Instructor: Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, DC, MS, MMSc, DACNB, DACBN, FACN

General Schedule: On Demand video replays

Credit Available: 12 hours total

Course Description

This course will provide an extensive literature review of pathogen immunology, diagnostic testing, and pathogen pathophysiology. The relationship between chronic infections and their promotion of autoimmune disease, systemic inflammation, and various health disorders will be presented. Emphasis will be placed on optimizing immune function with lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional applications.

Learning Objectives

  1. Present a comprehensive review of pathogen immunology and pathophysiology
  2. Present a comprehensive literature review of health conditions impacted by chronic infections
  3. Review the scientific literature for nutrients, dietary approaches, and lifestyle applications that impact immune function.
  4. Clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests to identify chronic infections.
  5. Learn to develop an individualized and evidence-based clinical approach to optimize immune function with diet, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies.

Chronic Infections Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications

Part 1

Session 1: Clinical Concepts and Immunology of Persistent Infections

  • Types of chronic and persistent infections
  • Specific tissues damaged and development of disease by pathogens
  • Physiological shifts in chronic inflammation
  • Genetic vulnerability to various pathogenic infections
  • Clinical Considerations with infection
    • Reactivation of latent pathogen
    • Progression to autoimmunity
    • Activation of microglia priming
    • Damage to tissues (post-mitotic cells)
  • General immunology review (Cell-mediated and microbiome)

Session 2: Chronic Viral Infections

  • Virology review
  • Active, latent, and chronic viral infection patterns
  • Laboratory tests to identify chronic viral infections

Session 3: Chronic Bacterial Infections and Candidiasis

  • Bacteriology review
  • The role of biofilm in chronic bacteria infections
  • Resistant anti-bacterial strains
  • Clinical presentations of chronic bacterial infections

Session 4: Tick-Borne Infections, Respiratory Mold Illness, and Prion Infections

  • Mold pathophysiology and clinical implications
  • Tick-borne infection pathophysiology and clinical implications
  • Prion pathogen pathophysiology and clinical implications

Session 5: Review of Part 1 and Questions

Part 2

Session 6: Parasites and Chronic Gastrointestinal Pathogens

  • H pylori
  • Parasitology categories (ectoparasites and intestinal parasites) and disease development
  • Ectoparasites malaria
  • Intestinal parasites occurrence and transmission
  • Protozoa
  • Helminths
  • Mucosal immune response
  • Persistent and resistant parasite infections

Session 7: Clinical Evaluation of Chronic infections

  • Medical history evaluation of patients with chronic infections
  • Physical examination findings of patients with chronic infections
  • Laboratory tests to evaluate chronic infections

Session 8: Treatment Strategies for Chronic Infections

  • How to develop personalized and evidence-based dietary, lifestyle, and nutritional approaches to immune function
  • How to develop appropriate re-testing guidelines
  • How to reduce expressions of systemic inflammation with chronic infections

Session 9: Case Studies of Chronic Infections

  • Chronic Epstein-Barr virus and autoimmunity
  • Reoccurring H. Pylori infection
  • Helminth inoculation

Session 10: Review of Part 2 and Questions