BOD Essay List

2006 1. What are oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes? How many changes in these
genes or their expression result in cancer?

2. How is the immune response against self-antigen regulated?

3. a. Briefly review the cellular mechanisms involved in development of an

atherosclerotic plaque. What other pathological processes can result from this?
b. Discuss, using specific examples, why an understanding of parasite life cycles is
important in the control of parasitic infections.

4. a. What are the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies? To what extent do

they pose a threat to human health?
b. Discuss the role of vaccines and antiviral chemotherapy in the control of virus
infections

5. Outline host defences to bacterial pathogens and discuss, with examples, how
bacterial pathogens overcome them.

2007 1. Describe how innate immune mechanisms support the development of an adaptive
immune response.

2. How do viruses persist in individuals and in the wider community?

3. a. Discuss the development and pathological effects of atherosclerosis

b. Discuss the mechanisms by which infection with parasitic helminths may lead to
disease

4. Discuss how damage to the host can be caused directly by bacterial toxins and
indirectly by the immune response to bacterial infection

5. Critically review the evidence that cancer is a multiple step process

2008 1. Compare and contrast B cell and T cell antigen receptors

2. What modifications can viruses induce in the host cell?

3. a. Compare and contrast the mechanisms by which malarial parasites and

schistosomes survive in the human host’s immune system
b. Discuss the role of endothelial cells in thrombus formation

4. Discuss how pathogenic bacteria establish point source, continuous source and
propagated outbreaks. What ways are available to control bacterial infections?

5. Describe how loss of control of cell proliferation can contribute to the development
of cancer

2009 1. Discuss the immunology of transplant survival and rejection

2. Discuss the approaches used to combat viral infection

3. a. How do parasitic helminths infect hosts and cause disease? Summarise the
possibilities we currently have to prevent infection.
b. Compare and contrast the development of atheroma with the healing of a wound
 BOD Essay List

4. How are bacterial infections controlled by (i) host’s immune system and (ii) by
antibiotics? Describe how bacteria counteract each of these controls

5. What is the role of infectious agents in human cancer?

2010 1. How is the development of an adaptive immune response supported by innate

immune mechanisms?

2. Discuss how vaccines and antiviral drugs can be used to control virus infections.
What particular problems are encountered with HIV?

3. Discuss the host damage caused by pathogenic bacteria

4. a. Describe the interactions between endothelium and the constituents of the blood
flow that follow injury to blood vessels.
b. Discuss, using specific examples, why an understanding of parasite life-cycles is
important in the control of infections caused by parasitic helminths.

5. Describe how cancer of the cervix arises and the strategies for reducing its
incidence.