Course

LECTURE WISE CONTENTS:

UNIT I: Neuropharmacology                                              10 Hours

Introduction to receptor-mediated actions of neurotransmitters like GABA, Glutamate, Glycine, serotonin, and dopamine (2 hrs)

Alcohol and disulfiram-like reactions (1hr)

General anesthetics: Stages of anesthesia, Pre-anaesthetic medications, Injectable and inhalational anesthetics (2hr)

Sedatives and hypnotics (1hr) Anti-epileptics (2hrs)

Drugs used in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease (2 hrs)

UNIT II:  Psychopharmacology                                             11 Hours

Antipsychotics (2hr) Antidepressants (1hr) Anti-anxiety agents (1hr)

Anti-maniacs- Lithium carbonate (1hr)

Endogenous opioid peptides and their receptors, Opioid analgesics and antagonists (2 hrs) Hallucinogen, psychotropic substances (2 hrs)

Nootropics and CNS stimulants (2hrs)

UNIT-III Chemotherapy                                                                        11 hours

• General mechanism of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance (1hr)
• β lactams (1hr)
• Fluroquinolones (1hr)
• Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol (1hr)
• Macrolides, Aminoglycosides (2hrs)
• Sulfonamides and co-trimoxazole (1hr)
• Polypeptide antibiotics (1hr)
• Lincosamides (1 hr)
• Rational use of anti-biotics and proper disposal of antibiotics and other drugs (2 hrs)

UNIT-III Chemotherapy                                                                        15 hours

• Antifungal antibiotics 2 hours
• Antiviral agents 2 hours
• Anti-tuberculosis and anti-leprotic agents 3 hours
• Antimalarials 2 hours
• Anti-protozoal agents 1 hour
• Anthelmintic drugs 1 hour
• Anticancer agents 4 hours

UNIT-IV: Immunopharmacology                                                      3 hours

• Immunosuppressants 2 hours
• Immunostimulants 1 hour

UNIT-V: Miscellaneous                                                                         5 hours

5-HT modulators (2hrs)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (2hrs) Anti-gout drugs (1hr)

UNIT-VI The dynamic cell: The structures and functions of the Components of the cell                                                                                                   ( 7 hrs)

• Chromosome structure: Pro and eukaryotic chromosome structures, chromatin structure, genome complexity, the flow of genetic 2 hours

• DNA replication: General bacterial and eukaryotic DNA 1 hour

• The cell cycle: Restriction point, cell cycle regulators and modifiers 1 hour
• Cell signaling: Communication between cells and their environment, ion-channels, signal transduction pathways (MAPkinase, P38kinase, JNK, Ras and PI3-kinase pathways, biosensors. 3 hours

 UNIT-VII The Gene: Genome structure and function                    6 hours

Gene structure: Organization and elucidation of genetic code

• Gene expression: Expression systems (pro and eukaryotic), genetic elements that control gene expression (nucleosomes, histones, acetylation, HDACS, DNA binding protein families 3 hours
• Transcription and Transcription factors: Basic principles of transcription in pro and Transcription factors that regulate transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. 3hours

UNIT-VIII RNA Processing: rRNA, tRNA and mRNA Processing      8 hours

Protein synthesis: Mechanisms of protein synthesis, initiation in eukaryotes, translation control and post-translation events.                                2hours

1. Altered gene functions: Mutations, deletions, amplifications, LOH, translocations, trinucleotide repeats and other genetic abnormalities. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

1hour

1. The gene sequencing, mapping and cloning of human disease genes. Introduction to gene therapy and Recombinant DNA technology: principles. Processes (gene transfer technology) and applications. 5hours

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Drugs approved by FDA in last 5 years for treatment of various types of
• Applications of Gene therapy in cancer treatment, recent success
• Illustrate the various roles of serotonin
• New drugs approved in GI Recent updates on management of GI disorders.
• New antibiotics approved by FDA in the last 20 years and status of their clinical
• Antibiotic resistance and antibiotic stewardship

• Urinary antiseptics
• Novel antibiotics approved in last 10 years
• Polymerase chain reaction and its applications
• New generation sequencing
• CRISPR technology and its applications in disease management

SCOPE:

This subject provides an opportunity for the student to learn about different drugs used in various conditions, their classification based on their mode of action, detailed mechanism through which they act, doses and routes through which they are administered, precautions and adverse effects, contra-indications as well as the mechanism by which they interact with other drugs and the precautions to be taken while consuming the drugs. The subject emphasizes the role of antibiotics in human life and how scientists have developed various antibiotics to tackle different infections and how the specificity is maintained. It gives insights to the students regarding the rational use of antibiotics and how the irrational use is going to harm the man kind and contribute to the emergence of a post antibiotic era. Chemotherapeutic agents used in malignancy and the mechanisms and pathways involved in the management of malignancy are also included.

The subject also encompasses key aspects of cell and molecular biology, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms of chemotherapeutic agents used for various disease conditions. Various molecular biology techniques like PCR, genome sequencing and recombinant DNA technology are also covered here.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of the course, students shall be able to: 

KNOWLEDGE

K1: Classify various drugs used in various conditions (Understanding)

K2: Describe the mechanisms, side effects, indications and interactions of various drugs in these classes

K3: Discuss the mechanisms by which drugs exhibit various adverse effects K4: Comprehend the mechanisms involved in drug interactions

K5: Illustrate the importance of antibiotics and other drugs in extending the human lifespan K6: Envisage the disaster due to antibiotic resistance

SKILL

S1: Discuss the rationale of using specific antibiotics for infection

S2: Predict the drug interaction in given prescription

S3: Implement the theoretical knowledge of drug mechanisms in practical experiments

S4: Perform various experiments following the SOPs and GLP of Lab

S5: Recognize various animal species used in animal experiments and their handling techniques

S6: Execute various in vitro and in vivo experiments

ATTITUDE

A1: Communicate effectively

A2: Collaborate and work in team

A3: Exhibit professionalism

A4: Participate in health care activities

A5: Update new advancements in health care system

A6: Exhibit responsibility towards the society

TEXT BOOKS:

• Tripathi, D. Essentials of medical pharmacology. 8th Ed, Jaypee, Delhi; 2018
• S. Satoskar, S. D. Bhandarkar, Nirmala N. Rege. Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. 26th ed, Popular Prakashan; 2020.
• James Ritter, Rod Flower, Graeme Henderson, Yoon Kong Loke, David MacEwan, Humphrey Rang Rang& Dale’s Pharmacology. 9thed, Churchill Living stone, Edinburgh: Elsevier; 2020
• Bhandari, Textbook of Pharmacology, Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers; Noida; 2022
• Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. Molecular biology of the cell. 6th Ed. New York: Garland Science: 2015
• Cooper GM. The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 8th Ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2018
• Ralph B and Edward D. Handbook of Cell Signaling, 2nd Ed. Elsevier/Academic Press: London:2010
• John Dickenson, Fiona Freeman, Chris Lloyd Mills, Christian Thode, Shiva Molecular Pharmacology: From DNA to Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons; 2013.

REFERENCE BOOKS:

1. Goodman Gilman A,Rall W, Nies, A.I.S. and Taylor, P. Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of therapeutics. 13^thEd, Mc Graw Hill: New York; 2017
2. Charles R Craig and Robert E Modern Pharmacology with Clinical Application. 5^th Ed , Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; London 2017
3. Katzung, G., Kruidering-Hall, M., & Trevor, A. J. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 15^th Ed. McGraw-Hill Education: New York; 2019