Course Descriptions

This course takes a patient-oriented approach in introducing students to medically-important microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Topics include the structure and function of microorganisms, host-pathogen interactions, immunological principles, antimicrobial agents and resistance, infection control principles and nosocomial infections, and a representative survey of medically relevant microorganisms.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 120.3.
Note: This course replaces MCIM 224.3 in the Nursing program. Students who already have credit for MCIM 224.3 or BMSC 210.3 will not be required to take MCIM 223.3. Students with credit for MCIM 224.3 or BMSC 210.3 cannot take this course for credit.

Considers the characteristics of bacterial agents of infectious diseases in humans. Host-pathogen interactions are emphasized with respect to pathogenesis and the innate immune response. Methods for prevention and treatment of infectious disease are discussed.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200, 210.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 308 may not take this course for credit.

The principles of animal virology are covered, including classification, cell-virus relationships, basic techniques in virology, transmission of viruses, and study of viral disease.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200, 210.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 309 may not take this course for credit.

Considers the cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for the physiological functioning of the immune system. Topics include the clonal selection theory, the structure and diversity of antibody molecules, the MHC-restricted recognition of antigen by T cells and the regulation of the immune response.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200, 210.
Note: Recommended to be taken concurrently with MCIM 390. Students with credit for MCIM 421 or MCIM 821 may not take this course for credit.

The principles and applications of techniques used in microbiology and immunology are covered with an emphasis on problem solving by experimentation. Included are methods relating to safe handling, growth and identification of microbes and methods for studying virology and immunology.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 4 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200.3, 210.3, 240.3.
Note: Recommended to be taken concurrently with MCIM 321.3. Intended primarily for Microbiology & Immunology students. Students with credit for MICR 390 may not take this course for credit.

The principles and applications of techniques used in microbiology are covered with an emphasis on problem solving. Included are methods for studying microbial physiology and genetics, and basic methods of microbial gene manipulation. Students with credit for MICR 391 cannot receive credit for BIOC 311.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 4 Practicum/Lab hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200.3, BMSC 210.3, and BMSC 240.3.
Note: Recommended to be taken concurrently with MCIM 326. Intended primarily for Microbiology & Immunology students. Students with credit for MICR 391 or BIOC 311 may not take this course for credit.

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Concepts in the molecular biology of Viruses are considered. The course covers molecular biological themes common to life cycles of all viruses, including virion structure, virus entry, gene expression, genome replication, assembly, release, and virus-host interactions. In addition, representative members of animal virus families are used as models to illustrate specific viological events and modern methods to study viruses.

Prerequisite(s): BMSC 200.3, 210.3, 220.3.
Note: MCIM 326.3 is recommended. Students with credit for MICR 417 may not take this course for credit.

Considers how the activation of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms contribute to pathology. Topics include basic mechanisms of immune-cell migration and inflammation, functions of cytokines, antibody and cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and their role in disease processes as seen in allergies, transplantation and autoimmunity.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): MCIM 321.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 423 may not take this course for credit.

Explores ways in which microbial pathogens interact with their hosts from a molecular and genetics perspective. Topics include: general pathogenic mechanisms of bacteria, bacterial virulence factors and their genetic regulation; molecular genetic approaches to studying pathogenesis; and various model systems which have been used to understand pathogenic mechanisms.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 320.3
Note: Students with credit for MICR 425 may not take this course for credit.

Bacterial and bacteriophage genetic systems will be dissected with a view to understanding their genomes, gene regulation, replication, mutagenesis, repair, and recombination, and their practical use as tools for molecular genetics experimentation and biotechnology.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 1 Tutorial hours
Prerequisite(s): BMSC 320.3
Note: BIOL 226 is strongly recommended. Students with credit for MICR 386, MICR 387 or MCIM 387 may not take MCIM 487 for credit.

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Offered occasionally by visiting faculty and in other special situations to cover, in depth, topics that are not thoroughly covered in regularly offered courses.

Weekly hours: 3 Seminar/Discussion hours

Review various biochemical, genetic and molecular biological approaches in the study of model unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms, primarily Saccharomyces yeasts. Emphasis will be on genome organization and manipulation, DNA metabolism, control of gene expression and cell cycle regulation. The complete yeast genome sequence and its application will be discussed. Experimental strategies developed in these lower eukaryotes for the study of other organisms will also be discussed.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours
Formerly: MICR 816
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 226 (formerly BIOL 211) and MCIM 387 (formerly MICR 387) or permission of the instructor.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 816 may not take this course for credit.

Considers the molecular details of virus repliaction and the host response to infection. Topics covered include virus structure, entry, replication, assembly and virus hose interactions. Molecular details and protein functions in the replication of DNA viruses and, + and - strand RNA viruses will be analyzed and compared. Seminars will be used to analyze current research papers and modern viral analysis techniques. This course is intended for graduate students who have not completed a senior undergraduate course in molecular Virology.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 1 Tutorial hours
Note: Students who have credit for MCIM 417 may not take MCIM 817 for credit.

Considers the cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for the physiological functioning of the immune system. Topics include the clonal selection theory, the structure and diversity of antibody molecules, the MHC-restricted recognition of antigen by T cells and the regulation of the immune response.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 1 Seminar/Discussion hours
Note: Students with credit for MCIM 321 or MICR 821 may not take this course for credit.

Considers how the activation of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms by microbial infections contribute to pathology. Topics include basic mechanisms of immune-cell migration and inflammation, functions of cytokines, antibody and cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and their role in disease processes as seen in allergies and autoimmunity. A portion is devoted transplantation immunology and to regulation of the immune response to tumors and parasites.

Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 3 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): MCIM 321 (formerly MICR 421) or equivalent.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 823 may not take this course for credit.

Current research in immunology and related areas will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, alternating weekly. Each term, each credit student will present a seminar on a recent publication from the literature and submit a term paper critically analyzing and comparing the presented data with other published information on the subject.

Weekly hours: 1 Seminar/Discussion hours
Prerequisite(s): 3 credit units senior undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Immunology.
Note: Students with credit for MICR 860 may not take this course again for credit.

Current research in molecular microbiology and related areas will be presented and discussed by graduate students and faculty. Each term (T1 & T2) the student will present a seminar on a current research topic and will submit a critical essay on a focused area of research.

Weekly hours: 1 Seminar/Discussion hours
Note: Students with credit for MICR 861 may not take this course again for credit.

Study in selected areas of microbiology may be undertaken by senior students with permission of the department. The study will be arranged to suit the requirements of individual students. It may consist of lectures, essays, literature surveys and reports on assigned topics related to a specific subject. Laboratory work may be required.

Prerequisite(s): An introductory Microbiology course and permission of the department.

Study in selected areas of microbiology may be undertaken by senior students with permission of the department. The study will be arranged to suit the requirements of individual students. It may consist of lectures, essays, literature surveys and reports on assigned topics related to a specific subject. Laboratory work may be required.

Prerequisite(s): An introductory Microbiology course and permission of the department.

Graduate students are required to present one seminar per year on their research progress as part of a graduate seminar program (usually held the end of T2), and make a formal presentation upon completion of their research program in the Microbiology & Immunology Seminar Series. Yearly registration in MCIM 990 and attendance in the Microbiology & Immunology Seminar series is required throughout the graduate program.

Students writing a Master's thesis must register for this course.

Students writing a Ph.D. thesis must register for this course.