BIO 5392 Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis

Spring 2009
Coursemasters: Dr. Mike Caparon and Dr. Joe Vogel

Meeting times:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday , 3:00 - 4:00pm
Room 8101 MPRB

Description

Prerequisite, first semester core curriculum for Programs in Cell and Molecular Biology. Research in molecular microbiology employs genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and biophysics to investigate fundamental biological problems including environmental sensing and cell-cell signaling, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, secretion, energy generation, and the bacterial cell cycle. State-of-the-art computational and comparative genomic approaches are used to study commensal, pathogenic, and environmental organisms in their natural environment. Bio5392, Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis is the Advanced Elective of the program in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis. The course has been designed to provide students with a broad range of experience in microbiology with a foundational knowledge of the basic concepts of molecular microbiology and microbial pathogenesis to prepare them for advanced course work and research in the program. The first half focuses on the basic physiology of bacteria and viruses and how these organisms cause disease. The second half introduces parasites and fungi and basic concepts of pathogenesis that underlie all microbial host-pathogen interactions. The course has 3 in-class exams based on lecture material and assigned readings, and 3 writing exercises where students craft an NIH R01-grant style “Specific Aims” proposal to investigate topics related to the class in greater detail. Significant time is devoted to improving writing skills, including participation in a “Study Section” patterned after an NIH-style peer review panel that critiques the Specific Aims proposals. Credit: 3 units.

Course Schedule
Date	Topic	Faculty	Readings	Handouts
January 12	Introduction to this Course Introduction to Microbial Pathogenesis I	Caparon	Assigned reading
January 14	Introduction to Microbial Pathogenesis II	Caparon
January 16	Microbial Taxonomy and diversity I	Huang Levin
January 19	MLK Holiday: NO CLASS
January 21	Microbial Taxonomy and diversity II	Goldberg Doering
January 23	Viral multiplication and life cycles	Huang
January 26	Viral pathogenesis and immunology	Yu
January 28	Viral latency, persistence and transformation	Yu
January 30	Virus entry and its consequences	Blight
February 2	Viral gene expression strategies	Blight
February 4	Viral control of translation Project I Due	Blight
February 6	Bacteriophage	Berg	Assigned reading
February 9	Evolution of prokaryotic virulence	Tarr
February 11	EXAM I
February 13	Extremophiles	Amend				or
February 16	Parasite Genetics I	Sibley	Assigned reading			or
February 18	Parasite Genetics II	Sibley
February 20	Bacterial cell biology	Levin	Assigned reading
February 23	Prokaryotic surfaces	Hultgren	Assigned reading
February 25	Prokaryotic macromolecular assembly I	Hultgren
February 27	Prokaryotic macromolecular assembly II	Hultgren	Recommended reading
March 2	Bacterial Secretion and Intracellular Niche I	Vogel	Assigned reading
March 4	Bacterial Secretion and Intracellular Niche II	Vogel	Assigned reading
March 6	Bacterial Secretion and Intracellular Niche III	Vogel	Assigned reading
March 9	Bacterial Secretion and Intracellular Niche IV	Vogel	Assigned reading
March 11	Study Section	The class and guests
March 13	Study Section	The class and guests
March 16	Study Section	The class and guests
March 18	Prokaryotic signal transduction	Caparon	Assigned reading			or
March 20	Virulence gene regulation	Caparon
March 23	Normal flora	Gordon
March 25	Virulence gene regulation II	Caparon
March 27	EXAM II
March 30	Project II Due
Week of March 30	Spring Break: NO CLASS
April 6	Damage to Host I	Haslam
April 8	Damage to Host II	Haslam
April 10	Parasite-vector interactions	Dobson	Assigned reading
April 13	Invasion and intracellular survival of parasites I	Sibley	Assigned reading
April 15	Invasion and intracelluar survival of parasites II	Sibley
April 17	Virulence Factor Identification	Caparon	Assigned reading
April 20	Prions	Harris
April 22	Plant pathogenesis	Kunkel	Assigned reading
April 24	Emerging infectious diseases	Wang				or
April 27	Fungal surface structures and pathogenesis	Doering	Assigned reading
April 29	EXAM III	Course Evaluation Form>>>>>>>>>
May 1	Project III Due

Faculty Contact Information
Faculty	Phone	email	Campus Box	Office
Michael Caparon	314/362-1485	caparon@borcim.wustl.edu	8230	Room 10250A MPRB
Joe Vogel	314/747-1029	jvogel@borcim.wustl.edu	8230	Room 10220A MPRB