There are two exams and student presentations. This core course introduces basic ideas of immunity and the immune system, including evolutionary and comparative studies, specific and nonspecific immunity, the biology of T and B lymphocytes, the genetics of the antigen-receptor and MHC loci, immunochemistry, and the role and action of cytokines. The course includes lectures, student presentations, and term papers. This core course combines lectures, student presentations of research and review papers, and group discussions. Topics include parasite life histories, the evolutionary biology of parasitism, parasite genetics, immunoparasitology, and control strategies.
Students select and review research articles during lecture and discussion sessions.
This core course introduces students to animal virology with a concentration on the pathogenesis, molecular biology, and immunology of selected medically-important viruses. Lecture material is drawn from both classical and current literature. Students must actively participate in and lead discussions based on assigned readings and submit an in-depth term paper on a key research area in virology. Beginning students who do not yet have a research project report the current literature on a research topic of their choice. This course provides students the opportunity to pursue, in depth and under supervision, subjects of special interest not offered in other formal courses.