This course explores the what infectious diseases are, what factors cause them, the social impact of them, the organisms that cause them, and how the body protects us from them. First, we will discuss what infectious diseases are and how they are unique from other diseases, particularly, how infectious diseases are spread and the major factors that contribute to their spread. You’ll also learn about how human history has been molded by major epidemics and why modern epidemics (such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria) are so difficult to control globally, despite medical advancements. Then, we will discuss the structures of organisms that cause infectious diseases and how those structures directly relate to these organisms' ability to cause infection and disease. Finally, this lesson ends with a brief introduction to the defenses our bodies have used to save us from annihilation.Pre-requisites: Familiarity with fundamental microbiology and cell biology terms (such as receptor, genome, and microorganism) are recommended.Enroll