1. Immunology & Public Health
Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology
Immunology & Public Health

2. Pathogens Anything that can cause a disease Can include:
Viruses – e.g. measles
Bacteria – e.g. cholera
Fungi – e.g. athlete’s foot
Protozoa – e.g. malaria
Multicellular Parasites – e.g. hookworm

3. Disease transmission
Infectious Disease – capable of being transmitted from one person to another
Transmitted by:
- direct physical contact
- inhaled air
- indirect physical contact
- body fluids
- faecal-oral route
- vectors (e.g. mosquitos)

4. Control of transmission
Quarantine:
- isolation of infected individual
Antisepsis:
- inhibition/destruction of disease causing micro-organisms
- e.g. sterilising surfaces
Individual responsibility:
- good hygiene
- sexual health
- appropriate food handling
Community responsibility:
- quality water supply
- safe food webs (e.g. food inspection, pasteurisation)
- appropriate waste disposal
- control of vectors

5. epidemiology The study of disease characteristics, such as:
- location of outbreak
- patterns and speed of spread
- geographical distribution
Disease spread patterns:
Sporadic
Endemic
Epidemic
Pandemic
These studies allow for appropriate control measures
E.g. treatment, vaccinations

6. Immunisation & Vaccination
Immunisation: – developing immunity to a disease-causing organism
Naturally acquired active immunity:
- surviving an infection, and forming immunity against it
Artificially acquired active immunity:
- exposure to a weakened or altered form of a pathogen/toxin
- acts as an antigen
- initiates immune response
E.g. by injection, nasal spray
- often combined with an adjuvant
- a chemical which promotes the antigen’s activity
- enhances immune response

7. Vaccine clinical trials
Initially trials are carried out on animals
Then 3 clinical phases on humans
- to prove they are safe and efficacious
Phase III:
Placebo-controlled:
- control group are given a placebo
Double Blind trial:
- subjects don’t know if they are receiving active treatment or placebo
- nor do the doctors
- eliminates bias
Randomisation:
- subject details entered onto computer
- people put into groups randomly
Experimental error:
- computer ensures this is minimised
- age, gender etc mixed as much as possible
- aided by as large a sample as possible
- results can then be put to statistical analysis