
Assessment of the laboratory classes:
After each practice the student will perform an individual test that assess the use and achievement of the specific competences and the contents of each practice. Likewise, the involvement of the students in the activitiesduring the practices will also be valued. Attendance at practical sessions is mandatory. Students will be identified as "Not assessable" when their absence exceeds 20% of the scheduled sessions.
The mark corresponding to the laboratory classes has a global weight of 30% of the final mark.
Final Considerations:
A minimum mark of 4 is required in each of the different parts to successful pass the subject.
Students will obtain the "Not assessable" qualification when the assessment activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final mark.
This course does not offer the one-single assessment option.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Practical sessions | 30% | 0 | 0 | 2, 4, 5, 11, 8, 9, 6, 16 |
Seminars | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 14, 13, 15, 3, 5, 12, 11, 10, 8, 9, 7, 16 |
Theoretical sessions | 50% | 4.5 | 0.18 | 1, 14, 13, 2, 3, 12, 10, 8, 9, 7, 6 |
Books:
-BUSH, A.O., FERNANDEZ, J.C., ESCH, G.W., SEED, J.R. (2001). Parasitism. The Diversity and Ecology of Animal Parasites. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
-CHENG TC (1986) General Parasitology, 3rd ed. Academic Press, New York.
-ESCH G.W., FERNÁNDEZ J.C. (1993). A functional biology of parasitism. Ecological and evolutionary implications. Chapman & Hall, London.
-GÁLLEGO-BERENGUER (2006). Manual de Parasitología. Morfología y biología de los parásitos de interés sanitario. Publicacions i edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona
-POULIN, R. (2007). Evolutionary ecology of parasites. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
-POULIN, R., MORAND S. (2004). Parasite Biodiversity. Smithsonian Books, Washington.
-HALTON D.W., BEHNKE J.M., MARSHALL I. (EDS) (2001). Practical exercises in parasitology. Cambridge University Press.
-ROBERTS, L.S., JANOVY, J. JR. (2000). Foundations of Parasitology,6th Edition, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque.
-SULLIVAN J.T. (2000). Electronic Atlas of Parasitology. McGraw Hill.
On-line books:
- Human parasitology: https://mirades.uab.cat/ebs/items/show/155209
Websites:
No specific software is used in this subject