1. Compare and contrast the aetiology, transmission, and pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis of respiratory infections that are caused by bacteria. The answer should include examples from both upper...

1.    Compare and contrast the aetiology, transmission, and pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis of respiratory infections that are caused by bacteria.


The answer should include examples from both upper and lower respiratory tract.

Your essay should include but is not limited to the following headings:

1. Aetiology - an account of bacteria that cause respiratory infections.

2. Transmission - describe the potential routes of infection.

3. Pathogenesis - describe relevant virulence factors and their mode of actions.

4. Laboratory diagnosis - compare and contrast different methods for specimen collection and diagnosing respiratory pathogens



Word limit: 2500


2.    Vaccines for particular infections need to induce particular immune responses for best possible protective efficacy against the specific pathogen. Discuss ways to maximise the immune responses through current or future vaccines. Consider the immunological mechanisms by which vaccines protect and how the protective response is induced, illustrating your answer with at least one example from each of viral, bacterial and parasite infections.


The answer should focus on the immune response to the vaccine and pathogen but relevant to this issue are:
1. The vaccine content in terms of target infection particularly in relation to the type of vaccine and the way in which it is delivered.
2. The evasion strategies of the pathogen and difficulties this causes for vaccine design.
3. You may wish to discuss infections for which current vaccines are effective or less effective.


Word limit: 2500


3.     For ONE of the following diseases discuss critically the possibilities for each of the following - control, elimination or eradication.

•     Malaria

•    Sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis)

•    Dengue fever