Biology 4445/ 5445 ‑ Pathogenic Microbiology Fall
2009
Instructor: Dr.
R.J.C. McLean
Supple Science Building 364, (512)
245‑3365
Email: McLean@txstate.edu
Office
hours M - Th 8:20-9:15 am or by appointment
Prerequisite: Microbiology
2400 or equivalent (as determined by instructor)
Text: Salyers and
Whitt, Bacterial Pathogenesis - A Molecular Approach, 2nd Edition,
ASM Press, Washington DC 2002. A number of other sources will also be used.
Lecture and Laboratory notes: Bio 4445/5445 Coursepack available in
bookstore.
Recommended reference:
A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory, M.J. Leboffe and
B.E. Pierce, latest Edition, Morton Pub. Englewood, CO
Course Description:
This course will cover pathogenic bacteria and their relationshiop to
disease, emphasizing identification of selected groups of pathogens,
epidemiology and the biological basis for resistance [from TX State catalog].
Grading:
Mid term 1 (Oct 1) 15%
Mid term 2 (Nov 17) 15%
Laboratory 25%
Class Presentation 15%
Final (take home, due 12/15 at 5:00 pm) 30%
Students must
achieve a passing grade in both the lecture (mid terms and final) and
laboratory portion of the course in order to pass.
Class Presentation:
‑ will consist of students giving an oral presentation (5 ‑
10 minutes) of a 2009 journal primary research paper (instructor approval
needed), which is related to some aspect of pathogenic microbiology. Students should be prepared to discuss how
the experiments were conducted, what the results mean, etc. Grading will be based equally on the quality
of presentation, the level of difficulty of the paper, and participation in
class discussions. [Students in 5445
will also be expected to turn in a short 2 page typewritten evaluation of their
research paper.]
Topics covered in class:
Pathogen structure
& metabolism
Antimicrobial
Agents
Immunology and
Infection
Normal flora
Host‑parasite
Disease
transmission
Role and Function
of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Mid term 1
Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Neisseria
Haemophilus
Bordetella
Listeria and
Corynebacteria
Mycobacterium
Actinomycetes
Mid term 2
Enterobacteriaceae
Vibrionaceae
Pseudomonas
Yersinia and
Francisella
Pasteurella and
other miscellaneous gram negatives
Anaerobes
Spirochaetes
Campylobacter and
Helicobacter
Oral Microbiology
Legionella
Chlamydia
Mycoplasma
Nosocomial
Infections
Final
Exam
will be a take-home exam in which you are required to write an NIH-style grant
proposal based on an R03 (small grant format) to study one aspect of pathogenic
microbiology. This is due at 5:00 pm on December 15, 2009. Late final exams are not accepted and
will be given a grade of 0.
Attendance
Policy: Attendance at all
laboratories is mandatory. Two or more
absences from laboratory will result in a lower letter grade for the course.
Withdrawing
from the course: Students must
see the instructor prior to withdrawing otherwise a grade of F will be
automatically assigned. Students will
otherwise be allowed to drop Bio 4445/5445 with a grade of W until October 26. After that time, students who drop the
course will receive a W only if they
are passing both the lecture and laboratory portion of the course.