Graduate Courses
Microbiology 504 [3 cr.]
Cellular Biotechnology. Course Director: Mary O'Riordan. Provides an overview and integration of six disciplinary foci which, together, define the field of cellular biotechnology. These foci are: cell biology and culture ecology and evolution molecular genetics and protein engineering bioseparation and processing biosensing and analysis cellular modeling, prediction, and control. Course begins with an overview of a typical situation encountered in the field, such as a toxic spill, production of a recombinant protein, or development of a diagnostic tool, followed by a series of lectures in the six topics. Emphasis will be placed not only on conveying knowledge of basic principles in each area, but also on illustrating the necessary relationships and interactions between the various areas within the context of the integrated biotechnology process. Lectures. Winter term.
Microbiology 510 [3 cr.] - not currently offered
Mathematical Models of Infectious Diseases. Calculus I and II and introductory microbiology. Undergrad need permission of instructor. Course Director: Associate Professor, Denise Kirschner. The objective of this course is to present a detailed introduction to modeling host-pathogen interactions and a brief discussion of modeling at the population level, as these models represent some of the most classical results. Class will then focus on host-pathogen interactions within the host. Fall term of even years only.
Microbiology 512 [2 cr.]
Introduction to Scientific Communication. Course Director: Lori Isom. Cross listed course - Pharmacology 502. This course introduces graduate students to essential scientific communication skills. Beginning with the relatively easy task of learning to search the literature over the Internet and ending with the challenges of writing an NRSA grant application and giving a short seminar, each student will develop confidence in both written and spoken scientific communication. Class meetings alternate between presentations by local experts on various topics and student presentations of their work in progress. In-depth analysis of student writing and presentation skills will be provided in class by the instructor, by other students working in small groups, as well as by guest scientists. Through a series of assignments, each student will write a grant over the course of the semester on a topic of his or her choice. By the end of the term each student will have polished and revised the proposal to a high quality product that will be presented both orally and in written form to the rest of the class. Finally, each student will participate in a mock study section to constructively evaluate each other's grants. Prerequisite: Must be in the second year or higher of a PIBS-related graduate program. Winter term. A course syllabus can be found here.
Microbiology 553 [3 cr.]
Cancer Biology. Course Director: Colin Duckett. This course will cover a broad range of subjects relating to cancer biology. Emphasis is on the relationship between basic science and clinical aspects of cancer. Topics to be covered include carcinogenesis, cancer progression, tumor pathology, oncogenes, cellular growth control, tumor suppressor genes, oncogenic viruses, apoptosis, tumor immunology, clinical oncology, and therapeutics. The course consists of lectures by faculty in the Cancer Center who are experts on various topics. Fall term.
Microbiology 599 [1-8 cr.]
Independent non-Dissertation Research for Graduate Students. Permission of instructor. Students may undertake independent library or laboratory research study under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member. May be taken any term.
Microbiology 607 [2 cr.]
Microbial Pathogenesis. Introductory microbiology or permission of course director. Course Directors: Maria Sandkvist and Philip Hanna. Topics include regulatory mechanisms of pathogens, toxins and toxinogenesis, secretion, adherence and invasion. The course is literature-based, although each session begins with a discussion by the instructor to provide context and background for papers under discussion. Primarily covers bacterial pathogens. Winter term.
Microbiology 615 [2 cr.]
Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Viral P Pathogenesis. Microbiology 503 recommended or permission of course director required. Course Directors: Akira Ono and Christiane Wobus. Concepts of viral pathogenesis and controls. Early events-entry, receptors, tropism determinants. Replication and interactions with host defenses. Transmission in populations; smallpox as a paradigm. The format will be similar to that in past years, including a combination of lecture and critical analysis of primary literature. Fall term.
Microbiology 619 [1 cr.]
Special Topics Fall 2008 - Pathologic Evaluation of Animal Models of Human Disease. Course Director: Kate Eaton. Many graduate students in our department (and others) find themselves at a loss when it is time to move their research from bench to animal. Which model to use? How well does it reflect human disease? What confounding factors need to be considered? How do I interpret gross and histopathologic results? The goal of this module is to begin to address some of these questions by examining the criteria for choice and evaluation of animal models, and by analyzing animal models that are relevant to the students’ research interests. The format will be lecture/discussion, with discussion predominating after the first few sessions. Reading assignments will be taken from texts and from published descriptions of established and developing animal models of disease, as well as models of diseases of interest to participants. Students will be required to write a paper describing and evaluating animal models of a disease of their own choosing. November 4 - December 9, 2008.
Special Topics Winter 2009 - Course Directors: David Sherman, Mary O'Riordan. TBA. March 24 - April 21, 2009.
Microbiology 630 [1 cr.]
Short Course - Special Topics in Genetics. Human Genetics 630. Lectures are open to anyone interested, but only Genetics Training Grant students and CMB students may register for this course. Please contact the Cellular and Molecular Biology department for fall term schedule and the Human Genetics department for winter term schedule.
Microbiology 640 [3 cr.]
The immunology modules are being combined into one course starting winter 2008.
Molecular and Cellular Immunology. Physics, Biology 305 and Biol. Chem. 415 and MCDB 436/Micrbiol 502 and graduate standing; permission of instructor for undergraduates or NCFD. Course Director: Dr. Philip King. This three-credit course will be focused upon molecular and cellular aspects of vertebrate immunology. Topics to be covered include: Mechanisms of antigen recognition in innate and adaptive immunity; antigen processing and presentation; the MHC; generation of diversity in immune receptors; B and T cell development, activation, differentiation, death and effector functions; Mechanisms of homeostasis and immunosuppression; NK cells and other innate immune cell types, immunological tolerance and its breakdown; microbial immunity; and immune cell signal transduction. The course will include both didactic lectures and discussion-type seminars based upon contemporary research papers. A previous introductory course in immunology is recommended. Winter term.
Microbiology 812 [1 cr.]
Microbiology Seminar. Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Students. Course Director: Wes Dunnick. An analysis of advances at the frontiers of microbiology. Every microbiology graduate student is required to enroll in this course each semester. Students give one seminar per year on a journal article or their own research.
Microbiology 995 [8 cr.]
Candidate Dissertation Research. Graduate School authorization for admission as a doctoral candidate. Election for dissertation work by Microbiology and Immunology doctoral students who have been advanced to status as candidates. All terms.
