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Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogenesis (MMI 773) Syllabus:
Directors:
Date / Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Location: Room 408 SMI Prequisites: Consent of Instructors, MMI 740 & Path 750 recommended. For instructor consent to register, please email Jay or Jon with your name, student ID number, and credentials relative to the course requirements. You'll be contacted by the MMI office when registration has been approved. Credits: 3 Abstract: This biennial course for graduate students focuses on basic biological (biochemical, molecular, and cellular) aspects and pathogenic mechanisms of eukaryotic microbial pathogens, emphasizing protozoan parasites and fungi. These organisms cause a wide variety of debilitating and lethal diseases in humans and other mammals. They display many distinctions from bacteria and viruses in features related to pathogenesis and infectious diseases, in part due to their phylogenetic similarity to their host organisms. Moreover, they also show biological differences from other eukaryotes such as the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammals. Both their basic biology and ability to infect and cause disease reveal unique evolutionary adaptations that aid our understanding of how a microbe can exploit its host, and broaden our appreciation of the diversity of eukaryotic organisms. Parasites cause such diseases as malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. Parasitology has provided the first glimpse of eukaryotic biomolecular processes that have alternatively proven to be ubiquitous (such as glycosylphosphatidyl inositol membrane protein anchors), unusual (such as trans-splicing), or unique (such as RNA editing). Pathogenic fungi include Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Pneumocystis carinii. These organisms run the range from a nonpathogenic lifestyle in the environment or as a commensal cohabitant with humans, to significant invasive and systemic infection, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. The goal of this course is to provide an overview and also in-depth investigation of selected biological and pathogenic mechanisms of parasites and fungi. These studies cannot be exhaustive due to the time constraints of the course, but will provide for eclectic examination of different mechanisms and different organisms. Format: This course will consist of a combination of lectures, critical readings of the primary literature, student presentations, and research seminars by invited speakers. Heavy emphasis will be placed on student participation. The Grade: 40% class participation, 60% class presentations on selected topics. Class Participation (40%): Students will be evaluated, particularly when papers are being discussed, on both the quantity and quality of their comments / questions. Therefore, it is highly advisable that students carefully consider all of the assigned readings. Class Presentations (60%): Each student will be responsible for three presentations of particular topics grounded in the scientific literature, one each on fungi and parasites selected by the instructors, and one of their own choosing. Students may not make a presentation in the area of their own thesis research. Each presentation will occupy a full class meeting. The student will be responsible for introducing the topic and leading / guiding the discussion in class. This is not a journal club - your goal is to initiate and maintain a robust class discussion. An outline of the presentation and a list of assigned readings (typically a review article and 2 primary data papers) must be prepared for the course directors at least two weeks prior to the date of the presentation and assigned reading materials must be distributed one week prior to the presentation. 2007 Class Schedule:
Outside Speakers: In conjunction with MMI 900 (Journal Club/Seminar), which will focus on fungal and protozoan pathogen, the following guests will present Research Seminars:
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