Literature seminar for students at the masters level and PhD students. Introduction to the current research topics in infectious diseases; Introduction to key pathogens which are studied as model organisms in this field; Overview over key research groups in the field of infectious diseases in Zürich.

Basics of classic and molecular bacterial diagnostics. Medical role of bacteria. Normal flora and pathogens. Epidemiology, virulence and molecular pathogenesis. Antibiotics, therapy and resistance mechanisms. Host pathogen interactions. Control of zoonotic infections as prophylactic means.

Microscopical, immunological, molecular and culture assays for diagnosis of pathogens of medical or veterinary importance, interpretation of diagnostic results, molecular investigations on structural and functional features of microorganisms and their interactions with their hosts or the environment.