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.