Biology 4445/ 5445 ‑ Pathogenic Microbiology Fall 2007

 

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 (Sept 27)                                       15%

                         Mid term 2 (Nov 1)                                         15%

                         Laboratory                                                      25%

                         Class Presentation                                           15%

                         Final    (take home, due 12/11 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 journal primary research paper which is related to some aspect of pathogenic microbiology that has been published in the current calendar year (2007).  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, 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; Enterobacteriaceae; Vibrionaceae; Pseudomonas; Oral Microbiology and Nosocomial Infections

 

Mid term 2

 

            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 11, 2007.  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. 

 

            Academic Honesty:  Students are advised to consult the Texas State Honor Code http://www.dos.txstate.edu/TxState-Handbook/Rules/Academic-Procedures.html.  Honor code violations including cheating and plagiarism are always prosecuted.

 

            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 15.  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.