Host-Microbe Interactions (HMI) explores the contribution of microorganisms to maintaining health and causing disease.
The course begins with an overview of the fundamentals of bacteriology, virology, mycology, and parasitology. Additional focus is placed on the role of the microbiome in maintaining human homeostasis. This is followed by a systems-based approach to covering infectious diseases. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms by which pathogenic microbes evade the immune system and subvert normal host cellular functions. Pharmacological principles of antimicrobial therapy are covered throughout the course. HMI links to the next course, The Human Condition, by concluding with infections of the central nervous system.