This course presents the fundamental aspects of microbiology including morphology, metabolism of microorganisms, the basic principles of the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, microbial genetics, virology, and medical microbial ecology. The principles of immunology and infection in relation to clinical disease are discussed with special emphasis on laboratory diagnosis.
The origins of the recent explosion in molecular biology are found in and still rely upon an understanding of microbial physiology and genetics. This course discusses the fundamentals of this area with particular emphasis on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium as model systems. The development of problem solving skills will be stressed. Topics including aerobic vs. anaerobic metabolism, membrane physiology, biosynthesis of macromolecules and regulation of gene expression provide an integrated view of the microbial cell.
Selected topics in immunology are considered using formal lectures followed by student presentations. Design and interpretation of immunological experiments are emphasized throughout the course.
This course reviews the reproductive cycles of important human viruses and subviral agents and the diseases they cause. The focus is on the molecular biology of animal viruses and their mechanisms of regulation, assembly, and pathogenesis. Human immunodeficiency virus will be considered in detail. The course is constructed as an interactive lecture series with student reports and literature surveys.