Microbiology and Immunology
Our program will use a wide array of approaches and techniques to explore the realm of molecular biology, microbial physiology, virology, parasitology, immunology, and microbial pathogenesis. An emphasis will be placed on studying immune responses to infectious agents including HIV-AIDS, the molecular and cellular bases of viral and bacterial pathogenesis, including microbes of the oral flora, mechanisms underlying mitochondrial transport and the regulation of gene expression in infectious agents. Graduate study in our division provides an opportunity to study with distinguished faculty and emphasizes a close faculty-student relationship that creates a learning environment that is stimulating, productive, and rewarding for all its participants.
Training Faculty
Don Alcendor
Pilar Aguinaga
Gautam Chaudhuri
Minu Chaudhuri
Xinghong Dong
James Hildreth
Robert Holt
Bindong Liu
Bogdan Nowicki
Stella Nowicki
Waldemar Popik
Raju Ramasamy
Hua Xie
Fernando Villalta
In addition to the formal academic requirements outlined in previous sections, students are expected to participate in various departmental activities.
A. Research-in-Progress
A Research-in-Progress series, in which students, faculty and fellows talk about their research, is held on Fridays at 2 p.m. Students are required to attend the Research-in-Progress series and are encouraged to participate in the discussion. Students, faculty and fellows attend the Research-in-Progress series.
B. Journal Clubs.
A Journal Club series, in which students, faculty and fellows talk about contemporary research papers published in leading journals in microbiology, immunology and molecular biology, is held on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. Students are required to attend the Journal Club series and are encouraged to participate in the discussion.
C. Seminars
Microbiology Seminars are held on Monday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. Microbiologists from around the world are invited to describe their research. Students are expected to attend Microbiology seminars. Frequently, interested students will be invited to meet with seminar speakers for an informal lunch. In addition, students as a group are encouraged to invite and serve as host for two speakers each year. Students will have to register each semester for the seminar series non-credit course.
D. Departmental Retreat
The Microbiology Retreat is a weekday program of informal research talks and discussions. Faculty, students and fellows attend this function. This Retreat provides an outstanding opportunity to keep up to date with the diverse research underway in the program and to participate in vigorous scientific discussions. Students are expected to attend the Retreat, and are encouraged to present their research either as a formal talk or a poster.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM IN MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
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Second year
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Course Title |
Course Credit |
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Fall |
Foundations in Research
Seminar/Journal Club
General Electives
Dissertation Research |
3
1
4-12 |
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Spring |
Fundamentals of Microbiology & Immunology (related to the written preliminary exam in this program)
General Electives
Dissertation Research |
3
4-12 |
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Summer |
PhD Qualifying Examination |
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Third and subsequent years
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General Electives
Seminar/Journal Club
Dissertation Research
Teaching Apprenticeship |
12 |
Students are expected to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in 5-6 years.
Elective Courses Taught at Meharry Medical College
Host Parasite Relationships (MICR 709)
Perspectives in Immunology (MICR 702)
Gene Transcription and Regulation (BSCI 719)
Directed Studies (BSCI 736)
Advanced Seminar and Special Topics (MICR 901)
Course Descriptions for the Program in Microbiology and Immunology
This course consists of a series of seminars on recent research advances in immunology. Topics covered include immunochemistry, immunogenetics, cellular immunity, tumor and transplantation immunology, immunopathology and the complement system. Prerequisite: Medical Microbiology or equivalent preparation in immunology. 3 credit hours. SPRING, even years. Coordinator, Dr. M. F. Lima.
The goal of this course is for the student to critically review the literature relevant to his/her proposed thesis research. The outcome of the course will be a student-prepared paper that provides a thoroughly documented background that supports the rationale for the proposed research project. The choice of the research problem should be determined by the student in consultation withthe preceptor. Each student will be guided by a committee of three faculty members that will include the student’s preceptor. 3 credit hours. SPRING, every year. Coordinator, Dr. R. Holt.
The course is designed primarily for advanced graduate students. Instruction consists of lectures, informal discussions, and guest speakers. Emphasis is directed to examining the theoretical, molecular, ultrastructural and physiological elements which characterize hosts and parasites in the broad sense (bacteria, viruses and parasites). Prerequisites: MICR-710 or equivalent preparation in immunology. 5 credit hours. SPRING, odd years. Coordinator, Dr. M.F. Lima.
This course reviews the basic concepts in immunology. It consists of the immunology lecture and laboratory component of Medical Microbiology and seminar/discussions focused on selected topics in immunology. This course may serve as a pre-requisite for advanced immunology courses offered by the Department of Microbiology. 3 credit hours. SPRING, every year. Coordinator, Dr. M. F. Lima.
Structure and function of different RNA polymerases (RNAPs). Role of CTD (C-terminal domain) of RNAP II. Basic aspects of initiation of transcription by RNAP I, II and III. Molecular mechanisms of transcription activation. Regulation of basic transcription initiation, elongation and termination in bacterial system. Regulation of transcription initiation, elongation and termination in eukaryotic system. Chromatin and regulation of transcription. DNA topology and gene expression. Structural studies (X-ray crystallography and NMR) of transcription factors. Nucleic acid-protein interactions. Regulation of expression of tumor suppressor genes and human tumor virus genes. Methods involved in transcription research. 3 credit hours. SPRING, even years. Coordinator, Dr. G. Chaudhuri.
Intensive reading under the guidance of a faculty member in an area selected by the student. The student and faculty member meet weekly to discuss the readings; the student may be required to write a paper on the semester's reading. 1-3 credits. FALL and SPRING, every year. Faculty.
Ph.D. Dissertation Research. Required of students who are candidates for the doctoral degree. 1-12 credit hours. FALL and SPRING, every year. Faculty.
Weekly discussion of current topics in microbiological research and of research within the department. 0-1 credit hour. FALL and SPRING, every year.
This course is a discussion by advanced graduate students and a faculty discussion leader who will make assignments from the current literature on a specific subspecialty. The course will examine experimental design, laboratory techniques used, validity of conclusions and contributions to the knowledge of the field under consideration. 1-3 credit hours. FALL and SPRING, every year.
Courses Taught at Vanderbilt University that are permitted as electives in this program:
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Lectures on contemporary research in cell biology, protein and lipid biochemistry, and molecular biology of the vascular system. 3 credit hours. SPRING
The genetics of bacteria and yeast and their use in molecular biology as an experimental tool. 2 credit hours. FALL.
The interaction of animal viruses with their host cells, discussed at the molecular and cellular level as model systems. Special emphasis on current literature and methodology. 3 credit hours. FALL.
An interdisciplinary course designed to train students in the field of molecular microbiology and/or cell biology. Model organisms or their products will be analyzed in the context of molecular cell microbiology. Students will be challenged to utilize new information from microbial genome sequencing to understand host cell Subcellular compartments and signaling pathways. 3 credit hours. SPRING.
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Designed to cover background and latest advances in human genetics. Topics will include an overview of mutational mechanisms, cytogenetics (detection and description of chromosomal abnormalities), biochemical genetics (gene defects in biochemical pathways), molecular genetics (gene structure, function, and expression), population genetics (heritability, quantitative traits, variance analysis), gene mapping (positional cloning, statistical and molecular techniques), and genetic epidemiology (genetic linkage analysis, design of gene mapping studies, gene-environment interaction). Topics will be discussed with reference to specific human genetic diseases. 3 credit hours. SPRING.
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