Course Descriptions

This course will focus on the mechanisms employed by bacterial and viral pathogens to produce disease in animals and humans. The course is divided into two 3 week modules. The first module (1 credit) will cover bacterial pathogens with an emphasis on the bacteria-host cell interaction. Specific topics will include bacterial attachment and invasion of eukaryotic cells, virulence gene regulation, secretion of virulence factors, bacterial toxins, and obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens. The second module (1 credit) will cover viruses and human viral diseases with an emphasis on viral replication, gene expression, virus-host cell interactions, and viral oncology. Classes will consist of a mixture of lectures and discussions of recent or classic papers. There will be one exam per module.

Transfer for graduate credit of basic science medical course work for individuals enrolled in combined degree M.D./Ph.D. program. Note that the future of these credits is under discussion in light of the PIBS 701 waiver for combined degree students.

This three-credit team-taught course will present core concepts in immunology and scientific reasoning in immunological research. The course is divided into seven weekly modules. Each module has a common theme and consists of three lectures on fundamental immunological concepts and one session where students present and discuss a research paper related to the theme of each module. The paper discussion session will include the use of disease models as a portal to understand the function of the immune system in health and disease. The goals are for students to understand the core concepts in immunology as well as scientific reasoning deployed in immunological research, and thus improving their intellectual skills to generate new knowledge.

Selected topics in immunobiology will be discussed addressing the contemporary issues and questions regarding the development, regulation, and function of the immune system.

This is a longitudinal training course delivered throughout all years of training. Students start taking it upon joining the Microbiology and Immunology Program to perform research under the mentorship of participating faculty. Up to six credits may be awarded commensurate with attendance and participation in the four modules. The four modules include teaching Assistance (TA) experience (3 credits); attendance and participation in the weekly departmental seminars and completing written assignments on the seminars' topics (1 credit); attendance, participation, and presentation in Journal Clubs (1 credit); Research Forums on Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and career skills (1 credit).

This course will explore in-depth the current and advanced concepts and topics in selected areas of Immunology. We will cover recent advances and cutting-edge experimental approaches in cellular and molecular immunology and also expose students to concepts and themes that link the various cell types into an effective immune system. The classes will consist of a mixture of lectures and discussions of recent papers and be divided into three modules: (1) cellular and molecular networks of Immune System (1 credit); (2) molecular regulation of adaptive immunity (1 credit); (3) immunopathologies and immunotherapies (1 credit).

The focus of this course will be on the principles of scientific integrity, in particular how to optimize rigor and reproducibility in study designs, experimentations/trials, data collection, data management, and reporting. The class will discuss how biological variables such as sex and age impact the interpretation of research outcomes, and how those variables should be considered in experimental model systems as well as in human subject recruitment and protections in clinical trials. The course will be offered in a mixed format of lectures, seminars, small group discussions, and/or workshops.

This team-taught course will present core concepts in immune therapy and scientific reasoning underlying therapeutic approaches. The focus of the course will be two-fold. One goal will be the mechanistic understanding of the mode of action (MOA) for the major types of immune-based therapeutic agents in autoimmune diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. The types of immune therapy discussed in this class include molecular targeting with antibodies, fusion proteins or aptamers, cell therapy, and gene therapy. The other goal will be to provide a better understanding of human immune-related diseases and current strategies for their treatment as a portal to understand human immunology. This course will be offered in a mixed format of lectures, seminars, problem-based learning in small groups, and student-led discussion of a research and/or clinical trial article on immune-based therapy and mechanisms, with the guidance of a faculty facilitator.

The student working on his/her master’s thesis enrolls for credit, in most departments not to exceed six, as determined by his/her advisor. Credit is not awarded until the thesis has been accepted.

Research in residence for master's level thesis.

Required for all Ph.D. candidates. The student will enroll for credits as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies but not less than a total of 24. No more than 12 hours of research may be taken in a regular semester, and no more than six in a summer session.

Required for all Ph.D. candidates. The student will enroll for credits as determined by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Students must be registered in the semester they plan to defend. This course is used to establish research in residence for the Ph.D. after the student has been enrolled for the permissible cumulative total in appropriate doctoral research. Credit is not granted. Students may be regarded as full-time residence as determined by the Dean of the Graduate School.