Courses

• EEC 245 / EMS 245 / ECH 245: Micro- and Nano-technology in Life Sciences - Winter (yearly)

  • Dr. Seker

  • Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing (or instructor approval)

  • The integration of microfabrication, nanotechnology, and the life sciences has generated powerful tools to study biological questions, as well as to diagnose and treat diseases. The unifying objective of this interdisciplinary course is to train students from different backgrounds to be conversant across multiple disciplines and acquire skills to approach complex biomedical problems. 

• ENT 123/PLB 123/PLP 123: Plant-Virus-Vector Interaction

  • Prerequisites: BIS 002A; BIS 101; PLB 105, PLP 120, and ENT 100 recommended

  • Analysis of interactions necessary for viruses to infect plants.Interactions among insect vectors and host plants involved in the plant-virus life cycle. Evolutionary aspects of the molecular components in viral infection and modern approaches to the interdiction of viral movement. (Same course as PBI 123 and PLP 123.)

• ENT 212: Molecular Biology of Insects and Insect Viruses

  • Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor.

  • A molecular biological analysis of insect systematics, physiology, and defense mechanisms. Molecular biology of insect viruses. Baculovirus expression vectors and post-translation modification of expressed polypeptides. Biological control of using neuropeptides and toxin genes in insect viruses.

• EVE 161: Microbial phylogenomics - Genomic perspectives on the Diversity and Diversification of Microbes - Winter (even years)

  • Dr. Eisen

  • Prerequisites: BIS 002A, BIS 002B, BIS 002C; or equivalent

  • Use of DNA and genomic sequencing in studies of the diversity of microorganisms. Diversity of microbes, phylogenetics, genome sequencing, comparative genomics, phylogenomics, lateral gene transfer, molecular ecology, metagenomics, and studies of the human microbiome.

• FST 204: Advanced Food Microbiology - Spring

  • Prerequisite(s): Undergraduate level coursework in microbiology, or consent of instructor

  • Principles and recent developments in food microbiology. Mechanisms of foodborne disease, pathogen detection, parameters of microbial growth and control in foods, intestinal microbiology including probiotics and prebiotics, and the microbiology of food and beverage fermentations.

• FST 230: Food & Gut Microbiota  - Spring

  • Dr. Mills

  • Prerequisite(s): Microbiology and molecular biology undergraduate coursework or Consent of Instructor. Upper division or graduate standing.

  • Impact of specific food structures on the structure and function of the animal gut microbiota. How food is transformed by, and modulates, the gut microbiota to provide the host with nutrients and protection.

• GDB 103: The Microbiome of People, Animals, and Plants - Winter (yearly)

  • Dr. Leveau, Dr. Cook

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 002A; BIS 002B; BIS 002C

  • Examination of the structure and function of microbial communities that live inside and on host organisms. Introduction to general concepts of the microbiome and microbiota, and their relationship to host health and disease.

• MIB 210: Microbial Interactions 

  • Prerequisite(s): MIB 200A; or Consent of Instructor

  • Analysis at the molecular level of the interactions of microbes with the environment, microbes with other microbes, and microbes in symbiotic and/or pathogenic associations with eukaryotic hosts.

• MIC 101: Introductory Microbiology

  • Prerequisite(s): (BIS 001A or BIS 002A); CHE 002B (can be concurrent)

  • Survey of microorganisms emphasizing their interactions with humans and diseases. Topics include microscopy, survey of various microbes, the immune system, food microbiology, microbial pathogens, and mechanisms of disease transmission. Designed for students requiring microbiology for professional schools. Not open for credit to students who have completed MIC 102, MIC 102L, MIC 104, or MIC 104L.

• MIC 102: Introductory Microbiology - Fall/Winter/Spring

  • Prerequisite(s): (BIS 001A or BIS 002A); CHE 002B (can be concurrent)

  • Essentials of microbial biology, emphasizing phylogeny, physiology, genetics, ecology, and pathogenesis. Interactions with other microbes, humans, and the biosphere. Uses of microbes in agriculture and biotechnology. Not open for credit to students who have completed MIC 101 or MIC 104.

• MIC 111: Human Microbiology - Fall

  • Dr. Stewart

  • Prerequisite(s): MIC 102; BIS 101

  • Biology of microorganisms that form commensal, mutualistic, and pathogenic relationships with human beings, emphasizing their phylogeny, physiology, genetics, and ecology. Effects on human nutrition, development and physiology. Mechanisms of pathogenesis, immune response evasion, antibiotic action, and antibiotic resistance.

• MIC 120: Microbial Ecology - Spring

  • Dr. Rodrigues

  • Prerequisite(s): MIC 105; (BIS 102 or BIS 105)

  • Interactions between non-pathogenic microorganisms and their environment, emphasizing physiological and metabolic characteristics of various groups and their adaptation to and modification of specific habitats.

• MIC 170: Yeast Molecular Genetics

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 101; MIC 102 or MIC 105 strongly recommended

  • Survey of the genetics, cell biology and technologies in yeasts and related lower eukaryotes. Topics include diversity of yeasts; cell structure; metabolism; cell cycle; genetic approaches and genomics; gene expression; yeasts as models to study higher eukaryotes; and contemporary techniques.

• MIC 172: Host-Parasite Interactions

  • Prerequisite(s): MIC 102 or MIC 101 or MIC 104; BIS 101; Biological Sciences 102 or 105 strongly recommended

  • Exploration of host-parasite interactions at multiple levels, with an emphasis on global health and medically important human parasites.

• MIC 262: Advanced General and Molecular Virology

  • Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing

  • Advanced integrated presentation of animal, bacterial, and plant viruses, including their structure, modes of regulation, expression and replication, and effects on host cells and organisms.

• MMI 130/MMI 430: Medical Mycology

  • Prerequisite(s): Consent of Instructor.

  • A course in pathogenic microbiology. Various aspects of pathogenic fungi, particularly affecting humans, will be discussed including epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathology, diagnosis and therapy.

• MMI 200D: Mechanisms for Microbial Interactions with Hosts - Winter

  • Dr. Bäumler

  • Prerequisite(s): MIB 200A; or Consent of Instructor

  • Study of mechanisms involved in microbial interactions within a host environment. The following principles are basic to understanding these interactions: host recognition, invasion, competition and growth, and host defense. 

• MMI 280: The endogenous microbiota in health and disease - Spring (even years/alternate)

  • Dr. Bäumler, Dr. Dandekar, Dr. Tsolis

  • Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.

  • This course will present recent insights into the microbial communities inhabiting mucosal surfaces, and will discuss how the composition of these communities contributes to normal development, metabolism, lifespan, education of the immune system, and disease susceptibility.

• PLP 150: Fungal Ecology

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 002C; Or equivalent.

  • Ecological roles of fungi as saprobes, mutualists and parasites in native and managed ecosystems. Physiological and reproductive strategies associated with adaptations to diverse habitats.

• PLP 201A: Impacts, Mechanisms and Control of Plant Disease

  • Prerequisite(s): PLP 120; Graduate student status in the Plant Pathology Graduate Program or consent of instructor.

  • A case-studies approach to analysis of plant diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and viruses, including impacts, etiology, pathogen taxonomy and epidemiology, biochemical and genetic aspects of pathogen-host interactions, virulence and resistance, and approaches to disease control.

• PLP 201B: Impacts, Mechanisms and Control of Plant Disease

  • Prerequisite(s): PLP 120; PLP 201A; Graduate student status in the Plant Pathology Graduate Program or consent of instructor.

  • A case-studies approach to analysis of plant diseases, including emerging diseases, caused by bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and oomycetes: impacts, etiology, pathogen taxonomy, epidemiology, biochemical and genetic aspects of pathogen-host interactions, virulence, resistance, disease control and statistical analysis.

• PLP 210: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant-Microbe Interaction - Winter

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 101; BIS 102; BIS 103; BIS 104; Or the equivalent

  • Discussion of plant microbe interactions, focused on the underlying cellular, biochemical, and molecular events that determine the diseased state

• PLP 228: Plant Bacteriology

  • Prerequisite(s): PLP 120; or equivalent or consent of instructor.

  • Study of plant pathogenic microorganisms including taxonomy, biology, molecular mechanisms of disease, and plant disease management. Topics include quorum sensing, rhizosphere biology, genomics, virulence factors, and host plant resistance genes.

• PMI 127: Medical Bacteria and Fungi

  • Prerequisite(s): PMI 127L (can be concurrent); Any Microbiology course with lab; Immunology strongly recommended; PMI 127L to be taken concurrently. Pass One restricted to Microbiology majors.

  • Introduction to the bacterial and mycotic pathogens of man and animals, with emphasis on pathogenic mechanisms and ecologic aspects of infectious disease.

• PMI 128: Biology of Animal Viruses

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 102. Fundamental physical and chemical properties of animal viruses; methods of propagation, purification and assay.
  • Mechanisms of viral replication and pathogenesis of viral infections in man and animals. Immunity to virus diseases and oncogenic properties of animal viruses. Two units of credit given if completed MIC 162. 

• SSC 111: Soil Microbiology - Winter

  • Prerequisite(s): BIS 002C recommended

  • Major groups of microorganisms in soil, their interrelationships, and their responses to environmental variables. Role of microorganisms in cycling of nutrients. Plant-microbe relationships. Transformations of organic and inorganic pollutants.

• SSC 112: Soil Ecology - Fall

  • Dr. Rodrigues

  • Prerequisite(s): SSC 100 or equivalent recommended

  • Overview of living constituents of soils, their interactions, importance, and impact on biogeochemical cycles, decomposition, and soil properties. Practical applications of soil biological diversity are emphasized.

• SSC 211 : Advanced Soil Microbiology - Fall (alternate years)

  • Dr. Rodrigues

  • Prerequisite(s): CHE 008A; CHE 008B; SSC 111; BIS 102, BIS 103 or an equivalent course recommended

  • Microbial metabolism of organic chemicals in soil, both natural and xenobiotic. Decomposition of organic matter. Kinetics of microbial processes in soil.

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)

CUREs recruit a class of students to address an issue that is of real interest to the scientific or academic community. CUREs provide a scalable mechanism to increase the reach of traditional, faculty-mentored undergraduate research.

Previously Offered CUREs

• Genetic Circuits: Mutant Variations’ Regulation of Protein Expression
• Making a Mutant: Optimizing Mutagenesis Protocol for Undergraduate Users Birds, Bugs and Bioacoustics: Using Sounds to Evaluate Composition of Biological Communities
• Investigate Problems with Problem-Solving in Science Education
• Investigating the Regulation of the CoQ Super Complex
• Investigating a Schizophrenia-linked Gene and its Role in Neural Development
• Investigating Antibiotic Resistance in Koala Poop

For more information on current offerings, visit the CUREs Program website.