An Introduction to Infectious Diseases

Course Overview

Arm yourself with scientific facts about bacterial infections, viruses, vaccines, and more in this engaging course by an award-winning professor and physician. Infectious diseases account for 26% of global deaths, second only to cardiovascular diseases. This 24-lecture course provides a comprehensive overview of diseases—from common colds to deadly pandemics—taught by Dr. Barry Fox.

Key Topics Covered

• The microscopic world of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi)
• How germs invade the body and evade immune defenses
• Vaccines, antibiotics, and the rise of resistance
• Global threats: HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and bioterrorism
• Practical prevention strategies for daily life

Video

01: The Dynamic World of Infectious Disease (32 min)

Explore bubonic plague, malaria, and polio—how they shaped history and modern science.

02: Bacteria: Heroes and Villains (32 min)

Anatomy of bacteria, diseases like diphtheria, and antibiotic resistance.

03: Viruses: Hijackers of Your Body’s Cells (33 min)

Life cycles of HIV, Ebola, and hybrid germs like spirochetes.

04: Moldy Menaces and Fungal Diseases (31 min)

Fungal infections from environmental exposure and household risks.

05: Milestones in Infectious Disease History (33 min)

Key discoveries in germ theory, vaccines, and treatments.

06: Antibiotics: A Modern Miracle Lost? (33 min)

Classes of antibiotics and the crisis of resistance.

07: Which Germs in Your Daily Life Matter? (31 min)

Microbes in public spaces and the truth behind the “Five-Second Rule.”

08: Six Decades of Infectious Disease Challenges (31 min)

From polio in the 1950s to HIV in the 1980s–90s.

09: Vaccines Save Lives (32 min)

Types of vaccines and herd immunity’s critical role.

10: The Immune System: Our Great Protector (32 min)

How immunity works and ages—plus ways to strengthen it.

11: Zoonosis: Germs Leap from Animals to Humans (33 min)

Bird flu, swine flu, and diseases transmitted by pets.

12: Tick-Borne Diseases: A Public Health Menace (31 min)

Lyme disease and why ticks are so dangerous.

13: Food-Borne Illness: What’s Your Gut Feeling? (32 min)

From traveler’s diarrhea to deadly bacterial infections.

14: Respiratory and Brain Infections (30 min)

Pneumonia, meningitis, and when to seek emergency care.

15: Flesh-Eating Bacteria and Blood Poisoning (32 min)

Sepsis, MRSA, and necrotizing fasciitis.

16: STDs and Other Infections Below the Belt (31 min)

Urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

17: Stay Out of the Hospital! (31 min)

Hidden germs in healthcare settings and how to stay safe.

18: The Nemesis of Mankind: HIV and AIDS (31 min)

Why HIV remains a global pandemic without a cure.

19: Malaria and Tuberculosis: Global Killers (32 min)

Innovative efforts to eradicate ancient diseases.

20: Global Travel, War, and Natural Disasters (32 min)

How crises accelerate disease spread—and travel risks.

21: Influenza: Past and Future Threat (32 min)

Why flu viruses mutate and cause pandemics.

22: Bioterrorism: How Worried Should We Be? (32 min)

Anthrax, smallpox, and botulism as potential weapons.

23: Emerging and Reemerging Diseases (31 min)

Lessons from Ebola and other outbreaks.

24: Outbreak! Contagion! The Next Pandemic! (35 min)

Predicting the next global health crisis.