Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Chemotherapy of Parasitic Disease
Code LIFE338
Coordinator Dr GA Biagini
School of Tropical Medicine
Biagini@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
LIFE236 None 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 18
This refers to timetabled one hour lectures in which key concepts are explained. Lectures will be spread throughout the semester.
        2
This refers to a problem-solving workshop in which selected topics are discussed in detail
20
Timetable (if known)           This workshop includes a formative in-class data handling exercise.
  		 
Private Study 130
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Unseen Written Exam  120  Semester 2  80  Yes    Written examination  
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  1500 words  Semester 2  20  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Data handling exercise Notes (applying to all assessments) Assessment 2: The data-handling exercise consists of two sections. In the first section, students are provided with data, and they need to plot the data and determine basic parameters and answer some related questions. The second section deals with data taken from a published paper, and students are required to interpret the data. Students are given 3 weeks to submit the exercise. 

Aims

To develop in students an understanding of current concepts of antiparasitic chemotherapy, with attention being directed at the major classes of anti-helmintics and antiprotozoal drugs

 
To develop in students an understanding of developments in drug discovery and clinical development of anti-parasitic drugs through identification of novel targets
 
To develop in students knowledge and deep understanding in tropical disease biology, and the ability to apply, critically evaluate and interpret this knowledge to solve complex problems.

Learning Outcomes

To evaluate the basic principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy

To assess the concept of selective action of anti-parasitic agents

To critically appraise the concentration effect relationship for anti-parasitic agents

To critically review the role of the host in determining the response to anti-parasitic agents

To appraise the drug discovery process for anti-parasitic drugs and their clinical development.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - This refers to timetabled one hour lectures in which key concepts are explained. Lectures will be spread throughout the semester.

Workshop - This refers to a problem-solving workshop in which selected topics are discussed in detail

This workshop includes a formative in-class data handling exercise.

Syllabus
1 

Basic principles of chemotherapy: selective toxicity: An introduction to the concept of selective drug action against particular targets in microorganisms.
 
Clinical pharmacokinetics: Principles of pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetic properties of antiparasitic agents
 
Principles of pharmacodynamics. The basis of drug action. Concentration/response relationships. Minimum effective/inhibitory concentrations.
Principles of anti-parasitic chemotherapy (The host-parasite response) 
 
 
                   Pharmacology of antimalarials (Specific targets in malaria parasites): Mechanisms of action and Molecular basis of resistance of antimalarials
 
 
Mechanisms of action and Molecular basis of resistance of antimalarials
 
 
                        Malaria Drug resistance: The anatomy of the resistance process at the population level, what drives it, strategies to slow or prevent it, combination therapies.
 
 
                   Molecular Epidemiology of Drug Resistance Malaria
 
 
                   Epidemiology of Neglected Diseases- with a focus on the epidemiology of resistance and preventative chemotherapy
 
 
                   Pharmacology of anthelmintics Introduction to anthelminthic chemotherapy); The impact of helminthic disease and its management, with a particular focus on chemotherapy of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis 
 (Benzimidazoles): The phramacology of the benzimidazole anti-helmintics with an emphasis on albendazole. The action of benzimidazoles on microtubular polymerisation.
 
Chlo ride channels and calcium homeostasis. The pharmacology of ivermectin and praziquantel. Miscellaneous anti-helmintics and mechanisms of drug resistance.
 
 
                   High Throughput Screening and High Content Imaging in Discovery of antiparasitic drugs.
Antiparasitic Drug Design and Development Introduction to drug discovery challenges, medicinal chemistry, SAR, ADME and toxicity using antiparasitic examples.
 
Use of Medicinal Chemistry to design out toxicity and design in improved pharmacological features – Malaria Drug Discovery.
 
  Challenges of chemotherapy in special patient populations
 
 
Other antiprotozoal drugs (Antimonials and anti-trypanosomal agents): Introduction to Leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness and chemotherapy of these diseases.
 
 
More drugs for sleeping sickness and for Chaga’s disease.
 
 
 
                       
Workshop    Analysis of concentration versus response data (IGE/PS).
 
Module material will be delivered primarily through standard lectures. Independent learning is supported by materials on VITAL (such as lecture handouts and links to research papers) and other web-based resources. Students will be guided to key articles in the literature (textbooks, original papers and review articles) and be expected to use this material to supplement their independent learning. A workshop will guide students through an in-class, formative data-handling exercise.

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

Students will be directed to current primary research articles

Chemotherapeutic Targets in Parasites - Contemporary Strategies - ISBN-13: 9780521018364, Cambridge University Press, 22 Aug 2005

Antimalarial Chemotherapy. Humana Press Inc. 2010 - ISBN-10  1617371246