Pathogenic Microbiology (Bio321) Lecture Syllabus

Instructor

Dr. Dave Westenberg

Department of Biological Sciences

Office: 105A Schrenk Hall 341-4798

Lab: G-6 Schrenk Hall 341-6586

Office Hours - MWF 9:00 - 10:00, or by appointment or just stop by my office or lab and if I'm available I'll be happy to answer questions.

Class Meeting - MWF 1:00 - 1:50, 213 UCE

Course Description – A study of medically important microorganisms. Special emphasis will be placed on recent advances in the molecular genetics of host pathogen interactions. This course will focus on the various strategies microorganisms use to attach, invade and multiply in a host. Knowledge of these mechanisms of pathogenesis is being used to develop prevention and treatment strategies for a number of diseases. We will use the assigned text, current literature and case studies to focus on selected model organisms that will introduce the major concepts in microbial pathogenesis.

Textbook: Bacterial Pathogenesis: A Molecular Approach 2nd Edition. Abigail A. Salyers and Dixie D. Whitt. You will be expected to have read the assigned chapter and related questions before the corresponding class period. The end of chapter questions will serve as the basis for classroom discussion.

Reserve material: Old exams and links to websites relevant to pathogenic microbiology can be accessed through the course HomePage: http://www.umr.edu/-microbio/Bio321.html. Handouts, case studies and journal articles available on Blackboard.

Grading and Exams: Your grade will be based on your scores on four exams (three midterm exams and one final) (75 points each), six reading reports (25 points each - see below for description) and participation (50 points) for a total of 500 points. Participation includes asking and answering questions, and attendance - if you have more than four unexcused absences you will forfeit the 50 points.
The exam dates are scheduled as follows:

Exam 1 Monday, September 12 (Due September 19)

Exam 2 Monday, October 10 (Due October 17)

Exam 3 Monday, November 7 (Due November 14)

Exam 4 Take-Home Final, December 5 (Due by December 16)

All exams will be take-home exams that will be distributed on the assigned date and due back one week later.

Reading Reports. We will discuss several recent articles from the literature. This will be used to relate the material covered in class to current work in the field of bacterial pathogenesis. You are expected to read all articles prior to the assigned date. To ensure that the articles are read, you will be required to submit a reading report summarizing the contents of each article. Reading Reports are due by the beginning of class on the day on which the article is to be discussed and can be submitted electronically (Late reports will NOT be accepted.

1) Provide the title, author(s), date and source of each reading.

2) Indicate the senior author's affiliation (e.g. Department of Microbiology and

Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University).

3) In 1 - 3 sentences, summarize the main point(s) of the reading.

For example: What was the hypothesis? Was it supported by the results?

4) In 1 - 3 sentences each, describe the major strengths of the reading, the major weaknesses, and give your overall opinion/evaluation of the reading.

Were all necessary controls included? Did the data support the conclusions?

5) In 1 - 2 sentences, state why you think that this reading was assigned.

Course Goals: At the end of this course you should be able to:

·  Describe strategies microorganisms use to attach, invade and multiply in a host and strategies hosts use to interfere with these processes.

·  Critically analyze current literature relating to pathogenic microbiology.

·  Evaluate case studies describing specific host-pathogen interactions.

·  Explain the use of modern technology to investigate host pathogen interactions.

·  Devise and evaluate prevention and treatment strategies for infectious diseases.

If you have any comments or concerns regarding this course or the instructor (good or bad) please feel free to discuss them with me. If you are not satisfied with my response or prefer to speak with someone else, you may contact the Chair of the Biology Department, Dr. Robert Aronstam (, 341-4831) or the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Paula Lutz (, 341-4131)

Date / Topic / Chapter
Week 1 – Hot Topics
8/22 / New and Emerging Infectious Diseases / 1
8/24 / Studying pathogens / 2
8/26 / Bioterrorism / Handout
Week 2 – Defense systems
8/29 / Barriers / 4
8/31 / Complement / 5
9/2 / Cellular defenses / 6
Week 3 – The microbe strikes back
9/5 / Labor Day Holiday – No Classes
9/7 / Evasion / 8
9/9 / Toxins / 9
Week 4 – The arms race
9/12 / Vaccines / 7
9/14 / Antibiotics / 10
9/16 / Antibiotic resistance / 11
Week 5 – Diagnostics and epidemiology
9/19 / Biochemical tests and differential media / Handout
9/21 / Molecular diagnostics / 3
9/23 / Bacillus anthracis / 22
Week 6 – The old and the new – Koch’s postulates then and now
9/26 / Tuberculosis / 19
9/28 / Legionnaire’s disease / 20
9/30 / Helicobacter pylori and ulcers / 23
Week 7 – Challenges to Koch’s postulates – unculturable microbes
10/3 / Case studies
10/5 / Spirochetes – Borrelia and Treponema / 12
10/7 / StuCo Free Day – No Classes
Week 8 – Intracellular pathogens
10/10 / Case studies
10/12 / Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae / 21
10/14 / Rickettsia / Handout
Date / Topic / Chapter
Week 9 – The ever present gram-positive cocci
10/17 / Case studies
10/19 / Streptococcus and Enterococcus / 15
10/21 / Streptococcus pneumoniae / 18
Week 10 – Hospital and device associated diseases
10/24 / Case studies
10/26 / Staphyloccoccus / 14
10/28 / Clostridium difficile and pseudomembranous colitis / 24
Week 11 - Plagues, pests, epidemics and pandemics
10/31 / Case studies
11/2 / Yersinia and the plague / 13
11/4 / Vibrio cholera / 25
Week 12 – Pseudomonas aeruginosa – the ultimate opportunist
11/7 / Case studies
11/9 / Pseudomonas aeruginosa / 16
11/11 / Bordetella pertusis / 17
Week 13 – Food Born Illnesses
11/14 / Case studies
11/16 / Listeria / 27
11/18 / Salmonella / 26
Week 13 1/2 – Food Born Illnesses
11/21 / Shigella
11/23 / Thanksgiving Vacation – No Classes
11/25 / Thanksgiving Vacation – No Classes
Week 14 – The many faces of E. coli
11/28 / Case studies
11/30 / Intestinal infections / 28
12/2 / Extraintestinal infections / 29
Week 15 - Sexually transmitted diseases
12/5 / Case studies
12/7 / Neisseria gonorrhoea / 30
12/9 / Chlamydia trachomatis / 31
12/16 / Final Exam Due